WALTHAM, Mass. – An experienced quartet of everyday players – Eddy Beauregard (Paxton/Wachusett Reg. HS), Kyle Halloran (Hopkinton/Hopkinton HS), Liam Sears (Springfield/Pope Francis HS) and Tim Zupkus (Middlebury, Conn./Holy Cross HS) – have been named captains of the 2023 Bentley University baseball team, first-year head coach Mike Hill announced.

Halloran and Sears are graduate students and Beauregard and Zupkus are both seniors. Combined, they've played in 326 collegiate games and have 320 hits, 262 runs scored and 198 RBI.

"I am proud to announce these four guys as my first captains," said Hill, a former Bentley All-America and a long time assistant to 54-year head coach Bob DeFelice. "They each have their own way of bringing leadership to our program and understand the high expectations and standards of our program day in and day out. They have been great ambassadors for our program in welcoming our newcomers in the offseason, proving themselves as selfless teammates and consistent hard workers. They are dedicated, and great competitors on the field. I'm really excited with the direction the program is going with these four leading the way."

Beauregard, a first baseman/pitcher who transferred from Stonehill before the last season, had a .289/.391/.467 slash line in 2022 with his 44 hits including eight doubles, two triples and a team-leading five home runs. The team-leader in runs scored (38) and RBI (39), he was also errorless in 247 chances at first field. Beauregard could also see some action from the mound this spring. He last pitched for Stonehill in 2021, winning all four of his decisions.

"Eddy is a true leader by example for our entire team to follow," praised Hill. "He is looked up to by his teammates on the field and in the weight room for his work ethic and positive influence on the younger players."

Halloran, who moved from infield to center last season, is a fifth-year player who has been in 113 games for the Falcons and is four runs shy of 100 for his career. In 2022, he batted .287, scored 34 times, had a .381 on base percentage and stole 16 bases. Halloran hit .378 with runners in scoring position and tracked down 83 balls in the outfield without an error.

 "Kyle is the heart and soul of the competitive grit and energy of our team," said Hill. "He possesses strong leadership qualities as well as the ability to hold his teammates accountable to the highest standards."

Sears, who earned second-team All-Northeast-10 honors in 2021, led the Falcons in batting average and on base percentage last spring while putting up a .314/.432/.4376 slash line. That followed a 2021 season in which he hit .364 and slugged .545 in 28 games. Bentley's starting left fielder the last two seasons, he could also see time at first base.

"When I think of Liam, I think of a hard-working, accountable, respectful person that cares about his teammates and this program," said Hill. "He possesses a great work ethic to go along with his athletic ability, and that combination makes him a successful player."

Zupkus, the Falcons' right fielder since his arrival on campus, has started every game the last two seasons and is coming off a season that saw him hit a career-best .293 with 36 RBI, 30 runs scored and a .414 on base percentage. Like Halloran, he was errorless in the outfield last year with 129 putouts and three assists.

"You know you can count on Tim, regardless of the situation," said Hill. "He'll run through a wall for you because he wants it that bad. He's an excellent example of a team player."

Bentley, 17-25 last spring, will open the Hill era next weekend in Altamonte Springs, Fla. with a four-game non-conference series with Assumption University.