Tech baseball, softball face hurdles

LYNN – The Lynn Tech baseball and softball teams will have a few hurdles to overcome this spring.View Photo GalleryWith the fields adjacent to the school being redone, the teams both find themselves scrambling. The baseball team plays its home games at Fraser Field, but finding outdoor practice space will be a challenge. The softball team will be playing all its games on the road and like the baseball, will have to make other arrangements for practice.Baseball coach Harold German said for the time being, Tech is probably in a better spot than most teams because it has the field house for practice. Once it warms up, the Tigers have the option of using Barry Park. The softball team can do the same.German said he had about 30 player show up for tryouts this week and half of them were freshmen.”We’re gong to be a young program again,” he said. “We have a lot of returning sophomores and freshmen … we lot some leadership, some guys who were in the program three or four years.German had three guys he’ll be counting on for leadership on and off the field. Sophomore catcher Raphy Perez caught and played third last year. German said he will probably do a combination of catching and first base. Perez is also a threat at the plate.Sophomore Arlin Reynoso can play a variety of positions. German said he’ll likely see time at shortstop and on the mound.”He looks a little bigger and a little stronger this year,” German said.Enderson Mejia, also a sophomore, is part of the core group of players German is looking to this season. He’s also capable of playing multiple positions. Where he ends up, possibly second base or left field, will depend on who is pitching.”These are the three guys I’m counting on to try and take the team to the next level,” German said. “They’re taking the responsibility at a young age to make sure the team improves. They three kids have earned the respect of the other players.German has a couple of other returning players who should also have an impact. Rafy Lora, a pitcher and center fielder; Rodinson Aguilar, a third baseman and pitcher, and Serone Ean, a right fielder and pitcher. All three are juniors.”Some of the kids are very athletic and some have some experience,” German said. “This should be a fun group to go watch.”The Tigers finished 2-14 last year. They open at Mystic Valley April 3.SOFTBALLSoftball coach Beth Mercaldi is back for her 15th season. She’s looking at a team with five or six returning players who saw decent time last year.Yerania Castro, a senior captain and catcher for the past three years, was a Commonwealth Conference All-Star last season.”She’s very energetic. She wants to be involved in every play,” Mercaldi said. “She’s also pretty consistent at the plate.”Mercaldi has an experienced pitcher back in junior captain Samantha Oliva. Oliva pitched 98 percent of the games last year and has looked good so far, Mercaldi said.”She has some speed. I haven’t had anyone as consistent in speed as her in many years.”Mercaldi is also counting on returning sophomore Paulan Moeun to help the cause. She plays first and did some catching on the junior varsity last year. Ashley Nival, a sophomore outfielder, and Mariamny Jimenez, a junior centerfield, should also help out. Kately Perez was on junior varsity for the most part last year, but she could have a role on varsity this year.Mercaldi had 36 freshmen sign up and about 24 have been consistently coming to practice. Some played some Babe Ruth softball, which Mercaldi was happy to hear. She stressed with the good turnout at the freshman level, it’s important to have two teams to keep them in the program.”I’ve got a lot of kids who want to play and a lot of them are young,” she said.Mercaldi said the Commonwealth Conference has been restructured, going from two divisions to three. Tech won’t have to play some of the perennial powerhouses, like Shawsheen.Tech opens its season April 7.