High school baseball preview capsules
ECC DIVISION I East Lyme Coach: Jack Biggs (12th year)
Key returnees: Sr. OF Matt Abbey, Sr. P-OF Jackson Deweese, Sr. P-IF Trevor Delesdernier, Jr. P-IF Jared Hunt, Jr. OF Dylan Hatajik, Sr. P-IF Ryan Kane, Jr. C-OF Matt Malcom.
Top newcomers: Fr. IF Chris Malcom, So. OF Luke Leonard, Jr. IF-P Blake Bragaw, So. OF Tommy Mason, Fr. P-OF Tristan Levesque, Sr. IF Jack Mountain, Sr. IF Kyle Ayers, Sr. P Pete Tauro, Jr. IF Jacob Diaz, Sr. IF Jon Keens, Sr. P-IF Shawn Anhalt.
Outlook: The Vikings, who lost an eight-inning heartbreaker to Notre Dame of West Haven in the 2016 Class L final, were hit hard by graduation but return a solid nucleus. Biggs will lean on his experienced pitching staff and a solid defense early while he incorporates some young, new faces into the lineup. That said, expect East Lyme to be a factor in the division race.
Fitch
Coach: Jeff Joyce (3rd year)
Key returnees: Sr. P-IF Henrick Khoury, Sr. P-IF Ian Cekala, Sr. IF Jake Parizo, Sr. P-IF Michael Williams, Sr. P-UT Connor McCrae, Sr. OF Aaron Beeney, Sr. OF Dan Clark, Sr. P-IF Colton St. Louis, Sr. IF Seth Rockwell, Jr. OF Ryan Tuohy.
Top newcomers: So. C Tyler Nelli, Jr. IFOF Calvin Jacey, Jr. IF Wes Jacey.
Outlook: The Falcons must replace a pair of reliable pitchers in Justin Marceau and Hunter Nadeau from a team that went 13-9 in 2016 and reached the second round of the Class L state tournament, but Joyce has plenty of experience returning, especially up the middle with the double-play tandem of Williams and Parizo. Khoury hit .448 a year ago, so Fitch's offense should be solid, but Joyce is curious to see how his pitching staff led by Cekala and Khoury develops. That ultimately will decide whether or not the Falcons can contend for the Division I title and make some noise at the state level.
Ledyard
Coach: Scott Chiasson (3rd year) Key returnees: Sr. C Nick Smith, Sr. CF Austin Brandt, So. P Ken Turner, So. P Cade Walters.
Top newcomers: So. IF James Laconico, So. 3B Weston Bruce, Jr. P Jacob Money, Jr. P Nuriel Preciado, Jr. OF Max Ebdon, Sr. IF Owen Wheeler.
Outlook: This will be a young team which suffered major graduation losses from a group that went 9-11 during the 2016 regular season. The good news, however, is that the Colonels return a three-year starter behind the plate in Smith and two very promising sophomore starting pitchers in Turner and Walters, who combined for six of Ledyard's nine wins last season. Brandt should provide a spark offensively, and Chiasson believes the Colonels have the ability to earn the program's fifth straight postseason bid.
NFA
Coach: Luke Gabordi (4th year)
Key returnees: So. IF Kevin Pomroy, Jr. P Tyler Briggs, Sr. 1B-UT Colby Jakan, Sr. IF Cam Brodeur, Sr. OF-C Bryan Caisse.
Top newcomers: Sr. UT Ben Cathcart, Sr. IF Casey Semenuk, Jr. C Derek Cholewa, Jr. P-OF Alex Jacobik, Jr. P-IF, George Etzel, Jr. P-IF Jordan Lake, So. P-OF Vinny Gualtieri, So. P-OF Grafton Angevine, So. P-OF Nick Gallivan.
Outlook: The Wildcats, who went 9-11 in 2016 but reached the second round of the Class LL state tournament, must replace a pair of talented pitchers in Caleb Bierman and Andy Grant. Gabordi, however, has a nice mix of youth and experience that should keep NFA competitive against a strong division and tough non-league schedule.
New London
Coach: Jonathan Mikula (1st year)
Key returnees: Jr. C-IF Aidan Brennan, Sr. IF Sigfredo Hidalgo, Jr. P-IF Elijah Martinez, Jr. IF-OF Monolito Johnson II, Jr. IF-OF Noah Smith, Sr. C-OF Nathaniel Skrabacz, So. P-IF Robert Otanez, Sr. P-IF-OF Donovan Williams.
Top newcomers: Jr. IF Shaun Cambiasaca, Sr. OF Samuel Castillo, So. P-IF Zane Mikula, Jr. P-OF Robert Parra, Jr., Sr. IF Agustin Rivera, Sr. OF Devon Sousa, So. P-IF-OF Connor Surprenant, Jr. C-OF Osyrus Vazquez.
