WORCESTER, M.A. — Saco native and former Thornton Academy standout pitcher Ben Lambert was recently named to the 2017 Assumption College baseball roster, being one of the few freshman to get a chance to play from the get-go.

Lambert was one of the most successful athletes in TA’s history, playing baseball, football and basketball. A versatile athlete, Lambert proved to be high-caliber across the diamond in high school, contributing as the Trojans’ staff ace, No. 3 hitter and also played shortstop and center field. He was named as one of the Greyhounds’ starting pitchers for the 2017 Spring.

He was also awarded numerous honors throughout his high school tenure, including being named to the Southwestern Maine Activities Association’s first team. Lambert was also presented with the 2016 Edson Hadlock Award, given to Maine’s top pitcher, and was the Journal Tribune’s baseball player of the year in both 2015 and 2016, finishing his TA tenure with a .365 batting average and 166 strikeouts in 130 innings pitched.

He was also a two-time All-State selection in football, and a two-time honorable mention in basketball.

Through his first three games, Lambert has a 2-1 record with an impressive 1.23 ERA for the Greyhounds. 

“It’s been pretty cool — not every kid gets an opportunity straight out of high school. It’s been cool to have some success already and to get on the mound,” said Lambert.

Lambert saw an increase in competition early on in his college career, and has already worked on developing his game with the Assumption coaching staff.

“The biggest thing that I’ve seen is that 1-9 they can hit. In high school you see (1-5) are your best hitters and then it drops off after that … everyone in the lineup now can hit,” said Lambert. “I learned a couple more pitches working with the coaches, a splitter and a changeup which I hadn’t really thrown a lot in high school. I learned that now in college you aren’t going to get by with just two pitches … you need another one that will help get people out.”

Assumption fields a young team this year, with many underclassmen on the roster. Although some would say the Greyhounds are rebuilding, Lambert feels that they are reloading, and hopes to make a playoff push in the tough Northeast-10 Conference.

“Our biggest goal as a team is to make the playoffs. Franklin Pierce and (Southern New Hampshire) are up there then I think we’ll battle it out for the third and fourth spot with Merrimack and Stonehill. We have a pretty good shot at making it again this year,” said Lambert.

— Associate Sports Editor Alex Sponseller can be reached at [email protected] or at 282-1535 ext. 323.