LYNN — The last time Jack Zimmerman and Josh Doney took Fraser Field together, it was in the Round of 16 when St. Mary’s hosted a state tournament game in 2025.
Since then, the dynamic pitchers have completed their freshman years of college. Revere’s Zimmerman plays for the University of Dayton, while Lynn’s Doney suits up for the University of Massachusetts Lowell.
To stay sharp, active, and ready, the former St. Mary’s standouts play for the North Shore Navigators of the New England Collegiate Baseball League.
Zimmerman has pitched 25 1/3 innings and boasts a 2.13 ERA with 21 strikeouts.
“It’s been great playing with the Navs. Going in, I did not know how the summer was going to go. It’s a really good league with good competition,” he said. “I have been doing better than expected — than I expected of myself — which I am happy about. I feel like I’ve grown a lot as a baseball player and as a person. I’m really happy with how it’s turning out.”
His partner-in-crime, Doney, sports a 2.51 ERA with 15 strikeouts across 14 1/3 innings.
“It’s just another level of competition. Similarly to college, everyone there is very good,” Doney said. “Everyone that’s there can play and they’re playing as hard as they can to win. I’m really enjoying my time with the Navigators. It’s a great experience and competition.”
The pitchers didn’t know they’d be teaming up again. You can bet there’s a sense of comfort.
“Josh is a great player — a really good kid. It’s nice being back with him,” Zimmerman said. “When you know someone going into a new team, it just makes the process a whole lot easier. I didn’t know he was going to be on the Navs. I know he’s obviously a great player, so there was a chance and a good spot for him. When I saw the announcement that he was on the team, it was really nice to see his name on the roster.”
“I had no clue Zimmerman was going to be playing. My first feeling was that I was pumped to be on his team again and it felt like high school again,” Doney said. “There was a comfortable feeling knowing someone was on the team. I know a few kids already, but it helped me be comfortable.”
Zimmerman planned to play Div. 3 baseball before Dayton made a last-minute pitch to him. As a freshman, he pitched nine innings and made 12 appearances. He allowed seven walks, something he acknowledged needs improvement.
“At first, it was a weird change going from Salve Regina, which is Division 3, to Dayton, a Division 1 school. I didn’t know how it would stack up, but I think I fit in well in the program,” Zimmerman said. “I have to control the accuracy a bit better next year. I had a little bit too many walks this year, but I’ve been working on that a lot this summer. I think it’s going to help me a lot going into next season.”
Doney, whose brother Kyle will be joining him at UMass Lowell next year, pitched 27 1/3 innings with a save and 15 strikeouts for the River Hawks.
“I really enjoyed it. I had a lot of fun, met a bunch of new kids, and really enjoyed my team and coaches,” he said. “It was a great experience.”
Zimmerman and Doney hoped to play for Navs when they were younger, and now, they’re living that Fraser Field dream.
“Being back at Fraser with Josh, after going through high school together, has been really cool,” Zimmerman said.
“As a kid, it’s kind of what the goal was — to play for the Navs,” Doney said. “I always hoped there would be a chance to play in the NECBL and when it happened, this summer, I couldn’t have been more happy about it.”
The Navigators (18-19) host the Newport Gulls Thursday at 6:05 p.m.
