As Milton gears as much as defend its Div. 2 state title, Brendan Morrissey is seeing the identical poise in his membership he noticed from a 12 months in the past.
While the Wildcats graduated the likes of Charlie Walker, Brian Foley, and Shea Donovan, they’re nonetheless the clear favourite in Div. 2 because the 2023 MIAA baseball season will get underway. Elon-bound junior left-hander Tommy Mitchell and two-way standout Owen MucHugh entrance the rotation whereas Jimmy Fallon and sophomore budding star Scott Longo spearhead the lineup.
“I’ve been impressed with our mindset so far coming into the season. It’s really no different than last year,” Milton coach Brendan Morrissey mentioned. “Our guys know they have the talent to get to where we want to get to, but they also have a lot of work to do to get there.”
The Div. 2 state finalist from a 12 months in the past, King Philip, will likely be in competition to complete the job this time round. Brendan Senjac is without doubt one of the greatest pure hitters in Eastern Mass and when wholesome, Tommy Martorano is without doubt one of the premier southpaws. Mansfield will likely be again within the combine led by junior arms Connor Curtis and Jake Maydak.
Dwayne Follette’s Plymouth North crew must be a contender with left-hander DC Brown rising as an ace. Norwood holds the largest star in flame-throwing right-hander Jack Cropper. Marblehead returns senior outfielder Shane Keough and right-hander Ian Maude whereas NEC foe Danvers will depend on Mike Moroney to man the employees.
Westwood and Holliston are two groups to regulate.
Div. 1 is about to be a dogfight with defending champion Taunton and perennial contender Franklin main the pack coming into the season. The Tigers return Dayton sure slugger Ryan MacDougall to go along with Dawson Bryce. Franklin holds 4 Div. 1 gamers in ace Alfred Mucciarone, shortstop Henry DiGiorgio, and outfielders Ryan Gerety and Esig Chin.
Merrimack Valley Conference foes Central Catholic and Chelmsford will contend by way of sturdy beginning pitching. The Raiders have a high three punch of Lukasz Rondeau, Joshua Florence, and Francisco Melendez. Chelmsford, in the meantime, has ace Braydon Gray to go along with Matthew and Caleb Stuart. Andover and North Andover are sleepers behind younger expertise.
Walpole has ace Alex Hee to go along with a powerful positional core of catcher Corey Kilroy, shortstop Jake Preto, and heart fielder Jason Finkelstein.
The remainder of the Bay State Conference has loads of star energy. Wellesley has Yale commit outfielder Tate Bannish whereas Braintree holds Dayton signee Jack Fitzgerald. Weymouth will likely be no slouch with entrance of the rotation right-hander Sean Zaslaw to go along with sophomore expertise Andrew Daley.
The Catholic Conference is about to be up for grabs. St. John’s Shrewsbury enters the season because the proverbial favourite within the league however Xaverian coach Gerry Lambert is assured his younger group will steadily enhance because the season goes alongside on account of sturdy pitching depth. St. John’s Prep has Maryland commit Aidan Driscoll on the heart of its lineup. Steve Healy’s BC High group is headlined by Cole Bohane and ace Ryan Kane.
Westford Academy is about to make critical noise as they’ve two-way standout Matt Morash to go along with Ben Mulgrew and Jake Cullen on a proficient roster.
