ITEM FILE PHOTO
Tom Rockett will be returning to the Marblehead pitching rotation.
By HAROLD RIVERA
The Marblehead baseball team has a new coach this spring. Fortunately for the Magicians, he isn’t new to the Marblehead sports community nor to coaching baseball.
Mike Giardi was tabbed as the new coach for the Magicians, replacing Jason Tarasuik. Giardi serves as an assistant coach on the Marblehead football team and directs the school’s basketball program. That gives him a strong sense of familiarity with some of his baseball players who are multi-sport athletes.
Giardi will look to put that to use as the Magicians aim to compete in a Northeastern Conference that adds four teams from the Greater Boston League this season.
“You got four teams that came in from the GBL, that’s going to make it more competitive,” Giardi said. “I don’t think any one team will run through the NEC. It’s going to be about who’s hot at the right time and who’s pitching well at the right time.”
The Magicians will rely on a core of six seniors to lead the way this spring in infielder/pitcher Tom Rockett, infielder/pitcher Drew Gally, first baseman Braden Haley, catcher/outfielder James McCarthy, outfielder Drew Bisegna and pitcher/designated hitter Beau Dana. Five of the six are returners to the team, with Dana being a newcomer as a transfer.
“I think that when you look at those six seniors, and the success we’ve had in other sports, that gives kids a lot of confidence,” Giardi said. “Confidence brings success and success brings confidence. The kids know what it takes to win games. They’re passionate and they’re excited about this season.”
Like many other teams across the state, Marblehead hasn’t been able to get much work outdoors due to bad weather. Luckily for the Magicians, the team has access to cages indoors and has been able to work on a handful of other key aspects of baseball in practice.
“Being indoors, we have the advantage of getting in the cages,” Giardi said. “We haven’t faced a ton of hitters yet, we’ll do that in the next few days. We’ll look to fit a scrimmage in soon. This is a time where we’re installing bunt defense, pick off plays and things like that.”
And like many of the other teams across the state, the Magicians are anxious for good weather and hoping to get outside sooner rather than later.
“They’re itching to get outside,” Giardi said. “They’re looking for good weather and an opportunity to play. It’s tough right now because we don’t know where everybody’s going to be in terms of positions or innings on the mound. As a coach, I’m anxious too. We’re looking to get things moving.”
Giardi brings a wealth of baseball experience to the program. As a player, he shined at Salem High and brought his talents to the college diamond at Harvard. Giardi’s career also includes four years at the professional level in the minor league systems of the New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants and Montreal Expos.
“I was fortunate in one regard,” Giardi said. “I didn’t play a ton in the minors but I got to watch and examine. I remind my kids that they need to be students of the game. It’s a science sometimes. Even though you might not be in the game, you have to be mentally in the game at all times.”
Joining Giardi on the coaching staff are Todd Alfred, Tom Bennett, Steve Gridley, Mike Lavender, Ken Wheeler and Tom Roundy.
The Magicians open the season on April 10 against Swampscott.