Outlook: Mikula returns to his alma mater to replace Mike Wheeler, who led the Whalers to a Class M state title in 2009 and a 13-7 regular season in 2016. Mikula's first team will include plenty of new faces and one that has excellent leadership from its junior and senior class. "As we gain experience," Mikula said, "I think we can become a good team as the tournament comes around. The kids have been working hard and having fun.'' ECC DIVISION II Montville Coach: Stephen Stonoha (2nd year). Key returnees: Sr. C Seamus Barry, Jr. P-OF Doug Delacruz, So. OF Ryan Champagne.
Top newcomers: So. IF Nick Calash, Fr. IF Rob Delacruz.
Outlook: The Indians will be young and untested this season after Stonoha guided the team to a 17-8 record in 2016 and a berth in the Class M quarterfinals. Montville has just one senior, Barry, who will led a young pitching staff bolstered by the return of Doug Delacruz, who missed last year with an arm injury. Champagne stepped in as a freshman and was a major contributor. Some young, untested players must develop quickly if the Indians hope to compete at high level again.
Stonington
Coach: Bob Cahoone (2nd year)
Key returnees: Sr. RF Kyle Whipple, Jr. LF Kevin Ferrer, Jr. P Adam Gibbs, Sr. P Sam Foster, Sr. P Conner Woodworth, Sr. C Griffin Crowley.
Top newcomers: So. SS R.J. Parrilla, Sr. 2B Harrison Graham, Jr. 2B Jaden Stefanski, So. 3B Ben Potenziano.
Outlook: The Bears went 12-12 a year ago, including a trip to the Class M quarterfinals, and returns the bulk of a deep pitching staff that should keep them competitive with anyone on their schedule. Cahoone does have some inexperience and a few holes to fill, but adds, "if the defense comes together we should have a very respectable year."
Waterford
Coach: Art Peluso (7th year)
Key returnees: Sr. C Alex Petchark, Jr. P-3B Michael Burrows, Sr. P-3B Collin Bakken, Sr. OF Dylan Bosco, Jr. P-OF Walker Sutman, Sr. OF Dan Castelpoggi, Sr. 1B Tyler Yeomans, Sr. IF-OF Chris Cantres, Jr. P Bobby Silva.
Top newcomers: Jr. IF Trevor Yeomans, Jr. IF Matt Driscoll, Jr. P Kyle Kobyluck, Jr. OF Nick Porazzi, Jr. OF John Pelligrino, Jr. C Clancy Susi, Jr. C Joe Scotti.
Outlook: The Lancers went 19-1 during the regular season a year ago, but lost to eventual champion Wolcott in the Class M quarterfinals. Peluso is optimistic about this spring, and who can blame him? Waterford returns a pair of all-starters (Petchark and Burrows) and its entire pitching staff. Sprinkle in some young players and the Lancers have the makings of a team that should only get better and be ready for another strong postseason. ECC DIVISION III Wheeler Coach: Eric Collins (2nd year) Key returnees: P-IF Chris Munzer, P-IF Dylan Wilkinson, IF Chris Cassie, C-IF Caleb Melinosky, P-OF Calvin Vrabrel, C Anthony Cibarich. Top newcomers: P Bowen Baker, IF Aiden Cameron.
Outlook: The Lions were 5-15 during Collins' first season, but three of those losses were by a run in extra innings, so they were close to making the postseason. That is the goal this season, as well as being competitive in Division III, and Wheeler returns a solid group that should make that possible.
OTHERS Grasso Tech Coach: Carlos Flores (7th year) Key returnee: Sr. P-CF Chris Rivera. Top newcomer: P-IF Jacob Willis.
Outlook: Rivera will lead a young Grasso Tech team which went 1-13 a year ago and will rely on a nucleus of new players in order to be more competitive in the Constitution State Conference East Division.
Old Lyme
Coach: Randy St. Germain (14th year)
Key returnees: Jr. 2B Jace Funero, Jr. SS Ron Losacano, Jr. C Griffin Powers, Sr. P-1B Jordan Warecke, Sr. P-OF Matt Kane, Jr. P-IF Hunter Thornton, Sr. 1B Julian Muller, Sr. OF D.J. Jones.
Top newcomers: Jr. OF Liam Johnston, So. OF Liam Holloway, So. OF Eli St. Germain, Jr. OF-IF Jon Balocca.
Outlook: The Wildcats went 10-10 during the regular season a year ago, then went on a memorable run to the Class S state tournament semifinals before losing to eventual state champion St. Paul. Old Lyme did suffer some major graduation losses, but will be solid up the middle with the return of juniors Powers (catcher), Funero (2B) and Losacano (SS). "Like every year, if our pitchers develop we should have a chance to compete in the Shoreline (Conference) and state tournament," St. Germain said. "Most of the other positions will be like putting a puzzle together, and hopefully we can do it in time to compete in what should be an extremely tough Shoreline Conference."