Solid Combination Of Experience And Youth Set To Unfold On Baseball Diamond This Spring As Skyhawks Welcome Back 17 Letterwinners From 28-Win Campaign Last Season
February 21, 2007
If the editors of Webster's Dictionary are looking for any new synonyms for words such as "successful" and "consistent", perhaps they should look no further than adding the phrase "Stonehill Baseball" to that list.
Over the nine seasons of Head Coach Patrick Boen's tenure, the Skyhawks have certainly embodied both of those qualities, and last spring was no exception, as Stonehill posted yet another 28-win campaign and finished second in the highly competitive Northeast-10 Conference race with a 22-8 league slate, qualifying for the conference "Final Four" for the eighth time during that time span. And with 17 letterwinners back in the fold this season, Boen is looking for continued success once again this spring as the Skyhawks prepare to play the majority of their contests once again during wooden bat competition in the Northeast-10.
Leadership has always provided a direct correlation to both the success and consistency of Skyhawk baseball, and Boen will look to senior tri-captains Tom Aldrich (New Canaan, Conn./Trinity Catholic), Matt Vaughn (Bow, N.H./Bow) and Max Vigliotti (Stamford, Conn./Cheshire Academy) to set the example both on and off the field. Boen says this trio "brings a level of experience and maturity to this team that I'm looking for everyone to emulate. I know the example they set will be a positive and successful one."
Here's a look at how things are shaping up for the 2007 edition of Stonehill Baseball:
INFIELD. All-Northeast-10 performer Aldrich returns to anchor the infield for the Skyhawks, as he batted .265 from his second base position with 39 hits, including four doubles, and 16 RBI. Junior Ryan Halloran (Tyngsboro, Mass./Tyngsboro) is the top returning hitter for Boen, as he posted a .299 batting average with 40 hits in 43 contests, while seniors Adam Pardo (Hanover, Mass./Hanover) and Blake Marston (Concord, N.H./Derryfield School) look to occupy the corner spots for Stonehill. Pardo started all 45 games last spring at third base and rapped out 40 hits while driving in 17 runs, while Marston looks to be the heir apparent at first base to the graduated Sean Lawrence, who led the squad at the plate in 2006 with a .318 batting average.
"We have some experience returning in the infield that will certainly help, and I'm confident that the veteran presence they provide will be a great benefit to us as the season goes along," Boen says.
Sophomore Javier Guzman (San Juan, P.R./Colegio San Jose) lends additional experience in the infield for Stonehill after appearing in seven contests as a rookie, while freshmen Brendan Shepard (Boxford, Mass./Masconomet) and Mitch Davis (Bow, N.H./Bow) will also be vying for spots in the Skyhawk lineup in their first campaigns.
OUTFIELD. An experienced group also returns to patrol the Stonehill outfield this spring, led by Vigliotti, who batted .287 in 45 games last season with 49 hits, including 10 doubles, to go with 31 RBI. Junior David Fradette (Goffstown, N.H./Goffstown) was solid once again for the Skyhawks in rapping out 38 hits in 45 outings, while Vaughn will make the transition from behind the plate to the outfield after collecting 38 hits, including seven doubles, in 44 games in 2006. Sophomore Nate Weber (Hanson, Mass./Whitman-Hanson) also moves to the outfield after playing in 10 contests at shortstop as a rookie last season, while freshmen Rob Von Stein (Trumbull, Conn./Trumbull) and Shane Franz (Cazenovia, N.Y./Cazenovia) look to make an immediate impact on Stonehill's fortunes with their size and speed both in the field and on the basepaths.
"Our outfield has the potential to be very productive," Boen says. "Max, Dave and Matt have all had clutch performances during their careers at several points, and that experience will be valuable. Nate will provide additional experience, and we will look to work in our newcomers to the lineup as well."
PITCHER. Another stellar performance on the mound by the Skyhawk staff last season was a major part of Stonehill's success, as an impressive 3.39 team earned run average with 16 complete games played a large role in high win total that Boen's squad once again posted. Though graduation took three of the top Skyhawk hurlers from last year, including All-America performer Billy Sittig, Stonehill had a solid group returning to the mound this spring, led by junior Andy Hillier (Hanover, Mass./Hanover), who notched a 5-3 mark with a 3.28 ERA to go with 38 strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings. Junior Nick SantaBarbara (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet) and sophomore Matt Giusti (Hopkinton, Mass./Williston-Northampton) each posted 2-2 marks for the Skyhawks, while senior Chris Herrmann (Chelmsford, Mass./Chelmsford), junior Mat Lindenmayer (Penfield, N.Y./Penfield) and sophomore Justin Perry (Wilbraham, Mass./Wilbraham-Monson) add a veteran presence in relief roles, as the two combined for three saves and 38 strikeouts last spring.
"Pitching is a key to winning at any level, and we have had individuals develop and step up over the years in various roles," Boen says. "I see the potential for that happening again this year, as we have some younger pitchers who gained some experience and are ready to make that next step and perform well in any situation."
Boen can also call on the versatile Vaughn and Vigliotti in certain situations this spring, and he has a stable of newcomers to work with on the mound as well in freshmen Alex Harrison (Walpole, Mass./Xaverian), Joe SantaBarbara (Middleton, Mass./Masconomet), Joe Goodwin (Norwood, Mass./Norwood) and Jim Maule (Kensington, Conn./Avon Old Farms). Sophomore Pat Tobin (Centerville, Mass./Portsmouth Abbey), a transfer from Merrimack, will also be looking for time as part of the Skyhawk mound corps.
CATCHER. With Vaughn's transition to the outfield, Stonehill's catching duties look to fall to the tandem of sophomore Dave Migani (Amity, Conn./Amity) and junior Matt Orr (Wilton, Conn./Wilton). Migani hit .400 in nine games as a rookie last season, while Orr appeared in 10 contests for the Skyhawks in 2006. Freshman Matt Zitano (East Freetown, Mass./Apponequet) will also be in the mix behind the plate for Boen's crew this spring.
"I'm confident that our catchers will get the job done," Boen says. "They have all displayed abilities to handle the pitching staff well and can also be very productive at the plate."
Stonehill will open the 2007 campaign on Friday, March 2nd by taking on Gannon in the opening game of the Gene Cusic Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. beginning at 4:00 p.m. EST.
