BOSTON – Suffolk baseball senior captain Brady Chant has been chosen to put on the Rams' uniform one final time at the 2018 New England Intercollegiate Baseball Association (NEIBA) All-Star Game, which will be held Thursday, May 31 at McCoy Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
The NEIBA All-Star game features the top senior talent from NCAA Division I, II and III programs based in New England. The 'College Division' All-Star squad is made up of DII and DIII student-athletes, while the 'University Division' team consists of DI layers. An award ceremony will be held prior to the start of the 44th Annual NEIBA Joe Walsh All-Star contest featuring the including of the second class of the NEIBA Hall of Fame with first pitch to follow at 12 p.m.
Chant is among 15 DIII seniors to be invited to participate in the NEIBA All-Star Game and is one of two GNAC players chosen to the 2018 'College Division' roster, which is also comprised of 13 of the top DII players, which is set to compete at teh end of the month. The four-time all-league honoree is joined by conference counterpart Josh Partridge of Saint Joseph's (Maine).
The 28-man College Division team will take on the University Division squad, which is made up of the region's top Division I players and will be announced next week following the completion of conference tournament play.
For the second straight season a Suffolk player has been selected to represent the Rams with Chant joining an elite group of standout student-athletes, who have donned the blue-and-gold on the NEIBA All-Star diamond. The 2018 GNAC Player of the Year follows in the footsteps of former co-captain Matthew Brenner (2017) and teammate Chuck Gibson (2017) and 2013 selection Mike Cunningham.
A three-time, first-team all-region selection by both D3Baseball.com and the NEIBA in conjunction with the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA) and Rawlings, Chant had a record setting career at Suffolk. He paved the way for the Rams to hoist the GNAC Championship in each of his four seasons on the field for four consecutive tickets to the NCAA DIII Tournament.
Arguably one of the most decorated Suffolk baseball players in the history of the 71-year-old program, Chant left his mark in the Rams' record books, graduating as the all-time leader in triples (25), total bases (362) and at bats (687). Throughout his senior season in 2018 he chased the all-time hits record and came up just five knocks shy, sliding into second with 233 career hits, becoming just the fifth Ram to boast over 200 hits throughout their careers. He also holds second in doubles (43) and stolen bases (68), while also appearing on the lists for runs scored (151) and walks (84).
A fixture in centerfield, Chant, who appeared in the most games (177) in Suffolk baseball annals, is one of the most consistent fielder's in the Rams' history. In 484 total chances he made just five errors for an impressive .990 career fielding percentage. More impressive, he saved his best for last with a perfect showing in center as a senior, successfully playing 126 total chances with 123 putouts and three outfield assists for an unblemished 1.000 fielding percentage.
Offensively this season, Chant paved the path for Suffolk, leading the way in every offensive category producing 60 hits on a .349 average for 34 RBI to go along with 35 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.
NEIBA ALL-STAR SQUAD COLLEGE ROSTER
DIVISION II
C - Andrew Jaehnig - Assumption
IF - Mike Coggeshall - Franklin Pierce
IF - Miek Samko - Bentley
IF - John Friday - Franklin Pierce
IF - Tom Walraven - New Haven
OF - Matt Nicholson - Merrimack
OF - Darren Graboswki - Bridgeport
OF - Adam Chase - Franklin Pierce
P - Zach Hart - Franklin Pierce
P - David Palmer - New Haven
P - Brendon Lemanna - New Haven
P - Nick Arnold - Post
UT - Matt Constanza - AIC
DIVISON III
C - Logan Sullo - Mass. Maritime
C - Jon Lindau - Castleton
IF - Chris Fowler - UMass Boston
IF - Mike DeNato - Endicott
IF - Tommy O'Hara - Tufts
IF - Garet Griffin - Mitchell
OF - Andre Eason Jr. - Lyndon State
OF - Malcolm Nachmanoff - Tufts
OF - Brady Chant - Suffolk
P - Tom Muratore - Lesley
P - Josh Partridge - St. Joseph's (Maine)
P - Dan Southerland - Wheaton
UT - Garrett Greenwood - MIT
UT - Teddy Downing - Clark
DH - Ryan Arena - Babson