Westfield State Baseball Selected Second in 2025 MASCAC Preseason Poll

WESTFIELD, Mass. – Westfield State baseball enters the 2025 season with high expectations, as the Owls have been ranked second in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Preseason Poll, as voted on by the conference's coaches.

The Owls received two first-place votes and 43 total points, finishing just behind reigning MASCAC champions Bridgewater State, who topped the poll with five first-place votes and 45 points. Westfield State looks to build upon last year's success after a strong 2024 campaign that saw them post a 27-16 overall record and advance to the MASCAC semifinals.

Leading the way for the Owls is standout slugger Sam Palmer (Medfield, Mass.), who earned a spot on the MASCAC First Team last season. Palmer was a dynamic force in 2024, posting a .333 batting average with seven home runs and 34 RBIs, while also ranking among the conference leaders with five doubles, 45 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases in 27 attempts. His .580 slugging percentage led the team's regular starters.

The Owls' offensive firepower is further bolstered by fifth-year infielders Devin Slattery (Ware, Mass.) and Dan Burnett (Granville, Mass.). Slattery, who played in all 43 games last season, demonstrated excellent plate discipline with a .452 on-base percentage while hitting .303 and stealing 15 bases. Burnett, a 2023 all-conference selection known for his powerful bat, returns to the lineup after an injury-shortened 2024 season where he appeared in just four games, looking to make a significant impact in his final season.

Pitching will be a focal point for Westfield State this season, as they look to fill the void left by All-American ace Ryan Lapierre, who graduated after a dominant 9-0 season with a 1.63 ERA over 66.1 innings. The rotation will be led by Colton Vasseur (Colchester, Conn.), who finished last season with a strong 3.49 ERA and a 5-2 record across 56.2 innings of work. Sophomore Sean McNamara (Lowell, Mass.) is poised to take on an expanded role in the rotation after showing promise in his freshman campaign, where he logged 38 innings and struck out 40 batters, averaging 9.47 strikeouts per nine innings.

The Owls will face tough competition within the MASCAC, with Massachusetts Maritime and Salem State tying for third in the poll with 33 points, followed by Framingham State in fifth with 27 points. Worcester State (20 points), Fitchburg State (16 points), and MCLA (7 points) round out the rankings.

Regular season action starts on March 1 against St. Lawrence from Ramsey, N.J. in a doubleheader starting at noon before the Owls open their MASCAC schedule on March 29th with a home doubleheader against Mass Maritime at Bud and Jim Hagan Field. Westfield State aims to make an early statement as they chase their first conference title since 2019.

Stay tuned for more updates as the Owls take the field for what promises to be an exciting 2025 campaign.

Written by Tom Onorato – Sports Information Intern