Weagle claims program's first Region Pitcher of the Year honor

RINDGE, N.H. (May 20, 2003) - Two members of the College World Series-bound Franklin Pierce baseball team have earned American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-Northeast Region accolades.

Franklin Pierce junior right-hander Matt Weagle (Charlton, Mass./Shephard Hill) was voted the ABCA/Rawlings Northeast Region Pitcher of the Year by the region coaches. Weagle is the first pitcher in program history to receive regional pitcher of the year accolades after he was named Northeast-10 Pitcher of the Year last week.

Weagle, whom Baseball America tabbed as the No. 4-ranked Pro Prospect in Division II, is 8-1 this season with a Conference-low 1.38 ERA (4th in Division II), 91 strikeouts (2nd NE-10) and 14 walks in 84.2 innings (1st) with opposing batters hitting a Conference-low .178, managing a mere two extra-base hits against him.

Weagle's first team All-Region selection is the second All-Northeast selection of his career after earning a spot on the second team as a freshman when he was 6-1 with a 4.07 ERA. He enters the College World Series a winner of 12 of his last 13 decisions dating back to last season. Weagle is also a two-time All-Conference pick, earning first team honors as a junior and freshman.

Weagle ranks first all-time at the College with 245 career strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA. He also ranks among career leaders in appearances (35 - 5th), innings (257.1 - 2nd), complete games (16 - 2nd) and wins (18 - 3rd).

Junior designated hitter Dante Blancarte (Amesbury, Mass./Amesbury) joins Weagle on the first team marking the first All-Northeast Region selection of his career. Blancarte leads the Ravens with a .339 batting average, to go with 11 doubles, a triple, three home runs and Conference-best 40 RBI.

Blancarte, a three-time All-Conference honoree after earning first team honors last week, ranks among career leaders at the program with 172 hits (5th), 28 doubles (7th), 25 home runs (3rd) and 134 RBI (2nd - five shy of the program record). He has also belted a program record five career grand slams.

Franklin Pierce (30-15), ranked No. 21 in this week's Collegiate Baseball Division II poll, begins play at the 2003 NCAA Division II College World Series on Saturday afternoon when it faces No. 6-ranked Slippery Rock University (48-11) in game one of the series at Paterson Field in Montgomery, Ala., at 1:30 p.m. (CT).