Laplante becomes fourth Wheaton player in two years to sign professional baseball contract

May 24, 2007

NORTON, MA- Recent Wheaton College graduate and four-year baseball catcher Adam Laplante (Harwich, MA/Harwich) became the fourth Lyon in the last two years and fifth Wheaton player overall to sign a professional contract, as he agreed to terms with the Nashua Pride of the Canadian-American Association of Professional Baseball.

Joining former battery mate Jamie Baker '06 in the Can-Am League, Laplante is the third Wheaton baseball player to have dotted the Pride's roster. Baker, who signed with the North Shore Spirit on April 19 after spending part of spring training as a San Diego Padres signee, and catcher Mark Brown '06 played for Nashua during the 2006 season. Pitcher Chris Martin '06, who played for the Pensacola Pelicans of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball a year ago, and 2002 Major League Baseball draftee and current Oakland Athletic outfielder Chris Denorfia '02 are the only other Wheaton players in the program's 10-year varsity history to appear professionally.

Just this past weekend, Laplante returned to his home field in Harwich to lead nationally-ranked Wheaton to the semifinal game of its third consecutive NCAA New England Regional Tournament. Named to the all-tournament team after batting .389 with six RBI in four games, the co-captain finished his outstanding career as a two-time New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) Player of the Year and NEWMAC All-Conference first teamer.

Tied for first in the league with 12 doubles, Laplante was also tied for fifth with four home runs, tied for sixth with 29 RBI and tied for eighth with 34 runs. Batting .319 with 10 stolen bases, Laplante was a major contributor to a team that posted the third-most victories in program history. Going 34-13 overall, the Lyons advanced to their seventh NCAA Tournament in eighth seasons while capturing their ninth straight regular season conference crown and eighth league tournament title.

Wrapping up a distinguished career that saw him start the majority of games behind the dish his sophomore through senior seasons, Laplante leaves Wheaton as its career leader in putouts. He also ranks seventh in slugging, eighth in home runs and batting average, ninth in triples and on-base percentage and tied for 10th in walks. Laplante played a hand in the program's winningest four-year stretch, as the Lyons posted an overall record of 130-55-1 (.702) and conference mark of 39-9 (.813). He was a member of three NCAA Tournament teams, three league tournament championships and four regular season crowns.

The Can-Am League, a 10-team independent league with members in four states and one Canadian province, dates back to 1936. It began its third installment on October 6, 2004, when the league was reborn with the Spirit, Bangor Lumberjacks, Brockton Rox, Elmira Pioneers, Les Capitales de Quebec, New Haven County Cutters, New Jersey Jackals and Worcester Tornadoes as charter members. In 2006, Elmira and the 2005 road team, Grays, were replaced with a pair of newcomers in the Pride and Sussex Skyhawks. The following year the league expanded to 10 teams with the additions of the Atlantic City Surf and the rebirth of the road team Grays.

The Can-Am League's season gets underway tonight and, coincidentally, Baker and Laplante will face each other for the first time, as North Shore travels to Nashua for the opener of a four-game set at 7:05 p.m. Both teams will visit nearby Brockton's Campanelli Stadium during the month of June.

This page is maintained by Scott Dietz. Last updated on 5/24/07.
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