By anybody’s standard, the 2015 season ended in awful fashion for the Pinkerton Academy baseball squad.
The top-seeded Astros fell by double-digits to the Bedford High Bulldogs in the Division I semifinals, and had what they hoped would be a sprint to the state championship game fall into the dust.
Now, as it steps into the 2016 campaign, the academy side finds itself with four returning starters and a total of seven returnees from that star-crossed contingent who will be asked to help guide a crew of 10 varsity newcomers toward creating another powerful Pinkerton hardball crew.
Head coach Steve Campo, who is entering his fourth season at the helm of the Pinkerton varsity squad, has seniors Ben Curry (an outfielder), Caleb Eaton (first baseman/third baseman), and John Polichetti (pitcher/infielder) and junior Matt Clark (infielder) returning to starting spots.
The other returning lettermen are juniors Sean Muller (versatile), David Currier (outfielder), and Mike Jellison (catcher).
And then there’s the crowd of promising newcomers, which includes senior pitcher Kenny Twomey, juniors Adam Bloch (pitcher), Brandon Gerossie (outfielder/pitcher), Norm Kerman (first baseman/catcher), Eric Reardon (outfielder), Zach Rioux (versatile), Ryan Simard (versatile), and Brian Sutton (first baseman/outfielder), sophomore Eli Runge (pitcher), and freshman Sam Boudreau (catcher).
“The returners need to lead the way with consistent play while our newcomers adjust to the varsity level for us to be competitive,” said Campo. “Our focus will be pitching and defense, and if we can limit mistakes in the field then we should be able to win some games.”
The Astros got their new campaign rolling Wednesday, April 13, with a home game against Merrimack after Nutfield News press time.
Veteran pitcher John Polichetti will again play a key role for a 2016 Pinkerton Academy varsity baseball squad that will be integrating lots of new players this spring. Photo by Chris Pantazis
