Prep nine have some high hopes

DANVERS – Expectations for the St. John’s Prep baseball team always run high, and this year is no exception as the Eagles have several key players returning from last season’s Catholic Conference champions.As usual, St. John’s coach Pat Yanchus – who has guided the Prep to two state titles – is taking a low-key approach to his team’s chances, but the Eagles are generally involved in any discussion about potential championship contenders.”I don’t know how well we’ll do. I guess we’ll find out,” Yanchus said. “We always look good in the gym.”St. John’s finished the 2007 regular season with a record of 15-5 and was the number four seed in the Div. 1 North tournament. The Eagles won two games in the post-season before losing, 6-0, to eventual state champ Lincoln-Sudbury in the sectional semifinals.The Prep lost three key contributors from last year’s club, all of whom are playing in college. The Eagles said good-bye to ace pitcher Connor Burke (Brown), shortstop Sean O’Hara (Harvard) and catcher Rob Noe (Rhode Island).Likely stepping into the number one pitcher’s role is Jordan Edgett, a right-hander who is headed to Bowdoin in the fall. Edgett also plays second base.David DeCelle also saw plenty of action on the mound last season and will increase his role in the Prep’s rotation. He is also right-handed, as are all the pitchers who will likely take the mound for the Eagles this year.Matt Warden pitched in about 3-4 games last season and should see his role increase this year.Filling O’Hara’s spot at shortstop is Danny Haugh, who played the corner infield positions last season. Haugh is also a pitcher and will likely be the Eagles’ closer this season.”He’s got a good arm, but we’re going to need him more at shortstop than on the mound this season,” Yanchus said.Chris Carmain is another returning player who will be a corner infielder and will pitch some.Derek Coppola, the leading rusher on the Prep’s football team last fall, returns to centerfield and will rely on his speed and athleticism.Chris Welch played first base and designated hitter last season, and he will likely occupy one of the spots in the batting order again.Moving into Noe’s role is Trevor Manzi, last year’s backup catcher. The Prep has a history of outstanding catchers, and good defense up the middle.As usual, the Catholic Conference is the toughest in the state. All five teams qualified for the state tournament last season, and Boston College High won the Div. 1 South sectional title, defeating Xaverian along the way in the semifinals. Catholic Memorial lost to Walpole in the other south semifinal, while St. John’s knocked out Malden Catholic in the Div. 1 North quarterfinals.The Eagles also play their usual rugged non-conference schedule, with games against last year’s Greater Boston League (and new Northeastern Conference entry) Peabody and crosstown rival Danvers, a perennial power in both the NEC and the Div. 2 tournament.”We play the exact same schedule as last year,” Yanchus said. “We have to get to .500 to make the tournament, and after that we’ll see what happens.”