By Allison Goldsmith
I&M Sports Editor
 |
Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Senior Griffin LaFleur scatters balls around the infield during fielding drills on Tuesday afternoon. The Whalers will have their first scrimmage at home on April 2.. |
The crack of the bat is a sure sign that spring is just around the corner. With warmer weather hopefully in the near future, the Whalers baseball team took to the diamond this week.
They will be taking some chances this season and manufacturing some runs, playing the same aggressive style that has been so effective in recent seasons, head coach Art Crowley said.
“It all comes down to pitching. If we can get good pitching performances we will certainly play small-ball and put pressure on. If the hitting isn’t there, defensively what I have in mind is relatively solid and should hold us in games. It has in the past,” he said.
Twenty-seven athletes showed up on Monday to the first day of practice in the Cyrus Peirce gymnasium, 22 of which were freshmen and sophomores. With the high turnout, the Nantucket program will feature a junior varsity squad for the first time in the last three years.
“We did fine without a JV program for three years, but we can’t continue to do that and be successful in the long run,” Crowley said.
The relatively young Whalers welcome back seven varsity players including seniors Griffin LaFleur, Derrick Maxwell, Greyson Leibowitz and Stephen Trimble along with sophomores Geddes Paulsen, Kodi Boughtman and Nick Slade. Looking to get on the starting roster will also be senior transfer Ryan Laffey and freshmen Tomas Smaliorius, Erik Hughes and Josh Stone.
Last season the Whalers finished at 15-7 overall after being eliminated from the quarterfinal round of the Division IV south sectional tournament by Abington. The Whalers lost a strong core group to graduation last season, but this year’s returning squad is not without the proper experience.
 |
Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Freshman Erik Hughes searches for the fly ball, while (l-r) Ryan Laffey, Stephen Trimble and Sean Sosebee wait their turn. |
“A .500 season if not better is attainable and the playoffs are within reach. They know what it takes to get there. It is going to depend on how hard they work,” Crowley said.
“This year our strength is pitching with Boughtman, Paulsen and Leibowitz,” Crowley said, despite losing a number of strong arms from last year’s team.
“We have two sophomores who had experience last year playing with some of the guys and Leibowitz will be a strong senior leader. With Griffin behind the plate we have a solid battery and up the middle we are strong as well in shortstop, second base and center field.”
While much of the defensive alignment is still being shuffled around, look for Paulsen to step into the shortstop slot along side Maxwell at second, while LaFleur anchors the young pitching staff from behind the plate. Leibowitz, Trimble and Laffey could see time in the outfield. First and third base along with an outfield alignment are still up in the air this early in the season.
At the plate, the potential for the Whalers to see some struggles is possible. Last season Nantucket was involved in a high number of low-scoring, one-run games.
“The last three years we had a strong pitching staff, so we were facing the number ones (pitchers of opposing teams), which hurt our batting. I am sure we will continue to see number ones because of the expectations of the last few years, so hitting is going to be tough,” Crowley said.
 |
Photo by Nicole Harnishfeger
Sophomore Geddes Paulsen takes ground balls during practice on Tuesday afternoon. |
When the bats get moving, look for LaFleur, Maxwell and Paulsen to lead the way with the sticks.
In the first two weeks of practice, the Whalers will have plenty of time to work on the basics in preparation for a scrimmage against Wells, Maine on April 2 and the regular season home opener against Bourne on April 4.
“We are going to try to get outside as much as possible. We are concentrating on fundamentals, such as defense, hitting and pitching. Those basic drills are better done in the warmer climate of the gym. Game situations we will focus on everyday we get outside,” Crowley said.
The Whalers will feature the same schedule as last season with key meetings against Chatham, Provincetown and Norwell topping the list. Also on tap during the 20-game schedule will be Harwich, Mashpee, Avon, Upper Cape and Sturgis.
2005 Varsity Baseball Schedule
4/4 Bourne H 3:00 p.m.
4/6 Provincetown H 3:00 p.m.
4/8 Harwich A 3:30 p.m.
4/9 Mashpee H 11:30 a.m.
4/13 Sturgis A 3:30 p.m.
4/27 Martha’s Vineyard A 3:30 p.m.
4/28 Chatham A 3:30 p.m.
5/6 Bourne A 3:30 p.m.
5/7 Avon (2) H 11:30 a.m.
5/9 Provincetown A 4:00 p.m.
5/10 Martha’s Vineyard H 3:30 p.m.
5/12 Sturgis H 3:00 p.m.
5/14 Norwell (2) H 1:00 p.m.
5/17 Mashpee A 3:30 p.m.
5/20 Upper Cape Tech H 3:00 p.m.
5/23 Harwich H 3:00 p.m.
5/24 Upper Cape Tech A 3:30 p.m.
5/26 Chatham A 3:45 p.m.
Schedule subject to change
|
