BB: Four Lasell players represented on All-GNAC Team

NEWTON, Mass. – The Lasell College baseball team had four representatives honored Tuesday as the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) announced the All-Conference Teams for 2019. The All-GNAC Teams are voted on by the conference's head coaches.

Senior pitcher and second baseman David Marsell (Baldwinsville, N.Y.) received the top honor for Lasell, being voted All-GNAC First Team as a utility player. Senior third baseman Andre Marchesseault (Cheshire, Conn./Xavier) and junior catcher Joe Sullivan (East Sandwich, Mass./Sandwich) were honored with Second Team selections, and Marchesseault and senior outfielder Evan Michalek (Berlin, Conn.) were named to the All-Defensive Team.

The four Lasers were the top players on a Lasell squad that posted a 23-17 overall record under ninth-year head coach Greg Harjula, setting the program record for most wins in a season. The Lasers registered a 9-7 mark in the GNAC regular season, finishing in a tie for fourth and winning at least one GNAC Tournament game for the seventh straight season.

Marsell finished the season with a .355 batting average with a career-high 44 hits, including six doubles, one home run, 18 runs batted in, 25 runs scored and 12 stolen bases. A four-year veteran and three-year starter, he batted at least .333 in all four seasons in a Laser uniform, finishing with a .357 career batting average with 11 doubles, one home run, 49 RBI and 62 runs scored. He recorded his 100th career hit this season and finished with 123 total hits.

Marsell was also one of Lasell's top pitcher, tying for the team lead this spring with nine starts. He posted a 3-5 overall record with a 5.84 earned run average, striking out a career-high 20 batters in 37 innings. He concluded his career with 28 appearances (14 starts), a 7-7 record and a 4.94 ERA, with 42 strikeouts in 80 innings.

Marchesseault led the Lasers with a career-best .379 batting average, topping the team with 47 hits (fourth-most in a season in program history). He also had 12 doubles and 35 runs scored, both second-most in a season in program history, and was second on the team with two home runs and 24 runs batted in. A four-year veteran and three-year starter, he batted at least .345 every year as a Laser and finished with a school-record .366 career average with 124 hits, 25 doubles, five home runs, 69 RBI and 72 runs scored.

Defensively, Marchesseault posted a career-best .924 fielding percentage at third base in 105 chances. He had 67 assists and 30 putouts with just eight errors, helping turn five double plays. He winds up his Lasell career with a .891 career fielding percentage.

Sullivan finished the season with a .354 batting average and was second on the team with 12 extra-base hits (six doubles, two triples and a team-leading four home runs). A starter in 26 of his 33 games, he led the team with 29 RBI and was fourth on the team with 21 runs scored. He hit a big grand slam in the first inning of Lasell's opening-round playoff game against Albertus Magnus College to propel the Lasers to a 7-4 victory.

A four-year starter, Michalek finished the season with a .972 fielding percentage, making 66 putouts in center field with four assists and just two errors. He winds up his career with a .968 fielding percentage with 257 putouts, 14 assists and just nine miscues.

Michalek was also a major threat at the plate and on the base paths. He batted .287 this season and finished with a .282 career batting average. He broke his own school stolen base record with 30 steals this season, and finished his career with a record 62 stolen bases, being caught just eight times.

Senior Brian Cohen (Rockland, Mass.) was also recognized as Lasell's representative on the GNAC All-Sportsmanship Team.

2019 GNAC All-Conference Team

First Team
C – Greg Emanuelson, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
INF – Matt Warren, Albertus Magnus
INF – Kosta Drosidis, Anna Maria
INF – Joey Murphy, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
INF – Blase Cormier, Suffolk
OF – Jared Gagne, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
OF – Tim Brigham, Suffolk
OF – Will Hopkins, Suffolk
DH – Colby Greenhalgh, Johnson & Wales
UTIL – David Marsell, Lasell
P – Jack Marzec, Anna Maria
P – Matt Bergeron, Saint Joseph's (Maine)

Second Team
C – Joe Sullivan, Lasell
INF – Mike Browne, Albertus Magnus
INF – Joe Maracic, Johnson & Wales
INF – Andre Marchesseault, Lasell
INF – Rich Gilbride, Suffolk
OF – Tyriq Harris, Albertus Magnus
OF – Kevin Lynch, Norwich
OF – Hunter Richardson, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
DH – Connor Troio, Suffolk
UTIL – Adam Twitchell, Anna Maria
P – James Smiegocki, Johnson & Wales
P – Steven Rossi, Suffolk

Third Team
C – Greg Gehring, Anna Maria
INF – Elijah Spataj, Albertus Magnus
INF – Drew Healey, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
INF – Noah McDaniel, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
INF – Trevor Lee, Suffolk
OF – Armani Henderson, Johnson & Wales
OF – Fred Kazalski, Rivier
OF – Rich Giandrea, Suffolk
DH – Adam Diehl, Johnson & Wales
UTIL – Tim Unczur, Colby-Sawyer
P – Josh Mousseau, Johnson & Wales
P – Zach Begin, Saint Joseph's (Maine)

ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
C – Greg Gehring, Anna Maria
1B – Blase Cormier, Suffolk
2B – Trevor Lee, Suffolk
3B – Andre Marchesseault, Lasell
SS – Joey Murphy, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
OF – Evan Michalek, Lasell
OF – Kevin Lynch, Norwich
OF – Will Hopkins, Suffolk
P – Charles Batchelder, Suffolk

PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Joey Murphy, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Jack Marzec, Anna Maria
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR – Kosta Drosidis, Anna Maria
COACH OF THE YEAR – Anthony Del Prete, Suffolk
INSTITUTIONAL SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD – Rivier

ALL-SPORTSMANSHIP TEAM
David Otero, Albertus Magnus College
Justin Robbins, Anna Maria
Brendan Barrett, Colby-Sawyer
Tim Lombardi, Johnson & Wales University
Brian Cohen, Lasell College
Mike Lesco, Norwich University
Brett Iannazzo, Rivier
Simon Gonzalez, Saint Joseph's College
Charles Batchelder, Suffolk

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