Jack Dougherty was a standout player for the Westfield State championship baseball teams of the mid 1970s. 

The Westfield native and Springfield Technical Community College transfer was an all-conference selection in each of his three years at Westfield State. He was an All New England player during his junior and senior seasons in 1975 and 1976. 

The first baseman/designated hitter still holds school records for slugging percentage in a season (.785) and career (.668), and walks (40) in a season. The hard-hitting left hander finished his outstanding three-year career with 18 home runs, 105 RBI, 13 doubles, 9 triples and 89 walks. 

In addition to his slugging feats, he has a career batting average of .369 and career on base percentage of .530. 

Dougherty is one of only five players in Westfield State history with a .400 batting average in more than one season. He led the team in hitting in 1975 (.405) and 1976 (.402). He also led the Owls in 1976, when he was the team MVP, with eight home runs and 46 RBI. 

During the 1975 season, when the Owls posted a 32-8 record and placed second in the NCAA Regional championships, Dougherty also displayed his pitching prowess as he compiled a 6-1 record. 

Dougherty starred on the sandlots during the summer months. He was a five-time all-star in the Tri-County League and played on five championship teams, including three consecutive titles with the Holyoke Liquor Dealers, also known as the “Powder Blue Wrecking Crew.” His teammates included Westfield State Hall of Fame members Bob Kallstrom, Dave Tabin, Mark Pananos, and Butch LaMagdelaine. Dougherty also played on championship teams for the Gasland Oilers and O’Malley Printers. 

Dougherty has been an educator for more than 30 years. He started his professional career as a physical education and health teacher at Weaver High School in Hartford. He taught there for five years and also coached football, baseball and wrestling. 

Dougherty then took a position at Agawam High School and worked with the disciplinary team as an internal suspension teacher. He coached the Agawam JV baseball team for three years, compiling a 43-5 record. 

Dougherty later took a new position at Agawam as a health and science teacher. He designed and implemented the substance abuse prevention program at Agawam. This program was adopted and modeled by a number of public school systems throughout the state, and in 2000 he was named the Pioneer Valley MADD director of the year. In 1997 he became an assistant principal at Westfield High School 

Dougherty resides in Southwick with his wife, Pamela, and their two sons, Jake (24) and Zach (22).