BABSON PARK, Fla. – Kevin Greene is hotter than the Florida weather as the junior centerfielder from Worcester (Holy Name HS) slammed three home runs and had six RBI to power Westfield State University to a 17-3 rout of Mount Saint Mary College (Newburgh, N.Y.) on Wednesday, March 14, at the Webber International University field.
Greene tied school records for homers and RBI in a game. Dave Bevan had identical numbers for Westfield State vs. Mass. Maritime Academy in a 1979 game played at Westfield's old main campus field.
Greene played six innings of the nine-inning game and finished 4 for 4 with four runs scored, a single and a walk. Through six games the lefthander, who is also a standout defensive centerfielder, is batting .524 (11 for 21).
"I feel really good at the plate right now," said the 6-0, 195-pounder in the dugout following the game. "I am really confident and seeing the ball really well. Last year was my first year down in Florida and I was a little nervous."
Greene played football for the Owls his freshman year and made the switch to baseball his sophomore year. As the saying goes, he's luvin' life right now.
"Kevin came up to me earlier this week and says: 'Coach, I am 20 years old and I am playing college baseball; it doesn't getting any better than this because after college I am going to be working the rest of my life'," said Westfield head coach Ray Arra.
Arra has been coaching for 50 years and can recall few hitting displays as spectacular as Greene's.
"I coached this Westfield Legion player Frank Mochak, who was being looked at by the Yankees, who hit the way Kevin is hitting right now," said the veteran mentor.
Greene slugged a two-run homer to straightaway centerfield in the first inning. He led off the fourth frame with a solo blast to rightfield and capped his marvelous game by lining a three-run circuit shot down the righfield line in the sixth.
Several other Owls also smashed the ball in the 16-hit onslaught. Freshman designated hitter Nick Champeau continued his hot hitting, going 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI and three runs. The Southbridge resident (Tantasqua HS) is batting a team-high .583 (7 for 12).
Senior shortstop Matt Kelly of Weymouth (Boston College HS) was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and lined a three-run homer in Westfield's six-run outburst in the fourth. Senior first baseman Josh Blair (Westfield HS) was 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI.
The Owls also received a solis pitching effort from senior ace Roman Mondalto, who was seeing his first action of the young season. The southpaw threw five innings, allowing three hits and three walks and striking out three. The Owl defense turned three double plays.
Westfield evened its record at 3-3 and returns to action on Thursday when it plays a doubleheader vs. Roger Williams University at Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven.
Mount Saint Mary College, which defeated Drew (N.J.) University prior to its game vs. Westfield, is now 6-4.