The greatest team in the history of the Bridgewater State baseball program, the 1996 squad put together an unforgettable NCAA Tournament run as the Bears captured the NCAA Division III New England Regional title and finished third at the Division III College World Series. The Bears defeated six nationally ranked teams during the impressive postseason run including the top two teams in the country (Marietta, Methodist). After sweeping their way through the New England Regional with wins over Brandeis, Southern Maine, and Eastern Connecticut, the Bears went 3-2 at the World Series in Salem, Virginia. The Bears dropped the CWS opener to eventual national champion William Paterson before bouncing back with three straight victories over Marietta, Methodist and Wisconsin-Oshkosh. With just three teams remaining at the World Series, the unforgettable season would come to close with a heart-breaking 3-1 setback to California Lutheran. At the conclusion of the regular season, the Bears were ranked 27th in the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) Division III Poll. Following NCAA Tournament play, the Bears were the third best team in all of Division III. Under the guidance of BSU Hall of Fame head coach Rick Smith, the Bears posted an overall record of 31-10 and won the MASCAC championship with a 12-2 conference mark. Jason Newhall (P), Matt Ardolino (DH), Kevin O’Leary (P/1B), Mike Armold (OF), Chris Quirk (C) and Jim Martorana (2B) each garnered All-MASCAC honors, while Newhall, O’Leary and Armold were named to the Division III All-New England Team. O’Leary, who would represent the Bears at the New England All-Star Game held that season at Fenway Park, would also capture ABCA Division III Second Team All-American accolades as both a first baseman and pitcher. As a team, the Bears batted .342 with 28 home runs, 89 doubles, ten trips, 40 stolen bases and 314 runs scored in 41 games. O’Leary paced the squad with a team-leading .430 batting average to go along with five home runs, 15 doubles, 34 runs and 38 RBI. Four different pitchers won at least five games, led by Newhall’s eight victories, while O’Leary and BSU Hall of Famer Fred Martin combined for ten saves. For his teams outstanding performance in 1996, Smith was selected as the ABCA Division III New England Coach of the Year.