LYNN — With a new season on the horizon, the St. Mary’s baseball team has two main focuses as it begins its preseason: hitting and competition.
Those were the two areas where the Spartans struggled last season. St. Mary’s finished the year at 14-6 but bowed out of the Division 3 state tournament with a first round loss to Weston. This year, they’re looking to address those inconsistencies at the plate as they aim for deep postseason run. The Spartans have also jumped up from Division 3 to Division 2 this season.
“We have talent,” St. Mary’s coach Derek Dana, in his fifth season at the helm of the Spartans, said. “I’m looking for who’s going to step up and be competitive. We had so many different combinations with our lineup last season. There were some positions that never got grabbed. This preseason will be all about competition and seeing who rises up.
Dana added, “We have to get more consistent hitting, all the way around. That being said, the players did get some valuable experience last season.”
Key returners on offense for the Spartans include Kyle Bernardini and Anthony Nikolakakis, who’ll split time at first base/designated hitter, outfielders Josh Mateo and Colin Reddy, shortstop Lee Pacheco and second baseman Aedan Leydon. Utility player Jared Coppola and third baseman/catcher John Mulready are also projected to play key roles this spring.
“I saw enough from the sophomores and a couple freshmen sprinkled in that the game wasn’t too fast for them last year,” Dana said. “There’s a lot of talent and competition. We have plenty to work with. We’ve always played very good defense. We’ll be sound there. We have four kids to hand the ball to as pitchers with varsity experience. It’s going to come down to competing and hitting.”
On the mound, the Spartans will rely on the 1-2 punch of right handers Lou Vidal and Bobby Alcock to keep opposing offenses at bay. Alcock went 5-5 with one save as a sophomore last season. Tommy Cash will also play a key role in the pitching rotation.
“Bobby became our No. 1 last season as a sophomore,” Dana said. “Lou has started games at the varsity level for the past two years. Tommy has pitched, and I’m looking for Lee to get on the mound this year. We have several arms that have some varsity innings. Pitching should be there.”
The Spartans got their preseason started with day one of tryouts on Monday, when they held an indoor practice at Conigliaro Gymnasium. With weather keeping the Spartans indoors for the foreseeable future, the plan is to work on the fundamentals.
“You have to keep them fresh in the gym,” Dana said. “You have to keep things new and you have to work on the fundamentals.”
Dana foresees a competitive Catholic Central League this season, which includes a pair of teams who made deep tournament runs last season in Austin Prep and Bishop Fenwick.
“Austin Prep has won it the last three years and they have a good group coming back,” Dana said. “Fenwick had a good season last year. They have a new coach in Russ Steeves but he did a good job when he was there before. Williams has been getting better and better, they have real good, young pitching. Spellman was young last year, we’re expecting them to be better. Arlington Catholic has had a couple tough years but I’m sure they’ll bounce back.”
The Spartans open the season April 5 against Mystic Valley before kicking off the league schedule April 6 at Arlington Catholic.
