Hockomock will again feature powerhouses
Every league loves to tout their respective prowess as a baseball power.
The Hockomock League has the receipts to state their claim as the top dog.
For the second straight season, the Division 1 state final was contested by Hockomock rivals Taunton and Franklin. King Philip has advanced to the Div. 2 state championship game in back-to-back seasons, losing to Milton.
“The competition in the Hockomock League is just so good,” said Taunton coach Blair Bourque, whose team is seeking a third straight Div. 1 state title. “There are so many good coaches and players in the league that you have to be prepared to play every single day or else you’re going to lose.”
Taunton returns a solid nucleus led by pitchers Johnny Escobalez, Jack Cali and Brady Morin, shortstop Brayden Cali, and outfielders Andrew Cali and Dwayne Burgo. Franklin isn’t going anywhere any time soon as pitchers Jake Shaughnessy, Austin Campbell and Matt Miller are back along with outfielder Rex Cinelli and standout shortstop Henry DiGiorgio.
King Philip moved up to Div. 1 in the latest MIAA realignment. The Warriors have plenty of talent in first baseman Max Robison, shortstop Tommy McLeish, outfielders Travis Crawford and Aiden Astorino, pitchers Nate Pennini and Cam Hasenfus, DH Drew Herlin and catcher Leo Dowling.
The Catholic Conference looks to be top heavy once again as BC High, St. John’s Prep, St. John’s (Shrewsbury) and Xaverian all have title aspirations.
BC High returns the league MVP in third baseman Cole Bohane, outfielders Sam Keane and Jackson Richard, along with pitchers Charlie Bushey, Alex Parisi and Liam Kineen. Xaverian is looking to star shortstop Jackson Morse, outfielder Charlie Comella, second baseman Luke Douglas, and pitchers Paul McCarthy and Patrick Rhodes.
St. John’s Prep could have one of the better lineups around as shortstop Cam LaGrassa, first baseman William Shaheen, catcher Aidan Driscoll and outfielder Nic Lembo are back. St. John’s (Shrewsbury) has two solid pitchers in Brady Shea and Noah Basgaard.
Andover appears to be the team to beat in the Merrimack Valley Conference. All-Scholastic pitcher Chris Jaillet and Ben Workman are back along with second baseman Teddy Gibson and Central Catholic transfer Will Morris (outfielder).
Chelmsford has ace Matt Stuart back along with outfielder Grant Englehardt. Central Catholic is looking for big things from pitcher Josh Florence, first baseman Jack Savio and catchers Brady Rickenbach and Jake Bartlett.
In the Dual County League, Westford Academy went undefeated during the regular season and will be led by outfielders Jake Cullen, Ryan Swinamer and Shane Clark, first baseman Justin Davighi, catcher James McDermott, infielder Tyler Frazee and pitchers Nic Bonica and Dan Metznik. Lincoln-Sudbury will look to pitcher Peter Abair, catcher Cooper Tarantino and shortstop Jake Haarde.
In Div. 2, Greg Lannon takes over for Brendan Morrissey, who left to take the job at Milton Academy after guiding Milton to consecutive Div. 2 state titles. Outfielder/pitcher Scott Longo may be the best returning player in the Bay State Conference, while first baseman Max Dunn and outfielder Harry Hinkle are expected to take on bigger roles.
Walpole is always in the mix. Pitchers Alex Hee and Mike St. Martin will lead the staff while catcher Ryan Walsh and third baseman Paul Whelan are among the more experienced field position players.
Mansfield won 16 games a year ago and returned a solid nucleus led by pitchers Connor Curtis and Jake Maydak as well as second baseman Matt DeShiro. Head coach Chris Hall is expecting big things from pitchers Yuv Sakhalkar, Ryan Jeans and Luke Rogan, outfielders Brian Butler and Anthony Saraiva, and infielders Drew Urban, Derek McGrath, Luke Rogan and Matt Tryon.
Two more contenders out of the Hockomock League should be Milford and Oliver Ames. Milford returns pitchers Damian Carter, Ian Carter and Anthony LaPierre along with catcher Keith Lee. Ace Lucas Riley is back for Oliver Ames and outfielder Harrison Fitzpatrick comes off a solid sophomore season.
Two of the top teams in the Patriot League should be Plymouth North and Whitman-Hanson, both of whom had some postseason runs last year.
All-Scholastic pitcher D.C. Brown is back for Plymouth North with third baseman George Slauson, shortstop Matt Nardone and pitchers Cody Quinn and Josh Bryant. Whitman-Hanson will be paced by pitchers Ryan Baker and Evan Yakavonis, and catcher Cam Beltramini.
Somerset Berkley won 17 games last season and returns pitcher William Dionne, shortstop Cam Hoyle and second baseman Luke Thornton. Norwood will lean on pitchers Owen Desharnais and Jerry Frye, outfielder/pitcher Giacomo Serratore and catcher Angel Olaverria.