DIV. 1 PLAYERS TO WATCH
P: Drew Anderson (Waltham), Luke Barry (Bridgewater-Raynham), J.J. Blanchard (Framingham), Matt Blanusa (Newton South), Nick Bonica (Westford), Dominic Boudreau (Revere), Chris Cassidy (Revere), Charlie Collins (Natick), Evan Cornelius (Milford), Jake Cullen (Westford), Kyle Cummings (Revere), John Florence (Central Catholic), Ryan Gerety (Franklin), Douglas George (Boston Latin), Braydon Gray (Chelmsford), Cam Grindle (Xaverian), Ben Hamilton (Waltham), Alex Hee (Walpole), Jack Keane (Marshfield), Ryan MacDougall (Taunton), Brendan McMahon (Malden), Francisco Melendez (Central Catholic), Matt Morash (Westford), Alfred Mucciarone (Franklin), Cole Mullen (North Andover), Connor Murphy (Newton South), Dom Pefine (North Andover), Mike Popp (Revere), Lukasz Rondeau (Central Catholic), Jake Schulte (Hingham), Matthew Smart (Chelmsford), George Sukatos (Bishop Feehan), Dylan Walsh (Arlington), Joe Williams (St. John’s Prep)
C: Steven Diaz (Lawrence), Aiden Driscoll (St. John’s Prep), Brendan Falasca (Lynn English), Will Fosberg (Natick), Corey Kilroy (Walpole), Ian LaForest (Waltham), Ian Moser (Bishop Feehan), Michael Oates (Xaverian), Dan Surette (Braintree), Cooper Tarantino (Lincoln-Sudbury)
1B: Gabe Albertson (Wellesley), Jack Fitzgerald (Braintree), Nathan Kearney (Central Catholic), Jack Kelleher (Haverhill)
2B: Almani Medina-Guerrero (Lynn Classical), Logan Petrosino (Beverly)
SS: Jeremy Aylward (Hingham), Dawson Bryce (Taunton), Jack Byrne (Natick), Damien Carter (Milford), Anthony DiGiacomo (Barnstable), Jeyden Espinal (Durfee), Jake Haarde (Lincoln-Sudbury), Cam LaGrassa (St. John’s Prep), Jimmy Mitchell (St. John’s Shrewsbury), Ben Mulgrew (Westford), Blake Newcomb (Concord-Carlisle), Myles Oo (Newton North), Brady Warren (Lynn Classical), Sean Zaslaw (Weymouth)
3B: Tate Bannish (Wellesley), Cole Bohane (BC High), Giovani Guglielmo (Peabody), Chase Lembo (Andover), Matthew Pappalardo (Methuen), Sebastian Reis (Durfee), Braden Sullivan (Taunton)
OF: Jon Adams (Newton South), Josh Boria (Durfee), Andrew Cali (Taunton), Aiden Devlin (Hingham), Charlie DiMartino (Braintree), Jason Finklestein (Walpole), David Johnson (North Andover), Jase Lyons (Franklin), Josh Martel (Durfee), Cam Morrison (Bridgewater-Raynham), Elijah Rivera (Chelsea), Reymi Medina Rosario (Lawrence)
DIV. 2 PLAYERS TO WATCH
P: Cam Champney (Plymouth North), Andrew Chenevert (Dracut), Jack Cropper (Norwood), Connor Curtis (Mansfield), Riley Fenerty (Salem), Michael Matta (Falmouth), Ian Maude (Marblehead), Tommy Mitchell (Milton), Michael Moroney (Danvers), Dylan Paulding (Tewksbury), Charlie Simulis (Hopkinton), Mitch Simulis (Hopkinton)
C: Matt Elwell (Wakefield), Mark McKay (Plymouth North)
1B: Jack DiGirolamo (Canton), Jack Doyle (Salem), Mike Fabiano (Reading), Sean Garvin (Norwood), Chase Lackie (Dartmouth), Braeden O’Connell (Masconomet), Daniel Zizza (Malden Catholic)
2B: Ben Wright (Reading)
SS: Ethan Beer (Nauset), Joe Carrazza (Hopkinton), Kevin Hurley (Norwood), Nick Larche (Holliston), Owen McHugh (Milton), Tyler O’Neil (Danvers), Cole Spellman (Falmouth), Mike Sullivan (Tewksbury), Chris Walsh (Duxbury)
3B: Nick Ayres (Duxbury), Matt Chafin (Canton), Will Curtin (Burlington), Jimmy Fallon (Milton), Kodie LeGrand (Tewksbury), Connor MacKenzie (Plymouth North), Brendan Sencaj (King Philip)
OF: Owen Derocher (Somerset Berkley), Chase Fenio (Dartmouth), Jack Finnegan (Milton), Shane Keough (Marblehead), Tad Giardina (St. Mary’s), Derek Maceda (North Attleboro), Jackson Powers (Woburn), Derek Roberts (Wayland)
Source: www.bostonherald.com