The Terriers Disappoint in the ACBA Playoffs

It was a year to be remembered but the Boston University Baseball Team fell short of capturing its second league title of the year, after losing to their rival across the river, Harvard. After finishing the regular season in the American Club Baseball Association at 6-1, the Terriers earned the top seed and a first round bye in the playoffs. Traveling up to The University of New Hampshire last weekend, the Terriers were poised for a long run in the playoffs, but the Crimson had other thoughts.

The only team to beat the Terriers this school year, Harvard was failed to be intimidated by NECBA MVP Andrew Kratzer and his fastball and for the first time all year, Kratzer struggled. He battled through 3+ innings giving up seven runs, five earned, striking out only two batters, a career low. “I just didn’t have my best stuff today. It happens to all pitchers, and unfortunately today was the only day all year I didn’t have it,” Kratzer explained in a post game interview.

Drew Egan relieved Kratzer in the fourth giving up two runs, one earned over the course of the next four innings. Holding the Crimson at 9 runs, he gave the BU offense a chance to catch up. After sitting tight for two weeks, the explosive Terrier offense cooled off and it looked like the game was going to turn even uglier. Into the fifth inning the Terrier offense had managed only one hit, and had failed to score. After two Harvard errors, the Terriers finally got on the board in the fifth and took that momentum into the sixth inning. The Terriers scored five runs in the sixth, batting around, and making it a three run game.

Unfortunately, the BU offense did not have enough firepower to compete with the potent Harvard attack and the Terriers made an early trip back to Boston, losing with a final score of 9-6.

While this was not the ending that the Terriers were looking for, the team did have one of its most successful seasons ever, finishing with a 20-2 record for the fall/spring, with the two losses coming to the Crimson. This senior driven team was led by Ace Andrew Kratzer as he managed to rack up almost half of the Terriers wins. Senior southpaw Drew Egan was also a key piece in the pitching staff, winning the NECBA fireman’s award for best reliever. The offensive attack was senior driven all year by NECBA offensive MVP Mike Robinson, NECBA All-Star Jay Godfrey, Ben Burkholder, Eli Corzier, and Matt Walsh, along with the occasional pop from pitcher/outfielder Drew Egan.

While the Terriers do say goodbye to one of the most successful senior classes to date, the rest of the ball club looks to rebuild for next fall to capture another NECBA championship. Bowie Matteson will take over as the Ace with his pinpoint control and sickening knuckleball. The pitching staff will also be anchored by sophomores Peter Zampa, Ross Zamparelli, David Luna, and will get a nice midseason addition when sophomore Stephen Lyne returns from Tommy John surgery.

The offensive attack will also be driven by underclassmen, the lone returning senior starter being shortstop Jeremy Hartman. Junior catcher and NECBA All-Star Jordan Kessel will provide the power for the lineup that will also be sophomore driven. The Terriers are finalists on the list of several recruits for next year, and they hope that the next freshman class will be the best yet, ready to contribute from day one.

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