SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – You can't blame Western New England baseball coach Matt LaBranche for being excited about the 2011 season.

With five returning position players and the entire pitching staff returning, the Golden Bears were the pre-season pick to finish first in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC).

Weather permitting; Western New England will open its season against host Farmingdale State at 2:00 p.m. Friday (March 4) at the Farmingdale Tournament in New York. The Golden Bears also are scheduled to meet RPI at 4:00 p.m. on Friday (March 5) and Keene State at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday (March 6) in the tournament.

LaBranche's team will head to Arizona for six games during spring break at the Greater Phoenix Invitational from March 12-17 before returning east for their home and TCCC against Salve Regina on March 20.

Last year Western New England posted a 34-12 record for its third straight 30-win campaign, tied for first in the conference with a 17-5 mark, and captured the TCCC Tournament title in dramatic fashion with five wins after an opening loss. LaBranche's squad capped the second best winning season in 42 years by placing fifth among eight schools at the NCAA Division III New England Regional Championship.

Western New England has won five consecutive league titles, three in TCCC and two in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC), and has played in the NCAAs the past five seasons and seven times since 2001.

It may look easy, but it isn't, especially with the wealth of baseball talent on the Division III level in the region.

Western New England expects to have a strong team in all areas this spring, especially with its pitching staff.

Senior Matt Rogers (Portsmouth, RI) had a breakout season a year ago posting a 10-1 record and 3.46 earned-run-average. Sophomore Kevin Jefferis (Cheshire, CT) earned a starting role and responded with a 7-1 mark and 2.93 ERA with a team-best 59 strikeouts. Junior right-hander Mike Lawlor (Windsor, CT) saved seven contests and finished with a 4-1 record and 1.47 ERA in 20 appearances. All three right-handers made the New England Division III All-Star Team.

In addition, seniors Zach Cloft (Glastonbury, CT) and Evan Michaud (Windsor Locks, CT) each posted four victories.

Western New England lost three top players from last year's championship squad, All-American first baseman Joe Griglun (Southington, CT) who hit team-high .435, All-Star shortstop Justin Walz (Groton, CT) who batted .336, and center-fielder Steve Kearney (Glastonbury, CT) who set a school record by getting hit with a pitch 22 times.

Senior catcher Jason Leclerc (Chicopee, MA) heads the list of returning players. He was among the most improved players in the nation with a .384 batting average after hitting only .230 the previous season. Leclerc also was second on the squad in slugging percentage (.572) and stole six bases in gaining All-New England honors.

All-TCCC senior third baseman Tony Trubia (Tolland, CT) (.348) and junior outfielder Tom Bouvier (East Longmeadow, MA) (.346) both made significant contributions as did sophomore second baseman Mike Rubino (Northford, CT) (.345) who enjoyed a successful rookie season.

Senior outfielder Andrew Fatse (Hampden, MA) is ready for a big year after hitting .333 last spring following his All-American sophomore season when he batted .420. The Golden Bears have a pair of promising sophomores in Matt Anthonis (Guilford, CT) and Casey Dadio (Branford, CT) who will be competing for time in the outfield.

Perhaps the biggest surprise last year was senior designated hitter Ryan Dudzinski (Bristol, CT) who hit .329 from his lead-off spot with a school record 30 stolen bases in his first year as a starter.

"I'm real excited about the team's potential," said LaBranche. "Obviously, having the entire pitching staff return is huge, but I also think we have a nice mix of youth and experience among our position players. Traditionally, we have settled into a set line-up, but this year I feel like we have great depth and versatility. That will allow us to mix and match on a daily basis and provide some young players the opportunity to carve out significant roles and make this team tough come tournament time."

LaBranche ranks among the top coaches in the nation with a 315-150 record (67.7 winning percentage) in 11 seasons.