Changes abound for Peabody baseball

Peabody High baseball coach Mark Bettencourt is apparently a “glass-half-full” guy.The Tanners lost their top three pitchers, the outfield and the left side of the infield to graduation, but Bettencourt is looking at the bright side. Holes that need to be filled represent opportunities for new players to step up and shine rather than obstacles to be overcome.Peabody is coming off a 17-5 season that ended with a loss to Lowell in the first round of the Division 1 North tournament. Among the players who have moved on from that team are pitchers Mark Linehan, who went 6-0; Pat Dumas (4-2) and Jared Shields, who Bettencourt estimated to have been good for another three wins.Linehan is at UMass-Amherst (but not playing baseball). Shields is pitching at Westfield State and Dumas is at Salem State.Also gone are outfielders Tom Ciulla and Brad Piza. Shields was in the outfield when he wasn’t pitching. The list of departed players also includes infielders Ryan English, who made it to the final cut at Boston College, and Mark Finocchio, who is playing at Westfield State College. Catcher Brian Latorello is also at UMass-Amherst, but not playing.Although a hit like that is tough to bounce back from, Bettencourt isn’t all that concerned. He was in a similar boat last year, with only a catcher returning in the infield. He did, however, have four pitchers returning. This year he has one – Joey Gruntkowsky.Gruntkowsky is shaping up to be the ace of the staff this year, Bettencourt said, and when he’s not on the mound, he’ll be at first base. He also has a veteran returning at second base in .Jimmy Leavitt.”It’s very similar to the way it was last year,” Bettencourt said. “We’re bringing in a whole bunch of new faces, but they’re kids who have paid their dues. We had a lot of kids waiting for their opportunity. They’re hungry and they’re coming out and showing that now is their time.”Derrik Pereira, a senior who is coming off a terrific hockey season, will get the call in left field. Junior Ramses Vittini and sophomore Bobby Losano are battling it out for the center field job and two seniors, Nate Hubisz and Ryan McCarthy, are vying for a job in right field.Junior Wesley Sanders and sophomore Stephen Girolamo are both looking to get the call at third base. Andrew Bucci and Leavitt, both seniors, will be at shortstop and second base, respectively.”They’ve both paid their dues in the middle infield,” Bettencourt said.Peter Sucharewicz logged some time as the designated hitter last season and now he’ll step in behind the plate. Sophomore Genaro Ciulla will also see time at catcher. Look for Ryan Noftle to be at first when Gruntkowsky is pitching.Rounding out the pitching staff at this point, after Gruntkowsky, are Nate Hubisz and Ryan McCarthy. Bettencourt is also giving freshman Patrick Ruotolo a long look on the mound, along with sophomores Casey Grenier, Tommy Burns and junior Nick Allen. Grenier is a lefty.”I take a lot of pride in working my younger kids,” Bettencourt said. “We’re bringing up quality kids. I’m not worried, I’m excited. These kids are finally getting their chance. They’ve been patient, worked hard. The bell’s ringing. Let’s see if they can answer it.”Peabody’s schedule will include five games against Catholic Conference teams including the season-opener with St. John’s Prep on April 6. The Tanners’ first home game will be against Malden Catholic. They also have a non-league contest against Tewksbury.Bettencourt’s – and in turn, the team’s – mantra this year is “Accept the Challenge.””I tell the kids to accept the challenge, not play timid and show people what Peabody baseball is about,” he said.