ITEM FILE PHOTO
St.John’s Prep second baseman Jake Spada turns a double play earlier this season.
By MIKE ALONGI
The St. John’s Prep Eagles, who finished with a 14-6 record this season, have qualified for the Division 1A “Super 8” baseball tournament as the No. 3 seed. The Eagles were selected by a committee of coaches in a meeting on Monday evening.
“As always, we’re just honored to be selected for this tournament,” said St. John’s coach Dan LeTarte. “And to get a No. 3 seed and have a home game is key I think. It’s always good to get that one final home game for our seniors.”
The Prep will have a tough test right off the bat when they match up with the No. 6 Braintree Wamps (15-5) for the second straight year. Last year, the two teams met in the Super 8 final and Braintree was able to win 7-2.
“I almost knew we were going to end up with Braintree,” LeTarte said. “It should be a lot of fun. They’re such a great opponent and we already know each other pretty well.”
The Prep and Braintree will face off on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at St. John’s Prep. When asked who the potential starting pitcher for the game will be, LeTarte said he still wasn’t sure.
“I think we might just put all our guys names in a hat and just pick one,” he joked. “All of our guys are so similar, I think that might be the best way to do it.”
As for the other six teams to make the tournament field, BC High (16-4) led the pack with a unanimous selection as the No. 1 seed. St. John’s of Shrewsbury (18-4) took the No. 2 seed and Xaverian (15-5) was named the No. 4 seed. Pope Francis (No. 5), Plymouth North (No. 7, 15-3) and Newton North (No. 8, 15-7) round out the bottom of the bracket.
LeTarte noted that the strength of the Eagles’ Catholic Conference schedule should be a big help this time of year.
“I think we’re just so well prepared from playing in such a tough conference,” he said. “Three of the top four seeds this year came out of our league, which is pretty impressive. I think that strength of schedule should help us out.”
First-round games begin on Wednesday at 4 p.m. at the higher seed’s home field. The games will move to Brockton after the first round.
The tournament is double-elimination. The first-round matchup are No. 8 Newton North at No. 1 BC High; No. 7 Plymouth North at No. 2. St. John’s (Shrewsbury); and No. 5 Pope Francis at No. 4 Xaverian.