Division 1 Players to Watch
P: Peter Abair (Lincoln-Sudbury), Matt Almeida (Durfee), Kole Andrade (Diman), Noah Basgaard (St. John’s Shrewsbury), Nic Bonica (Westford), Brody Bumila (Bishop Feehan), Austin Campbell (Franklin), Joe Castelo (New Bedford), Cam Connolly (Peabody), Tyler Dunlea (Attleboro), Johnny Escobalez (Taunton), Josh Florence (Central Catholic), Chris Jaillet (Andover), Liam Kinneen (BC High), Luke Leger (Newton South), Brett Mulligan (Catholic Memorial), Alex Parisi (BC High), Domenic Perfine (North Andover), Sam Perry (Diman), Jack Reyes (Weymouth), Jack Ritchie (Bridgewater-Raynham), A’jay Rivera (New Bedford), Brady Shea (St. John’s Shrewsbury), Matt Stuart (Chelmsford), Jack Tarbox (Barnstable)
C: Nate Deitenhofer (Whittier), Aidan Driscoll (St. John’s Prep), Shane Evans (Bishop Feehan), John Flynn (Boston Latin), Max Gaudiano (North Quincy), Jackson Harrild (Newton South), Drew LaChance (Methuen), Vince Libretto (Lexington), James McDermott (Westford), Colin Snyder (Haverhill), Cooper Tarantino (Lincoln-Sudbury)
1B: J.J. Blanchard (Framingham), Noah Crocker (Peabody), Sladen Johnson (Barnstable), David Manon (Lawrence), Ryan O’Byrne (Belmont), Max Robison (King Philip), William Shaheen (St. John’s Prep), Daniel Tambascia (Newton North)
2B: Andrew Daley (Weymouth), Robert Farr (Natick), Jarren Goodine (New Bedford), Devin Koleski (Beverly), Keenan Sawada (Brookline)
SS: Jeriel Benzan (Lynn English), Peter Brooks (Braintree), Brayden Cali (Taunton), Corey Deziel (Whittier), Anthony DiGiacomo (Barnstable), Henry DiGiorgio (Franklin),
Gill Dolan (Weymouth), Jeyden Espinal (Durfee), Tucker Grant (Haverhill), Jake Haarde (Lincoln-Sudbury), Cam LaGrassa (St. John’s Prep), Tommy McLeish (King Philip), Jackson Morse (Xaverian), Jonny Pagano (Attleboro), Jariel Tolentino (Peabody), Jaden Velis (Lexington)
3B: Cole Bohane (BC High), Sean O’Rourke (Braintree)
OF: Aiden Astorino (King Philip), Max Berberian (Lexington), Dwayne Burgo (Taunton), Jack Byrne (Natick), Charlie Comella (Xaverian), Jake Cullen (Westford), Grant Englehardt (Chelmsford), David Johnson (North Andover), Sam Keane (BC High), Alex Lara (Everett), Nic Lembo (St. John’s Prep), Ezechiel Noelsaint (Malden), Will Norris (Andover), Bobby Quill (Bridgewater-Raynham), Hayden Regan (Braintree), Jackson Richard (BC High), Josean Rios (North Andover), Antonio Zermani (Winchester)
Division 2 Players to Watch
C: Cam Beltramini (Whitman-Hanson), Donovan Burgo (Dartmouth), Keith Lee (Milford), Jackson Norales (Malden Catholic), Elijah Rivera (Chelsea), Cameron Wilbur (Bristol-Plymouth)
P: Ryan Baker (Whitman-Hanson), D.C. Brown (Plymouth North), Connor Curtis (Mansfield), Damien Carter (Milford), Ian Carter (Milford), Sal D’Amico (Dracut), Owen Desharnais (Norwood), William Dionne (Somerset Berkley), Paul Donnelly (Masconomet), Gabe Fales (Masconomet), Alex Hee (Walpole), Devin Hunt (Westwood), Anthony LaPierre (Milford), Scott Longo (Milton), Hunter Malkin (Stoughton), Jake Maydak (Mansfield), Lucas Riley (Oliver Ames), Mitch Simlus (Hopkinton), Cam Tetler (Plymouth South), Evan Yakavonis (Whitman-Hanson)
1B/3B: Nolan Dawson (Billerica), Shaun MacPhee (Malden Catholic), George Slauson (Plymouth North)
2B: Matthew DeShiro (Mansfield), Seamus McMakin (Burlington), Luke Thornton (Somerset Berkley)
SS: Jeremy Aylward (Hingham), Nolan Berkley (Burlington), Ben Cassaday (Melrose), Almani Gerardo (Lynn Classical), Cam Hoyle (Somerset Berkley), Jack Quigley (Silver Lake)
OF: Ian Born (Somerville), Alex Dayton (Westwood), Harrison Fitzpatrick (Oliver Ames), Gus O’Gara (Billerica), Jayson Ruehs (Plymouth South)