LYNN — As a new season quickly approaches for the North Shore Navigators, the team’s blooming with optimism as it begins a fresh campaign in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. The Navs open the 2018 season Thursday (6:30) at Martha’s Vineyard and will hold their home opener Saturday (6) against Worcester at Fraser Field.
Changes in leadership have taken place this season as the Navs have a new manager, Todd Alford, and new co-general managers in Lynn natives Ashley Laramie and Joe Gill. Laramie and Gill will pair up to fill the void left by longtime general manager Bill Terlecky, who’s sitting out the season on a medical leave of absence.
Despite the changes, the Navs feel great about where they’re at and believe they won’t miss a beat.
“We’re excited,” Gill, in his eighth season with the team, said. “We think we’re in a great place. We just felt we needed to get started. We’re going to be without Bill in an official capacity but he’s still going to be around the organization. He’s lent his wisdom. We’ve received tremendous support from the community and ownership team in Chicago.”
Alford, an assistant coach at Gordon College, was hired as the team’s manager last August. He takes over for former interim manager Pete Gonski, a Salem State product who served as North Shore’s skipper for the second half of the 2017 season.
Jesse Amaya, a former player at Gordon, will serve as the team’s assistant coach.
“Todd knows the game of baseball,” Gill said. “He has a great wealth of knowledge. He’s brought in a great assistant coach in Jesse. So far they’ve been great. They’re excited to start the season. They’re very organized are prepared. They’re excited to take on the rest of the league.”
North Shore began its first round of team practices earlier this week. Thus far, Alford likes what he sees from his group.
“I really like what I’ve seen in the bullpen,” Alford said. “I think we have a lot of ability. Ability doesn’t always translate to strikes. We’ll wait until gameday to make adjustments but I’m happy with what I’ve seen. Defensively, same thing. I think we have the ability to be a solid team. I see some really good things.”
Perhaps what Terlecky has taken the most pride in is the Navigators ability to put forth a successful product at an affordable cost. That’s a tradition both Gill and Laramie are happy to continue in their new roles.
“The product remains unchanged,” Gill said. “We’re going to offer family affordable family entertainment with some of the best collegiate baseball players in the country. We want to give an opportunity for our players to pursue their dreams. We want to help bridge the gap and provide them with an opportunity.”
Gill believes the team’s success wouldn’t be possible without the community’s support.
“We say it every year and it sounds cliche but we have the best fans, and there’s no place we’d rather play,” Gill said. “We truly mean that. The people that support us, facing Bill’s sickness, have been truly outstanding. We’re excited to put out a great product in Lynn. Having the community’s support has made us a staple of baseball on the North Shore.”
This season’s roster includes eight North Shore natives. They are Peabody’s Jake Gustin, Danvers’ Andrew Olszak, Marblehead’s Harrison Engstrom and Garret Keough, Saugus’ John Prentice, Swampscott’s Gavin Sullivan, Malden’s Matt O’Connor and Lynnfield’s Justin Foley.
As far as the Navs chances to compete in the FCBL, Gill feels optimistic.
“I’d like to think we’re going to do wonderful,” Gill said. “It’s always tough to gauge. We’ve brought All-Americans here who’ve struggled. We’ve brought Division III players who’ve done great. With Todd as our manager, I think he’ll put us in a great position to compete for a FCBL championship.”
