Baseball

July 21, 2009

Matt Beaulieu '10 Playing In Prestigious New England Collegiate Baseball League

COLCHESTER, Vt. ? Saint Michael's College rising senior Matt Beaulieu (Littleton, Mass./Lawrence Academy) has taken his game to new heights this summer, as the baseball standout signed a contract last week to play for the New Bedford (Mass.) Bay Sox of the prestigious New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL).

Beaulieu is believed to be the first Saint Michael's student-athlete to play in the NECBL since the league was founded in 1993. The 12-team league features organizations from all six New England states, including the Vermont Mountaineers based in Montpelier.

"I am so excited to be a part of the New Bedford Bay Sox and the NECBL," said Beaulieu, a six-foot-two-inch, 195-pound outfielder. "I'm looking forward to hopefully playing everyday, and to learn from such a talented group of players and coaches."

"This is a huge step for the Saint Michael's baseball program, and a great way to get our name out around New England and the rest of the country," said Saint Michael's baseball coach and NECBL alum Paul Morgan, who completed his first season at the helm of the Purple Knights in 2009. "Matt certainly deserves this chance after his outstanding junior season this past spring. I am confident that he will play the game the right way and use this opportunity to make himself into an even better player."

Beaulieu, who signed a contract to play for the Bay Sox on Thursday, made his first appearance for New Bedford that evening in a contest against the United States Military All-Star Team. Beaulieu started in right field and batted fourth in the lineup for the Bay Sox, going 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored.

Other members of the New Bedford Bay Sox (15-16 on the season after yesterday's 3-1 win) come from such renowned collegiate programs as the University of Florida, the University of Southern California, the University of Georgia, Oklahoma State University, and the University of Washington. Four of Beaulieu's teammates with the Bay Sox have been drafted by Major League Baseball organizations.

Dozens of NECBL players have gone on to play in the Major Leagues. Notable NECBL alums include Minnesota Twins closer Joe Nathan, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier, and Oakland Athletics All-Star Andrew Bailey.

Beaulieu had one of the finest seasons in the 97-year history of the Saint Michael's baseball program in 2009. He was named to the 2009 Daktronics NCAA Division II Baseball All-East Region Second Team after leading Saint Michael's to a 15-19 record and setting a single-season program record with 56 base hits. He finished the season with a .448 batting average, and led the Purple Knights with 34 runs scored, eight doubles, five triples, two home runs, 27 runs batted in, 80 total bases, and eight stolen bases. He also pitched in six games in relief, recording two saves and striking out eight batters in 5.1 innings pitched, while compiling a 3.38 earned run average.

New Bedford has eight games remaining in its regular season, before the NECBL playoffs start in early August.

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