Bio

The 1975 Westfield State baseball team stands as the best of its generation among a slew of successful teams, and advanced further in the NCAA Regional Tournament than any other Owls Baseball team

The 1975 club finished with a record of 32-8 , setting not only a program record for wins, but the most by any team in any sport at Westfield State, a record that would not be matched for 50 years.

The Owls opened the season 7-1 on their southern trip, and won the MASCAC title with a 17-1 record.

The program made its first-ever trip to the NCAA tournament as the team advanced to the NCAA Regional tournament in Waltham, Mass. and battled out of the loser’s bracket to advance to the tournament’s championship game – with a trip to the College World Series on the line for the winner.

After losing the opener in the double elimination tournament to LeMoyne, 4-1, the Owls topped Central Connecticut 8-5 behind a grand slam from Bob Kallstrom.

Beat LeMoyne and Brandeis on Day 2, then defeated Montclair 3-2 in the opener before running out of arms and falling 8-1 in the double-elimination final.

Seven members of the team have previously been inducted to the Westfield State Hall of Fame as individuals; Bob Kallstrom, Bill Weber, Carlton Steele, Garry Beard,  Jack Dougherty, Bob Moniz, and Mark Pananos.

Kallstrom led the Owls with nine home runs and 41 rbi on the season, Dougherty led the club in batting at .405, and Steele led with 48 hits and 26 stolen bases.  Weber posted nine wins on the mound, while Pananos’ won seven with a miniscule 1.26 earned run average.

Owls head coach Ken Ralph was named the New England Coach of the Year for his efforts in leading the Owls, and was selected to coach in the New England All-Star game at Holy Cross.

The underclassmen on the 1975 Owls used that season as a launching pad for the program – beginning a magical stretch as Westfield would go on to make five straight NCAA tournaments, and seven in the next 10 seasons.

TEAM MEMBERS

Carl Abert
Fisk Bacon, III
Garry Beard
Bob Benn
Bob Berriman
Dave Clivio
Jack Dougherty
Mike Gauthier
Frank Halper
Bob Kallstrom
Steven Mancini
Bob Mayo
Bob Moniz
Don Montemorra
Jack Mosko
Ralph Nebalski
Joe O'Connell
Mark Pananos
Steve Perry
Gary Puccio
Harry Ratchford
Mike Sanson
Fred Simm
Carlton Steele
Larry Strycharz
William Weber
Denny Wojdag

COACH - Ken Ralph