CCC RELEASE

BIDDEFORD, Maine – Two days prior to the first conference contests of Suffolk Athletics' Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) era, the league office unveiled its spring coaches' polls with the Rams' baseball team selected second in Pod B.  

Voting was conducted by the head coaches of their respective sports. While pod sports were ranked separately, all coaches were required to rank all teams from either pod.

Suffolk's first year in the CCC will look a little different with the league splitting into pods. Joining the rams in Pod B are Endicott, Gordon and Wentworth, while Curry, Nichols, Roger Williams, Salve Regina and Western New England.  

The Rams, who received one first place pick, collected 26 points good for second in Pod B. The Gulls were chosen as Pod B's favorite thanks to eight first-place votes for 35 points. The Fighting Scots slid into third with 16 points, while Suffolk's Boston neighbor taking fourth.  

In Pod A, Salve Regina was chosen to finish first with 40 points on four first-place votes. Roger Williams (34) and Western New England (30) grabbed second and third, respectively. The Hawks had three first-place picks with the Golden Bears garnered a pair of first-place votes. Nicohls (20) and Curry (11) round out Pod A. 

The CCC 2021 spring season will feature a modified schedule that is intended to provide a robust experience, while also working to maintain a safe and healthy environment on all conference campuses.  

Teams from each pod will battle off against one-another in weekend doubleheaders with one team hosting Saturday and the site switching the following day. Each double feature is made up of a seven-inning game one followed by a nine-inning night cap. If bonus baseball is needed for the opener, then the closer reverts back to a seven-inning clash. A mercy rule of 10-runs after seven frames will be in-effect for all conference bouts as well.  

Doubleheaders will be followed up by a midweek matchup of the same opponent from the previous weekend, however, the Wednesday meetings will not count towards the league ledger.  

CCC members are also allowed to pay against members from the opposing pod during their bye week. These contests will be considered out-of-league battles.  

Due to limited competition window and the strict testing protocols, conference games that are canceled will not be made up. However, if two teams have a scheduled non-conference matchup on a later date, those games can replace the canceled conference contests. 

Suffolk began its 2021 campaign with a four-game series against Lasell. The Rams went 3-1 in those outings last week to prep for its conference calendar, which is scheduled to get underway Saturday, March 27 at Gordon with a 12 p.m. game-one first pitch.