Baseball is back, and it’s shaping up to be quite the interesting year in the Daily News area.
New coaching regimes take over at Amesbury and Newburyport, while teams like Pentucket and Triton are improved from a season ago, and are ready to take that next step to CAL contention. Then at the heart of it all, it wouldn’t surprise us here if Georgetown ends up being the team to beat for the entire league — Kinney or Baker.
As you’ll read below, the Royals are loaded up.
Here are complete previews for each of our local teams.
Amesbury
Coach Leo Gravell: (1st year)
2023 season: 12-11, lost in D4 Quarterfinals
Returners (6): Shain Parisella, Sr., OF; Drew Scialdone, Sr., P/OF; Kyle Palen, Sr., 1B; Joe Celia, Soph., INF; Justin Dube, Soph., 2B; Josh Roberts, Soph., SS/2B
Newcomers: Robbie Dalton, Sr., OF; Kalen Noseworthy, Jr., INF/P; DJ DiCarlo, Jr., OF/P; Thomas McElaney, Soph., INF/P; Ethan Kirby, Soph., INF/P; Connor Scialdone, Frosh., OF/P; Connor Mazzaglia, Frosh., OF/P; Logan Genualdo, Frosh., C
Captains: TBD
Returning leaders: Josh Roberts: .289 (22-for-76)
Returning honorees: None
Odds and ends: Amesbury welcomes a new coach to the dugout this year in Leo Gravell, who previously coached at Windham (N.H.) High School from 2017-22. A former player at Andover High and assistant coach at Tewksbury, he led the Granite State Jaguars to the playoff in each of his six seasons as coach. ... Gravell replaces Joel Brierley, who went 55-49 over his six years with the program and led the Redhawks to the Division 4 Quarterfinals in each of the past two seasons. ... It will be a bit of a rebuild, however, as the Redhawks graduated out a bunch of talent, had some season-ending injuries to key players, and are relying on a lot of youth in important roles. ... Primarily, Daily News All-Star outfielder Drew Scialdone, a University of Maine commit, tore his ACL during football season and is out for the spring. He hit .485 (36-for-74) with 17 RBI last year. ... The freshmen trio of Connor Scialdone, Connor Mazzaglia and Logan Genualdo were all members of the 2021 Amesbury Little League team that made the District 15 Final Four. Already this school year, Scialdone has shown to be a talented up-and-coming high jumper in winter track, and Mazzaglia saw some action for the basketball team. Genualdo, meanwhile, is stepping in as the team’s starting catcher right away. ... Three-sport standout Justin Dube was the starting QB for the football team in the fall, and a Daily News Basketball All-Star this winter who averaged 13.8 ppg with 38 3s. ... Robbie Dalton and Joe Celia are also three-sport standouts (football, basketball, baseball), and Kyle Palen, Kalen Noseworthy and DJ DiCarlo were all key members of the football team.
Assistants: Paul Walton, Sean Hallinan, Walton
Georgetown
Coach Phil Desilets: (9th year, 73-75)
2023 season: 16-7, lost in D5 Quarterfinals
Returners (12): Jake Gilbo, Sr., OF; Ty Gilmore, Sr., P/INF; Jason Gioia, Sr., OF; Ethan Lee, Sr., P/INF/C; Carter Lucido, Sr., P/OF; Jake Gilstein, Sr., C/INF; Niko Maniatis, Sr., OF/P; Cole Healy, Jr., C/INF; Hayden Ruth, Jr., P/OF/1B; Oliver Thibeault, Soph., P/INF; Shawn Riley, Soph., P/INF; Zach Floyd, Soph., P/1B
Newcomers: Brendan Loewen, Soph., SS; Ty Southall, Frosh., P/INF
Captains: Jake Gilbo, Carter Lucido, Jake Gilstein
Returning leaders: Jake Gilbo: .508 (32-for-63), 18 RBI, HR; Jake Gilstein: .340 (16-for-47), 13 runs; Jason Gioia: .303 (23-for-76), 12 RBI, HR; Hayden Ruth: .288 (17-for-59), 18 runs, HR; Ethan Lee: 4-0, 2.66 ERA, 22 Ks in 23.2 IP; Ty Gilmore: 2-1, 2.15 ERA, 19 Ks in 26.0 IP
Returning honorees: Jake Gilbo: Daily News All-Star, All-CAL; Jason Gioia: Daily News All-Star, CAL All-Star; Jake Gilstein: CAL All-Star
