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OK, here are the MVC and CAL baseball predictions, plus our first Fantastic Four of the spring … By the way, the Creature loves the Raiders!

Apr 8th, 2009 by Hector Longo

NOTE:ANDOVER IS AT CAMBRIDGE TODAY, NOT AT ANDOVER!!!

OK, I wanted to talk to the bulk of the region’s coaches, just to have a reinforced idea of who should be good and who shouldn’t be around the region.
With enough info gathered and my superior intellect (just kidding here, folks … making sure you’re paying attention) here are my official predictions for the baseball season in the region.
MVC large
1. Central Catholic … This won’t draw any applause from the folks in Andover, who’ve got to be wondering what they have to do for a little love. Two 90 mph-throwing studs and I pick CCHS???
Absolutely!!!
The Raiders return 10 guys, who started at least part-time a year ago. The top five arms from a year ago are back, that’s a staff that went 19-4 last year with a 3.14 ERA in 145.67 innings. Can anyone touch that kind of depth? No.
The five regular lineup guys back hit .346 last year.
Andover returns one bat, a great one in John Hennessy but just one, from its lineup last year. Sorry.
When you talk CCHS baseball this spring, the talent here says you have to talk about them in the same breath with the Prep and MC.
2. Andover … That said, the Warriors are the clear-cut choice for No. 2. I’ll believe in Lowell when I see it. You may see a lot of 2-1, 3-2 games with the Warriors, but I have to believe the staff gives this team a chance to beat anyone on any day.
I love the return of Dan Gusovsky behind the plate. I’ve got a lot of faith in the youngsters, the Pontis, Lightners, etc., that they’ll step up to the historically superior Andover standards. Pencil this group in for 15 wins.
3. Lowell … Like Chris Callery’s grit. Love the fact that hoop standout Nate Simpson is out to play short and pitch. Again, I’m from Missouri on this one, “Show me.”
4. Methuen … Uninspiring opener, but it was St. John’s. Coach Dave Fabrizio is a lot more optimistic than I might be as I look at this group on paper. I know my man Pat Lucey can hack and Isaac Rivera looked to have a good stick, but who else is going to his in this lineup? I was enthused by the mound work of Cal Carroll. If they play this afternoon, we’ll get a much better gauge on the Rangers today at Haverhill.
5. Chelmsford … Not enough back from a team that struggled in a top-heavy division.

MVC small

1. Tewksbury … I’ve agonized over this for days. The margin between 1 and 2, in my eyes, came down to one simple formula: Ronnie vs. Ronnie.
Hillie Ronnie Rosario might be the best pro prospect in a league that features a pair of bigtime arms at Andover. He blocks everything, shuts down the run and might even be an Eagle-Tribune triple crown candidate as long as they keep up that portable fence in left at Haverhill. But won’t Redmen righty Ronnie Wallace have a bigger impact, only because he’s a pitcher?
Wallace will have the ball in his hand every big game, and the kid is not only capable, he’s as tough as nails.
So as long as Taylor Robinson and Brendan Bretton aren’t pitching, Tewks merits the wafer-thin edge.
2. Haverhill … I’m sickened to death by the one fact brought up by Chip Dunn that 54 kids tried out for the program in the school. That’s more than just a user’s fee issue. That speaks volumes to the decrepit state of youth sports and how kids are turned off to baseball at a young age in my city.
But this is a program that has had it going on in recent years. That opening day statement against Newburyport was a message.
Rosario is a studs. Robinson might not be pitching, but the kid is destined to jump up from his .293 a year ago. And center fielder Josh Chasse might be the best all-around player in the state that nobody’s heard of.
Again, it comes down to the Ronnie factor. Wallace will be on the hill for both meetings with the Hillies. Rosario will only have maybe 7 or 8 at-bats in those two games. Redmen 10-3 in the league, Hillies 9-4.
3. Lawrence … Oh yeah, what about the Lancers? It’s been a while since LHS really factored here, so it’s easy to overlook Lawrence. Then you look at the numbers and, wow, maybe they can win this whole thing.
Love Calzetta at the top of the rotation. Is Yunior Vasquez, he of the 90 mph fastball Vasquezes, the real deal? Like Harvey and Tito up the middle defensively and Devin Montanez is kind of a mirror image of the Hillies’ Chasse in center.
Still, Haverhill and Tewks, sorry coach Drouin, Tewks and Haverhill have dominated this division for years. Lawtown goes 8-5 for third, and finishes with a 12-8 regular season.
4. Dracut … I’m as an Aaron Barbosa fan as the next guy, but there’s just not enough here.
5. Billerica … The good news is this team won’t go 2-18 again. But five or six wins might be the high-water mark.

