Telegram & Gazette "Lancers Batting 1,000"

By Jennifer Toland
Telegram & Gazette Staff

Posted Feb. 16, 2016 at 5:13 PM
Updated Feb 16, 2016 at 11:37 PM

Coach Dirk Baker's Worcester State baseball team is 1-0 in February for the first time.

Baker took advantage of the unseasonably warm weather earlier this month as the Lancers played one of two games originally scheduled for late March against Fisher College Feb. 2 at the New England Baseball Complex in Northboro.

Worcester State won the game, 8-4.

"I went over to their bench before the game and said, 'Is this really happening?'" Baker said. "They said, 'Pinch yourself. Pinch yourself.' I still can't believe it happened."

Baker, in his 22nd season as Worcester State coach, heard recently that it might have been the earliest college game ever played outdoors in New England. It was the earliest Worcester State has ever played its first game of the season.

"You can still get snow here in March and April," Baker said, knowing that fact all too well. "If you can play, you do it."

It was 45 degrees Feb. 2, and the day fell in the middle of a stretch that featured temperatures in the mid- to upper 50s.

Baker said his players did a great job of staying in shape during the offseason, and he made sure his pitchers were ready to go before asking Fisher about playing. The teams were slated to play a doubleheader March 26.

Worcester State was among the first Division 3 teams to play this season. On Jan. 18, La Sierra University played at Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, California. Vanguard also played games on Jan. 29 and 30, when Sul Ross State and the University of Dallas played a doubleheader in Alpine, Texas, and Bethesda University played at Occidental College in Los Angeles. Vanguard hosted Redlands in the only other game on Feb. 2.

Of course, this weekend, when temperatures fell well below zero in Worcester, the Lancers were back inside. They practice at Hit Quarters in Shrewsbury and Double Play Sports & Fitness in Leicester.

          The Lancers are back in action this weekend for a single game against Clark University on Sunday (Feb. 21) for a 12 noon game.