Odds and ends: Georgetown welcomes back a big name to the coaching staff in former great Kyle Greenler. A member of the Class of 2018, Greenler became the first Division 1 athlete in Georgetown history when he committed to pitch at Elon. He spent four years as a high-leverage reliever for Elon, before transferring and spending a graduate year pitching for the University of Georgia in the SEC last spring. ... Greenler will help to develop an already strong pitching staff. Ethan Lee, Ty Gilmore and Hayden Ruth combined to pitch an even 52.0 innings and were staples in the rotation last year, and the program is excited for the progress of sophomore Oliver Thibeault. ... Even better, the Royals also welcome back Carter Lucido to both the pitching staff and the lineup this year. The lefty missed all of last spring with a torn ACL, but was a Daily News All-Star and All-CAL selection in 2022 when he hit .366 with 22 RBI, while also posting a 6-1 record and 1.52 ERA. ... Throw in fellow returning Daily News All-Stars Jake Gilbo and Jason Gioia, as well as three-year starting catcher Jake Gilstein, and you can see why expectations are high. The Royals have the firepower to win their second straight CAL Baker title, and make some serious playoff noise. ... Brendan Loewen is a talented middle infielder who transferred back home after spending his freshman year at St. John’s Prep. He was a Daily News All-Star for the basketball team this winter who averaged 6.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game. ... Only a freshman, Ty Southall was named our Daily News Golf MVP this fall after leading the Royals to their first ever CAL Baker championship.
Assistants: Malcolm Cepeda, Kyle Greenler
Newburyport
Coach Ron Jordon: (1st year)
2023 record: 16-8, lost in D3 Quarterfinals
Returners (11): Jackson DeVivo, Sr., OF/P; Brayden Johnson, Sr., INF/P; Colin Klapes, Sr., INF/OF; Ben Cook, Sr., C/OF; Ben Perron, Sr., INF; Milo Freundlich, Sr., INF; Jack Sullivan, Sr., INF/P; Connor Stick, Sr., INF; Parker Cowles, Sr., INF/P; Evan Luekens, Jr., INF/P; Cooper Yim, Jr., INF/P
Newcomers: Liam Devlin, Sr., OF/P; Finn Mone, Jr., OF/P; Ryan Sanchez, Soph., INF/P; Jack Mercier, Soph., DH/OF; Sean Estabrook, Soph., INF/P; Ray Arcand, Soph., P; Caden DeLibero, Frosh., OF; Jack Oreal, Frosh., INF/P; Jackson LaCava, Frosh., INF/OF; Nick Garbarino, Frosh., OF
Captains: (Will update when available)
Returning leaders: Jack Sullivan: .351 (26-for-74), 27 runs, 13 RBI; Connor Stick: .329 (26-for-79), 21 runs, 11 RBI; Jackson DeVivo: .303, 11 RBI; Evan Luekens: 3-2, 2.43 ERA, 30 Ks in 40.1 IP;
Returning honorees: Jack Sullivan: Daily News All-Star, All-CAL; Connor Stick: CAL All-Star
Odds and ends: Last spring was the final season at the helm for coach Mark Rowe, who experienced eight successful years with the program and compiled an 87-63 overall record. A Newburyport Wall of Famer for his playing career (NHS ‘79), Rowe led the Clippers to the Division 3 Finals in 2021 as the No. 10 seed, and to the Quarterfinals last year as the No. 23 seed. ... In his place steps Ron Jordon, a 30-plus-year baseball coach whose last stop at the high school level was at Newton South (2008-16), but who’s remained active with Team Boston Academy. ... Jack Sullivan is committed to the University of Maine at the Division 1 level, and is in the middle of a spectacular senior year athletically. He was our Daily News Football MVP in the fall after piling up 1,379 yards and 20 total TDs, and was a Daily News Hockey All-Star this winter who scored 10 goals with 4 assists. ... Jackson DeVivo is also a three-sport standout (football, hockey, baseball), and was a Daily News Hockey All-Star this winter who led the team in scoring with 13 goals and 13 assists. ... Jack Oreal climbed to the No. 1-ranked junior golfer in New England last summer, and this fall was named a Daily News Golf All-Star as a freshman.