Cape Ann League large

1. North Andover … The world is talking about Masco and its returning Evan Splinter, Evan Bunker and Pat Mativchuk plus …
Am I the only one that sees the embarrassment of pitching riches over on Chickering Road? Top righty Aaron Bruette returns, as does young Mike Weisman, who gained some valuable experience in a 2-1 season a year ago. And then there’s the frosh, QB Brandon Walsh. Something tells me Ryan Sifferlen and Mike Spring will be heard from as well. Offensively, Sifferlen, Brunette and ConnorWalsh will fit in the heart of any order.
2. Masco … Imagine if the CAL large comes down to the Lawrence Invitational opener between the Knights and Chieftains. All of a sudden, you’ve got an event. You know new skipper Mike Valentino has a bit to prove to the folks at the alma mater. If NA wins this thing with two league losses, Masco is right behind.
3. Pentucket … The Sachems take this spot after what I saw from the previously highly-regarded Clippers in their opener Sunday. Love having a winner like Jordan silva back at short. Tough to replace the big three (Sloban, Martin, Maguire), but Adam Newell’s going to be a good one. Team intangibles, Silva rallies guys like Chris Modlish and Dan Johanson. Winning kids, winning program, winning season.
4. Newburyport … Love Joe Clancy’s fire, but I’m not sure the Clips have enough punch to compete for the crown.
5. Wilmington … Cats should be the fifth team in the large to qualify for the tourney.
6,7 Amesbury and Triton

CAL small

1. North Reading … Let’s be politically correct here and say the CAL small has had better years. This is a rebuilding Hornets’ team that should tear through the rest of the division. Kevin Singer went 5-0 on the hill last year, tough to figure anyone in this division below Georgetown touching him. Darren Hartwell is the marquee position player in the division.
2. Georgetown … They replace a legend in Tim Holland with a potential great one in Ryan Browner. This team will hit with anyone, but there’s the potential for a lot of slow-pitch softball type scores. Don’t be surprised if only two CAL smalls advance to the postseason.
3. Lynnfield … Pioneers on the rise.
4. Hamilton-Wenham … Any team Doug Hoak puts on the field has to be dangerous.
5,6,7 … M-E, Rockport and Ipswich.

OK, I’m running long so we’ll hold off on the NH predictions until later, but here is the first Bleacher Creature Baseball Fantastic Four of 2009.

1. Central Catholic … No, this is not a typo from hoop season.
2. Andover … Carlson and Farrell and roll out the barrel. (OK, so it’s not exactly Spahn and Sain and pray for rain, but I’m trying here.)
3. Londonderry … might have the best non-Andover pitching staff in the region.
4. North Andover … Better than everyone expects.

Waiting their turn

Haverhill … Get healthy and give me a call.
Lawrence … May make Longo pay for early lack of respect.
Pinkerton … Zach Mathieu is a monster, man.
Salem … Coach K says his club will be there at the end.

Posted in Uncategorized | Comments

  • Badcopier
    Whoever would have guessed Billerica would be bottom rung of the small division? Tom Glavine? Gary DiSarcina? Wow.

    Great job with detail Hector. Makes a lot of sense.

    Andover's Gusovsky might be the dark horse MVP candidate of the year.
    Great call.

    The Haverhill thing is torture. We are screwed up as a community when some kids have to pay user fees while others don't.
  • Mike
    Andover has great pitching but if they need to go 12 inning each game to scatch out a run they are in for long season.
  • pedro
    yunior vasque he is the real deal jost watch him pitch
  • Hector Longo
    Pedro, I watched Yunior last year and was totally impressed, even in the loss to Acton-Boxboro.
    If he's as good as advertised, look out for Lawrence, because calzetta can throw it, and for the first time in years, it looks like Lawrence's lineup is going to be tough, not just a couple guys.
  • CentralFan
    Hector, change the order...here's why

    1. Andover on top with superior pitching and a more seasoned defense. Strong up the middle, and a baseball program to support the new mix. They will hit and generate runs one way or another. Two number 1's enough said. MVC large champs
    2. Haverhill assuming they bring all there guns...MVC small with Tewksbury. Big time catcher and many arms. Always a good combination. Pounding the ball at this juncture.
    3. CCHS It pains me to say this but CCHS comes up short. They have a good staff, but their defense is suspect. Pitching and defense...they go together, not here though. Returning starters only at ss, and catcher. Suspect in the outfield(apparently not important), and uncomfortable in the infield. Tough to replace 6 defensive positions and come up on top. Maybe they hit on 2 of 6.
    4. North Andover...poised to blow through the Cape Ann. Too bad they can't play MVC. Plenty of experience, great mix of new and old. Coach is not afraid to play the younger kids, at the expense of some upperclasmen. They take the CA easily and might be competitive in the MVC. Wish I could catch the matchup today aginst Andover...it should be telling.
  • Hector Longo
    CC fan, I'm not buying the "woe is me" routine with the Raiders.
    They return short and catcher. I watched Infante for Methuen legion last year and he's a solid, solid glove man at second.
    Third's a question, but first is fine.
    And the outfielders are all athletes.
    Again, all 19 wins return.
    CC is a clear No. 1.
  • CentralFan
    Hector, did you watch any Lawrence Legion(mostly CCHS players) last year? If you did, you should understand my analysis. Sure, they have more athletes than anyone, that does not necessarily make them baeball players. Sticking to my guns, they get hurt on defense.
  • cons505
    ok so i know you dont really cover the CAL that much, but to not say that Newburyport can compete with the best in the CAL large is probably not accurate.. they had 2 all league kids 1 all star last year who return, and great lineup... clancy isnt even close to the best player or pitcher on the team.. Mcleroy and Leblanc 2 juniors can play.
  • Hector Longo
    Cons,

