By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
There is an even balance of senior leadership and young enthusiasm lining up for the varsity baseball team this spring.
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Photo by Bevin Bixby
Baseball practice got underway in the CPS gym on Monday. From left, Erik Hughes, Michael Molta and Brian Reis participate in throwing drills. |
Nantucket advanced to the postseason last year with a regular season record of 9-7. They lost in the preliminary round to Bristol-Plymouth at home, but it was a long way from the 1-16 mark the year before.
With six returning seniors on the roster this year and 13 freshmen signed up for the program, the coaching staff is already looking forward to some success this year and for the foreseeable future.
“There are high expectations among the coaching staff as well as the players, and I think that it will come down to how this senior class leads. At the moment they are showing a lot of enthusiasm and leadership and that has to continue for us to be successful,” head coach Art Crowley said.
Numbers are up for the first time in a few years for the baseball team, with 33 players, including the 13 freshmen, signing up for the season.
“It has been a little on and off, so I am certainly loving it. On top of that it’s a talented group of kids. There is some young talent in there we look forward to in the future. You have got to credit the guys that have handled the CPS team the last couple of years. They have maintained some good numbers,” Crowley said of coaches Jack Molloy and Mike Molta.
“There is a lot of talent in the freshmen class. I haven’t seen this much talent in the JV programs since when I was coaching JV with Nick (Duarte) in ’95-96. You play the cards you are dealt, and they have not been dealt many cards in the last 10 years, but this group is a talented group of young guys,” Crowley said.
Among the returning varsity starters, senior Erik Hughes returns behind the plate. He has been key in handling the Whalers’ pitching staff over the last few seasons and has become a threat to baserunners attempting to steal.
“I think he is going to throw out several more people this year. He will be a deterrent for people trying to steal. He has been the best receiver we have ever had,” Crowley said.
The Whalers are also fortunate to have four returning varsity pitchers this season. Senior Tomas Smaliorius, who finished the season as the Whalers’ top starter last spring, pitched 31 innings and struck out 47 batters. Juniors Eric Lowell and Chris Welch are also coming off successful sophomore campaigns. Senior Anthony Valero was used mainly in a closer role last season.
“We have a lot of depth in pitching. They are all very capable and very successful,” Crowley said. “I can’t say we have ever been in this position with pitching before.”
The Whalers will look similar to last year in the field. Senior Adam Spencer returns to first base, while Welch and Lowell are interchangeable between second base and shortstop depending on who is pitching. Brian Reis returns to third base.
In the outfield, look for Jamie Reid in left, Smaliorius in center field and Valero in right field, again depending on who is on the mound.
Crowley is hoping to call up two or three freshmen from the junior varsity team and carry 12 players on the varsity squad this season.
“I think we are fairly complete. The depth of carrying 12 guys is nice. Of the 12 guys we are going to carry, they are all going to play. There is not going to be anyone sitting on our bench,” Crowley said.
At the plate, look for Lowell and Welch to be at the top of the order followed by Smaliorius, Hughes and Spencer. Lowell led the Whalers in hitting last season with 25 hits and 12 RBI in 17 games.
“I am optimistic that our run production and hitting will be significantly better than it has been the last couple of years,” Crowley said.
The Whalers will see two tough match-ups against both Martha’s Vineyard and Chatham, home and away, this season. Also returning to the schedule are two games against Provincetown, Sturgis, Mashpee, New England Christian Academy and New Testament, which will be on-island for a double-header May 3.
Nantucket will travel to Blue Hills to open the season on Tuesday, April 1 and will host the Warriors in mid-May. The Whalers will also visit Westport May 21 and will face the Wildcats the following day in Mashpee at a neutral site.
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