LYNN — Spencer Brown couldn’t have asked for a better senior baseball season at Beverly High. Brown helped lead the Panthers to a 16-4 regular season finish this past spring and an appearance in the Eastern Mass. Division 2 state final while being named co-MVP of the Northeastern Conference alongside Peabody’s Jake Gustin.
But now it’s time for Brown to turn the page on his high school achievements and focus on getting ready for his college baseball career, as he’ll join the team at Northern Essex this upcoming fall. In an effort to gear up for the elevated level of competition he’ll see when he jumps from the high school to college field, Brown has joined the North Shore Navigators of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League.
“Everything’s going great for me,” Brown said of his first season with the Navigators. “It’s a big adjustment from high school pitching to this level of pitching. They mix up their pitches differently. The pace of the game is faster, the competition is a lot better. It’s a great learning experience for me. It’s great preparation for the college season.
“I used to watch the Navigators play when I was younger,” Brown added. “Being able to play with them now feels great.”
A four-year starter for longtime Panthers coach Dave Wilbur, Brown spent the bulk of his high school career playing third base and pitching. Brown was named the MVP of the NEC two years ago as a sophomore before sharing this past season’s honors with Gustin. Coincidentally, the two now find themselves as teammates on North Shore’s roster.
“It feels great knowing I was the league MVP,” Brown said. “Sharing it with Jake this past season was good. I’m good friends with him. It was a good overall feeling. It’s definitely a confidence booster.”
Beverly’s tournament run this past spring is still fresh on Brown’s mind. The Panthers carried 11 seniors on their roster and knew they had the potential for a special season when they came together. When it was time to deliver wins, Beverly answered the bell.
“As a group of seniors we all grew up playing baseball together,” Brown said. “We ended up with an amazing run. Coach Wilbur did an amazing job coaching the team. My senior year was outstanding.
“We all worked together as a team,” Brown added. “Everybody played a role in every win we had, everyone showed great leadership, no one ever gave up. We all did really well as a team, together.”
Brown gave his commitment to Northern Essex before the start of his senior season. Brown said he’ll join a program that gives him a great opportunity to succeed both on the diamond and in the classroom.
“They have a really good program,” Brown said. “One of their players, Ben Irvine, came in and he recently committed to a Division I program (Maryland). He was groomed there. They do a really good job at developing their players on the field and in the classroom.”
After capping his high school career, Brown joined the Navigators for the summer. At the plate, Brown carries a .211 batting average with three RBI, three runs scored and four stolen bases in seven games. North Shore has utilized Brown primarily as a designated hitter and second baseman.
With a roster full of college baseball players, Brown has made it a goal to do as much learning as he can throughout North Shore’s season.
“Watching these guys play has been great,” Brown said. “It’s a learning experience for me. Learning from them has been awesome. I haven’t played second base in a while. Watching the other guys play second base has really helped me develop.
“I feel we just have to come with energy and come ready to play,” Brown added. “I think we have a ton of talent on this team and I think we can beat anybody in the league.”
The Navigators saw a four-game win streak come to a close earlier this week with a loss to first-place Martha’s Vineyard. North Shore, 13-21 on the season, hosts three home games this weekend against Bristol. The Navigators travel to Worcester Sunday afternoon before shifting into the three-day all-star break next week.