    I take offense to that remark.
    That loss to Haverhill told me a lot about the Clips.
    I'm almost ready to guarantee they finish behind na and masco.
    No one said Clancy was the best player on that team.
    The kid in center is legit. Honestly, I feel like the high mark is third place.
    And don't toss the all-league thing at me.
    That voting was so laughable last year. The coaches should have been ashamed of themselves for it.
    Again, i call em as I see em. Whittier Tech hit the Behrendt kid harder than the Port did on a day the wind was blowing straight out.
    Third place, at best.
  • cons505
    ok the loss to haverhill... well i mean havehrill and rosario are very very good, and everyone has off days.. first game of the year etc. i second your point about the all league voting, however those kids are legit, and probably the fastest kids ive ever played against.. well see though
  • Mailman
    Haverhill is looking stronger than most teams right now. They played pretty bad the first 6 innings and even came out with the win. Not every team can intentionally walk Robinson twice in one game and still lose. Whittier won't be anything this year and im convinced Haverhill will come out on top. If Robinson and Bretton don't end up pitching they won't have the big problems we all thought they would have. Bretton, Rosario, Chasse, and Robinson are the top hitters on the team and haven't let anyone down yet. What other teams can say they had 27 hits and 25 runs in two games. They won't go down without a fight.

    Central will not be number one for many reasons. Their starting catcher is injured and their lefty pat noone is out as well with shoulder problems. The league will tear up the central pitchers. They all throw low 80's and dont have breaking pitches.

    Tewksbury isn't looking that good either. All they have is wallace and its not a one man team. Everyone talks about rosario and wallace and its going to be a battle. Its more than one player on the team and thats why Haverhill will win over them. THey have more than Rosario but only a few notice it.

    and.. andover cant play 12 innings a game so we'll see how far their hitting gets them
  • Hector Longo
    Mr. Malone, or may i call you Karl:

    There's sme solid insight in your work.
    However, Central, Andover and Tewksbury are not Whittier Tech, which pushed Haverhill to the edge, someone might say over it, in the nine-inning game the other day.
    Let's digress here:
    Anyone see the controversial ending that has the Shoe City buzzing?
    Me thinks the Hillies might have gotten an utter stroke of sheer luck with the appeal call that cost Whittier at least a couple runs.
    Sounded to me like typically the local umpire contingent always gives the benefit of the calls to the MVC team over the CAC.
    Trust me, I saw it first-hand coaching three springs at Whittier. We never, ever, ever, ever got the 50-50 call.
    In fact, we often got hosed. Not say the Cats were jobbed Friday, I didn't see it, but I hear something was a little shady.
    That said, the Hillies are winning. As one coach of a 2-0 team just told me, "we've played two, we've won two. I'm not complaining."
    Interesting news on Guyer, the CC catcher. He didn't play in the opener.
    Somehow, the Raiders have to get his bat back. The defense behind the plate will be fine with either Matt Pelletier or Zack Latrell. But Guyer is a .400, 30 RBI proven guy.
    This corner never said the Hillies were a one-man show. Obviously T-Rob is a bigtime player in this area. And Bretton played with the big boys as a frosh. And I'm pretty sure I have already called my man Josh Chasse the best all-around player in the region that nobody has heard of. The Kimballs, Foxes, Behrendts and the like have all been pleasant surprises.
    Don't sell Andover or Tewks short, though. You know the Hillies are going to see Wallace when they collide twice and either Carlson or Farrell when they hook up with Andover.
  • Boss
    For anyone who did not see the Haverhill /Whitter debacle Friday.
    Nobody got jobbed here. Good, and gutsy call by the ump, when tempers were already short.
    What was wrong here, was the conduct of W/T coach. This type of thing should not be tollerated. He is a disgrace to his school and to the city. We have all seen displays of this nature and what it can lead to. He incited his fans, and players, he was nothing less than despicable. He owes an apology to the city and to the game .
  • charlie
    After a few games I am predicting Wilmington wins Cape Anne. Very good young players (soph) and one Frosh. You heard it here first. Very good hitting team
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