With Keene State beginning its final week of the regular season, the college’s Division III spring sports have their eyes on the Little East Conference (LEC) tournament. As of the evening of April 25, here is how the teams stand heading into the conference:
MEN’S LACROSSE
The Keene State men’s lacrosse team is sitting in first place in the LEC. The team has seen a successful season, recently setting season-high marks in assists (15) and ground balls (45), according to the athletic department website. The team also tied its seasonhigh mark in points with 32. Overall, the team is 8-5, 6-1 in the LEC. After losing to Endicott, men’s lacrosse lost the overall top seed in the LEC Men’s Lacrosse Tournament.
TRACK AND FIELD
The Keene State outdoor track and field team have had a season full of training and success. Their season began with fifth-year student Shannon Parks breaking the school record in the hammer throw at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell Invitational back in March. Her 46.30 meter throw broke a five-year-old record.
More recently, Parks broke two more records, including her own. At the Penmen Relays on April 15, Parks was second in the shot put at 12.75 meters and won the hammer throw at 48.40 meters, breaking her own marks in each event.
Parks, senior Jacob Pearl, and junior Kyle Maruca have each received Owl Athlete of the Week this season, with Parks receiving the title numerous times.
The team has traveled to multiple locations throughout New England to hone their craft, and they will find out if it has paid off on April 29 at the LEC Championship in North Dartmouth, Mass.
SOFTBALL
The Keene State softball team has had many ups and downs this season, kicking it off with the Fastpitch Dreams Spring Classic in South Carolina back in March. There, the team saw four wins and six losses.
The last two weeks have seen the Owls fall in five consecutive losses, losing three straight by one run. According to the athletic department website, Keene State once led the series with Southern Maine 36-21, but has lost 10 of 11 since, including the last eight straight, the longest skid in series history. The Owls are 2-8 in games decided by two runs or less this season.
Overall, the team is 7-21, 3-9 in the LEC with four conference matchups remaining against the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Dartmouth and Rhode Island College.
BASEBALL
The Keene State baseball team has had a whirlwind season, with 20 first-year players joining the roster for their collegiate debut under head coach Justin Blood.
The team has had chances to step it up in conference play, but instead they recently experienced their ninth consecutive loss at the hands of Castleton University 18-2, earning their eighth LEC loss this season. The team was predicted to finish eighth in the LEC preseason poll.
However, this season has seen strong debuts from some of the team’s first-year players, who have received numerous accolades from the LEC this season. First-year players Jonathan Chatfield, Tommy Ahlers and Jake Jachym have received LEC weekly honors, with Chatfield and Ahlers receiving honors numerous times.
Baseball’s team record is 13-20 overall and 3-8 in conference play.
WOMEN’S LACROSSE
While the Keene State women’s lacrosse team has fallen short at times, it is not for lack of trying. This season saw multiple first-year players score their first collegiate goals, including first-year players Tess Brown, Riley Devine and Annaliese Rudberg. The team was predicted to finish fourth in the LEC preseason poll.
Overall, the team is 5-10, 2-3 in the LEC, and they must win one of their last two games to guarantee themselves a spot in the LEC Tournament.
Piper Pavelich can be contacted at
ppavelich@kscequinox.com
