April 28, 2016

Falcons Poised for Post-Season Run as New Coach Brings Stability and Success

By Kyle Prudhomme, Fitchburg State Student Journalist

FITCHBURG, Mass. - Last season, the Fitchburg State baseball team literally had to await its fate. On the final day of the spring season the team of 35 members was huddled in the third-base dugout of Riccards Field with hopes of hearing good news on the other end of a telephone call.

"I was anxious," recalls Fitchburg State senior Brendan Cutler. "Once we found out we were in, it was a feeling of relief and happiness knowing we would get a chance to try and make a run at a MASCAC [Massachusetts State Athletic Conference] championship."

However, that playoff run ended quickly as the Falcons dropped a 7-1 contest with Framingham State during the quarterfinal round.

Then, that off-season, the team received more news over the telephone - Head Coach Ryan Parker was stepping down from the position.

For those invigorated by their freshman season it was the first time. But for members going into their senior year it had become quite common. Three seasons. Three different coaches.

"That was by far the worst part of my baseball career, getting a new coach each year," said senior Mike Martignetti, "Having to balance college and being an athlete was hard enough, but every year having to prove yourself to someone new was tiring from a mental standpoint."

When the job opened to applicants, the seniors were hopeful that a former assistant and well-respected baseball mind of the area could come and take over the program at Fitchburg State, and it happened on June 16th 2015, when Kevin Barnaby became the program's 12th head coach all-time and third since 2012.

"I couldn't be happier that Barnaby applied and got the job because he's been everything a player wants in their head coach," said Cutler.

Since the day Barnaby was made the skipper a whole bunch inside the baseball culture has changed. The most glaring difference is the team's involvement in the local community, their improvement in the classroom and - as Barnaby would stress – having fun playing baseball.

"Barnaby wants to establish a culture - he understands that this is a process," said Martignetti. "As an assistant he was cool and laid back, and as a head coach he was able to carry over all those good qualities. By him being laid back it allows us to play laid back."

As Barnaby took the wheel, the bus was headed down a rocky road. The team had combined for a 48-58 overall mark and a 15-27 conference record over three seasons and last year hit bottom as the offense was hushed, scoring the least amount of runs in the MASCAC (99) while totaling a mere 209 hits.

In 2016, the offensive production has been a Falcon strength, surpassing their output from a season ago just 18 games into the season after pouring on 14 runs against Framingham State. It was the first sweep of the Rams since 2008.

The Green and Gold went onto complete back-to-back sweeps of MCLA and Bridgewater State, equaling the most brooms needed since 2007, clinching a playoff spot after splitting with Westfield State on April 23^rd.

Currently Fitchburg State ranks top-three in the MASCAC offensively in RBI (142), bases on balls (122), stolen bases (73), batting average (.280), and on-base percentage (.395) while the pitching staff has tallied the third-most strikeouts in the conference with 180.

"Our success comes from guys wanting it and being hungry. He [Barnaby] keeps pushing us to control our own destiny, to go get what we want and not have anything handed to us," said Cutler. "It's become all about family here."

Considering the only constant each season for Fitchburg State baseball has been the players, it's no surprise that this team's bond is stronger than teams of recent memory, which dealt with the ups-and-downs of continuous change.

"I considered if I wanted to play or not but knowing we had such a good group of guys and the coach we wanted - that's what made me want to finish it out," said Martignetti, who has been with the team since the start of the coaching flux. "There's definite senior leadership, unlike anything I've seen before with guys like [Derrick] Frazier and Cutler. All the younger players really look up to them."

After winning the first game of a double-header against Worcester State on 4/27, Fitchburg State has their best conference start since 2007 at 8-3 and the chance at a quarterfinal-round bye for the first time since 2004.

The only telephone messages this team wants are calls of congratulations.

"At this point our one goal is getting this school its first banner," said senior Javier Lozada. "Our coaching staff this season meshes perfectly with the team's character so that allows us to play our style and now we're in a position to make history for this school."