Baseball opens season as No. 15 in nation
The baseball team, fresh off a 34-7 campaign that ended with the team's first NESCAC title since 2002 and broke the program record for wins, has been ranked No. 15 in the nation by the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association as it heads into the 2011 season.
The Jumbos stood at No. 10 in 2010's final poll and will look to break into the top 10 again beginning on March 18 against Lynchburg College. The game will kick off a week-long stretch of games on the road for the Jumbos during Tufts' spring break.
The Jumbos will return seven of their nine starting position players, including arguably the best infield in the conference. Junior third baseman Sam Sager and senior shortstop David LeResche both earned spots on the All-NESCAC First Team last season, while senior second baseman Frank Petroskey was a Second Team honoree in his first year at Tufts.
The team's leaders in home runs (senior David Orlowitz) and on-base percentage (senior Ben Walkley) will once again anchor the lineup. Seniors Derek Miller—who led the team with 52.1 innings pitched—and Ed Bernstein, who struck out 42 batters in 29 frames out of the bullpen, will pave the way for the pitching staff.
With both talent and experience on their side, the Jumbos should be among the best teams in the regiothis spring.
Derosa named to All-NESCAC for third time
Tufts' senior forward Tom Derosa has been recognized as one of the top athletes in NESCAC hockey for the third year in a row. Yesterday, Derosa was named to the All-NESCAC second team — his third conference honor in his three seasons playing for the Jumbos since his 2008 transfer from Merrimack College.
Derosa finished this season as the No. 4 scorer in the league with 11 goals and is tied for the third-most assists with 21, despite Tufts' dismal 6-16-1 record. He completes his Tufts hockey career with 41 goals, 50 assists and 91 points in his 72 games in a blue and brown uniform — leading the team's scoring in his three seasons of play.
Sabreman Mingalone a regional All-Star
Junior Tyler Mingalone was named as one of the All-Stars in the Northeast Intercollegiate Fencing Conference, the second time in his career that he has attained All-Conference recognition. He was joined near the top of the conference standings by freshman and fellow sabreman Eli Kohlenberg, who compiled a 20-10 mark and just missed NIFC honors.
On the women's side, the Jumbos were led by senior epeeist Georgia Ranes, who went 24-10. Freshman Julia Hisey and junior Sara Danly both won more than two-thirds of their bouts with the sabre. Tufts fencing should vastly improve upon its 6-6 record from this season with improved performance from its foil squad.
