By Tucker Paquette
@tpaquette17
Coming off of a 14-20-1 record last season, the Springfield College baseball team has its sights set on a bounce-back season, one they hope will be defined by improved on-field performance and a tight-knit group of players.
As the team looks to get on a more consistent winning track, continuity looks to be a key piece of the puzzle. There are seven graduate students and nine seniors on the Pride’s roster this year, so a solid chunk of the team’s long-standing core remains in place. Head coach Mark Simeone believes this will benefit the team as they look to get better.
“We’ve got some veteran players that have been with us for a while [and] have been contributors,” Simeone said. “I feel that they’re eager to play better than we played last year, and achieve more individually and collectively.”
Simeone points to catcher Ryan Sorgi, shortstop Michael Barrett, third baseman Joe Traversa and outfielder Michael Lepere as important members of a core of position players that figure to lead the team’s offense.
On the pitching side of things, Simeone is optimistic about this year’s starting rotation, one that will feature sophomore Nate Kelleher-Mochak as the team seeks a left-handed presence in the group.
Whether it be position players or pitchers, Simeone sees the Pride’s combination of returning talent and a deeper roster as reasons the team is primed to take a step forward.
“We have a really solid group of leaders and guys with talent,” Simeone said. “I think we’ve got some depth. We’ve got qualities throughout our roster that are conducive to improvement.”
However, there is one very significant difference in the makeup of this year’s roster compared to last year’s. Infielder Cadin Maynard graduated in May, leaving a void to fill in the lineup. Maynard holds the program record for batting average (.366) and was a vital part of the Pride’s offense.
Simeone and Kelleher-Mochak believe the pieces are in place to make up for his departure, though, thanks in part to Maynard’s contributions to his teammates.
“Losing [Maynard] hurts a lot, but he taught a lot of stuff [to] a lot of players,” Kelleher-Mochak said. “It’s not the end of the world that he’s not here anymore, but we’d love to have him back.”
What the Pride are losing in Maynard’s top-end talent may be made up for with the increase in depth highlighted by Simeone, a factor that Kelleher-Mochak believes will be important for the Pride.
“I think we’re more well-rounded this year and have a little more depth everywhere,” Kelleher-Mochak said. “We have a lot of young talent, a lot of guys who are going to have to step up and have a little bit bigger of a role than they did last year on and off the field, whether that’s being a leader or trying to help the team do things that are going to help us win and be a better team overall.”
That leadership element is a common theme as the team gears up for the season. The Pride are going with a collective leadership structure this year, veering away from having three captains like they did last year and moving over to a system that has no captains and encourages leadership development from everyone on the team.
Kelleher-Mochak sees the value in aiming to get more players taking on an active leadership role, with the possibility open for less experienced players to find their voice.
“Last year, all three captains were on the field at the same time, all the time,” Kelleher-Mochak said. “This year, you could have a sophomore or freshman who’s on the field step up and say something to an older guy, trying to get them going or say something for the good of the team.”
The changes in the team’s roster and leadership methods have had several weeks to unfold on the field, with practices and scrimmages in full swing. Simeone is pleased with the approach his team is taking as the season-opener nears.
“Everything I’ve seen in the preseason in terms of the way we’ve been going about our business, working hard and supporting each other and doing it in a determined fashion have been a positive sign,” Simeone said.
The Pride have a busy first weekend, and will kick off their 2024 campaign on Friday at 3 p.m. in a home matchup against Brandeis.
Photo courtesy: Springfield College Athletics