Returning MASCAC rookie of the year Gustavo de Oliveira and the Trailblazers want to surprise MASCAC and finish better than their preseason No. 8 ranking.
Most of the preseason talk has been about the potential improvement of the Minutemen's offense. Without a similar improvement on defense, it might still be a long season.
The Trailblazers are the No. 7 team in the MASCAC preseason coaches' poll, but veteran head coach Deb Raber says that's about last year, and that's something they won't talk
The Berkshire Bananas and Rip City had a game cut short by rain but still teed off to begin the inaugural Berkshire Reign 1791 Baseball Tournament Classic at Joe Wolfe
The Minutemen open Mid-American Conference play on Dec. 2, at Eastern Michigan. This year, UMass will play home and away against every team in the MAC.
