Pitching, defense key for Swampscott baseball

SWAMPSCOTT – Swampscott High baseball coach T.J. Baril has plenty of reasons to be optimistic as the Big Blue gear up for the season.The team is coming off a 15-5 season and a trip to the Division 3 North quarterfinals, where it lost to North Reading, 2-1, in nine innings. All the pitching from that team is back, along with catcher Dan Nellhaus, a four-year starter. But what may encourage Baril the most is the fact that eight of his varsity players were also on the 2007 Swampscott football team that won the Super Bowl.”That’s a huge benefit,” Baril said. “Those guys have been in big-game situations. They know what to expect and I know they can handle the pressure.”Although Baril lost five players from that team to graduation, including centerfielder Brendan Garner, who is now playing at Bowdoin, and second baseman Wes Geraci, now at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, he also has plenty of returning talent.Senior pitchers Peter Kinchley and Justin Mitchell are both back. Kinchley went 6-0 with a 1.50 earned-run average and Mitchell, also a senior righty, was on the hill for some big games. Junior Hunter Gordon (5-2) also pitched in some key games as a sophomore.”He has the ability to do some really good things. We have the utmost confidence in him,” Baril said, adding that all three also swing the bat well.Baril can also go to John Beaulieu, a senior righty, when needed, both as a starter or reliever, as well as Ryan Squires, who transferred from Bishop Fenwick this year. Both will also be in the field, depending on who’s pitching, Baril said.All the pitchers should benefit from having an experienced player (Nellhaus) behind the plate.”His biggest asset is the way he controls pitchers and the way they trust him,” Baril said.Junior Steve Moran will most likely be in centerfield after starting in right field last year, Baril said.”Our goal is always to compete in the Northeastern Conference and try and qualify for the state tournament,” Baril said. “Our strength is definitely in our pitching and our defense. We’re going to ride that as far as we can.”