Assistants: Jimmy Schaefer, Dom Masi
Pentucket
Coach Allen Mottram: (2nd year, 5-15)
2023 record: 5-15, midded playoffs
Returners (11): Braeden Irvine, Sr., OF/C; Caleb Meisner, Sr., P/3B; Jake Woodsum, Sr., INF/P; Nick Kutcher, Sr., SS/P; Tanner Kamuda, Jr., INF/P; Julien Powers, Soph., SS; Luke Pergola, Soph., OF/P; Max Cloutier, Soph., P/INF; Noah Meyer, Soph., 2B/P; Pat Stewart, Soph., P/INF; Ted Cloutier, Soph., C/INF
Newcomers: Connor O’Neil, Sr., P/OF; Aidan Burrier, Jr., P/INF; Richard DeStafano, Jr., INF;
Captains: Caleb Meisner, Nick Kutcher
Returning leaders: Julien Powers: .486 (17-for-35); Nick Kutcher: .288 (17-for-59), 14 runs; Luke Pergola: 1-2, 3.50 ERA, 24.0 IP; Jake Woodsum: 2-2, 4.00 ERA, 16 Ks
Returning honorees: None
Odds and ends: It was a bit of a rebuilding year last spring, but with 11 returners back in the fold, there is a bunch of experience on this roster. The Panthers are already 3-2 on the young season, and have been clutch with all three victories coming by one run (Bedford: 10-9; Essex Tech: 8-7; Tyngsboro: 6-5). ... Three-sport captain Nick Kutcher was a Daily News Golf All-Star in the fall and a Hockey All-Star in the winter. ... Caleb Meisner was the starting QB for the football team in the fall and the most prolific passer in the area. The Daily News All-Star completed 143-of-224 passes for 2,083 yards and 18 TDs. ... Braeden Irvine was also a key member on the football team’s defensive line. ... Tanner Kamuda is a three-time Daily News Wrestling All-Star who has a career 78-47 record on the mat.
Triton
Coach Kyle Priest: (2nd year, 12-9)
2023 season: 12-9, lost in D3 First Round
Returners (11): Jack Harden, Sr., INF/P; Jack Lindholm, Sr., OF/P; Jack Harding, Sr., 1B; Billy Thistlewood, Sr., INF; Ryan Nolan, Sr., OF; Joshua Penney, Jr., INF; Beckham Zizza, Jr., OF; Liam Friis, Jr., OF/P; Nick Bonasera, Jr., OF/P; Connor Rumph, Jr., INF Gavin Fraser, Soph., INF;
Newcomers: Ricky Stanley, Sr., OF/P; Josh Hersey, Jr., C/P; Adam White, Jr., OF; Jason Navaroli, Soph., INF; Genaro Carrillo, Soph., INF/P
Captains: (Will update when available)
Returning leaders: Josh Penney: .385 (20-for-52), 10 RBI; Connor Rumph: .345 (20-for-58), 20 runs; Jack Lindholm: .276, 11 runs; Nick Bonasera: 1-2, 3.00 ERA, 14 Ks in 18.2 IP
Returning honorees: None
Odds and ends: It’s been back-to-back Division 3 playoff appearances for Triton, qualifying both times since the MIAA moved to the statewide format in the 2022 season. ... Jack Lindholm is a three-time Daily News Hockey All-Star defenseman, and will be a hitter to watch in the area this year. His teammate, Josh Hersey, was also a Daily News Hockey All-Star who scored 12 goals with 6 assists this winter, and Connor Rumph was a key forward on the team as well. ... The Vikings also feature some prominent members of the football team in Jack Harding (OL/DL), Ricky Stanley (DB), Ryan Nolan (TE/DE), Beckham Zizza (QB) and Liam Friis (WR/DB/K). ... A three-sport standout, Friis averaged 10.9 ppg with 39 3s for the basketball team this winter, and will be tasked with eating up a lot of innings as a starter in the rotation this spring. ... The Vikings have already started the year 2-1 after wins over Lynnfield (6-5) and Whittier Tech (5-2).
Assistants: Louis Takesian, Ed Suprin
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