SuiteSports' 2018 MIAA Baseball Award Winners

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

Earlier this morning, SuiteSports announced Franklin right-hander Jake Noviello as its 2018 Most Valuable Player. Now, we are excited to unveil the rest of our awards including offensive player of the year, defensive player of the year, breakout player of the year, most outstanding career, and coach of the year.

Check back in tomorrow morning as SuiteSports releases its 2018 MIAA Baseball All-State Team.

St. John's (Shrewsbury) Baseball Pulls Away from Leominster

By John McGuirk (@Patsfan1313)

LEOMINSTER - For all that went right for Leominster through much of the regular season, things have turned drastically wrong in just one week's time. The Blue Devils will scrounge up all the walking canes they can get their hands on as they limp towards the postseason in a fashion nobody here wants to see.

Following Saturday's 9-2 defeat against St. John's (Shrewsbury) at Doyle Field in Leominster, the Blue Devils are now losers of four of their last five, and drop to 13-6. Prior to this recent tailspin, Leominster had rolled off seven straight victories. Leominster has one regular season contest remaining before the start of next week's Division 1 Central Mass. tournament in the hopes of righting the ship. The Blue Devils host powerful St. Peter-Marian on Monday.

RADIO: Tantasqua Lax, Leominster Baseball & New St. Peter-Marian Football Coach Justin McKay

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

It was a jam-packed show this week on WPKZ, as we had three very special guests on "The Local Sports Lunchbox." First, the legendary Voice of Doyle Field, Dick Tucker joined us in the studio to disuss Leominster baseball's magical run to a Mid-Wach A title, and the Blue Devils' postseason prospects. Then, we were joined on the phone by the stars of Tantasqua lacrosse, who are once again tournament-bound.

Finally, new St. Peter-Marian football coach Justin McKay called in to tell us why he took the Guardian job after five years coaching Algonquin (he still teaches at Algonquin), and offer his thoughts on one of his former players, Wachusett alum Tyler Catalina, who recently signed with the Washington Redskins.

For all that, and much, much more, continue below.

MIAA Top 25 Baseball Poll: 5/15/17

BC High ace Mike Vasil helped the Eagles clinch another Catholic Conference title with a no-hitter against rival Xaverian.   Photo by Brendan C. Hall, via ESPN Boston.

Our rankings of the best teams in the state during the 2017 baseball season, as selected by our panel of staff writers and correspondents. (Updated 5/15)

1. St. John’s (Shrewsbury) (12-2; Last Ranking: 1) After losing in an extra innings marathon at Xaverian, the Pioneers beat three good teams with a 40-1 run differential.

2. Central Catholic (12-2; Last Ranking: 7) Going 10-1 in the minefield that is the Merrimack Valley Conference is extremely impressive. With Sam Lara and Steve Hajjar leading this staff, the Raiders appear to be Super 8 bound.   

RADIO: Shrewsbury Lacrosse, Leominster Baseball and More

By Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

This week on "The Local Sports Luncbox" on WPKZ, I chatted with The Telegram & Gazette's Chris Kyne about local baseball and lacrosse, with a focus on the surging Leominster Blue Devils baseball team. Then, we were joined by Matty Ward and Chris Campbell, stars of the Shrewsbury lacrosse team, to tell us how they've been able to turn their season around.

Listen in below for all that, and more, on this week's show.