By HockomockSports.com Staff

2025 Hockomock League Baseball Preview

Attleboro

2024 Record: 9-12
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Steve Dunlea
A common theme among Hockomock coaches is how the league continues to improve year after year. Having a strong pitching staff is crucial to navigating through a difficult league schedule and that’s what Attleboro has this season.

The Bombardiers have an experienced staff including seniors Tyler Dunlea (UMass Lowell), Ethan Palmer (Bridgewater State) and Nick Daley along with juniors Ryan Landry and Jeremy O’Hara. All five pitchers have a good amount of varsity experience. Dunlea, who was a league all star and a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection last year, is among the top pitchers in the league. He only allowed 10 earned runs in 38 innings last year (1.84 ERA) and struck out 42 batters. Palmer is a talented lefty and Daley recorded 27 strikeouts in 17.1 innings last year. Sophomore Miles Murray is a new addition to the staff that could be poised for a big year on the mound while the Bombardiers will lean on seniors Jacob Bettencourt and Kelan Jones as well as sophomore Cooper Cambridge for relief options.

Attleboro has another league all star back to lead the offense in senior Michael Huntington, who will patrol the outfield defensively. Huntington led the entire Hockomock League with a 0.422 batting average, going 27-for-64 on the season and hit safely in 17 of Attleboro’s 21 games. Bettencourt (Gordon) is a three-year veteran that can cover a lot of ground in center field while O’Hara and seniors Devin Fagan and Jared Santos-Fuentes will compete for time in left field. Seniors Mason Kolczeweski (shortstop) and Aidan Landers (second) give Attleboro a strong core defensively up the middle of the field while classmates Brady Erwin (first) and Chris McMahon (third) will man the corners, giving the Bombardiers a very experienced infield unit. Jones, Cambridge, and senior Ethan Miranda will provide depth in the infield as well. Senior Antonio Bennett is set to return behind the plate to handle catching duties again this season while sophomores Ben Lally and Josh Viveiros share backup duties.

“We have very strong senior leadership this year,” said Attleboro head coach Steve Dunlea. “I am excited about the mix of returning and experienced players as well as the talented group of underclassmen. The team has historically had good pitching and that will be the case again this year. The coaching staff is very excited about the leap that the lineup has made in the offseason. The kids really put the work in to get ready for the season and we are looking forward to putting up some runs to go along with our pitching depth.”

Canton

2024 Record: 6-14
2024 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: David Walsh
Canton is coming off a season that saw a talented group of younger players earn from valuable experience at the varsity level and the Bulldogs are eager to be a competitor in a crowded Davenport division title race.

Although still young in terms of roster makeup — just three seniors, nine juniors, four sophomores, and two freshmen — this group boasts plenty of varsity experience. Last year could have easily been very different record wise as the Dogs had eight losses by two or fewer runs, including to D2 state semifinalists Milford late in the season and a pair of extra-inning losses to Davenport champion Mansfield. Head coach Dave Walsh, now in his third year at the helm, is hoping that experience will turn into more success this spring. On the mound, senior Kyle Redquest, junior Chris Pirrera, and sophomore Dean Madden give the Dogs a strong starting rotation to work off of and Walsh believes he has plenty of good options to come on in relief.

Redquest is one of the most experienced players and will help anchor the infield defensively. Fellow seniors Brady Gibbons and Casey Walsh are also veteran options for Walsh. Canton’s large junior class will be heavily featured in the lineup including returners Teddy Shuman, Andrew Gillis, and last year’s HockomockSports.com Underclassman of the Year Shane Kelleher. Kelleher, who mostly manned third base, already has two full years of varsity experience and is coming off a season in which he hit .373 with 28 hits and 11 RBI. Between its returning pitchers and the key pieces back in the lineup, Canton could be a team to keep an eye on in the Davenport.

“We were young, very competitive but we were still learning how to win,” Walsh said. “Offensively this year we are a year older and stronger so I expect us to be more successful in creating/executing QAB opportunities. Defensively we should be fundamentally sound, which we pride ourselves on being routine in the field.”

Foxboro

2024 Record: 10-11
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 3 Preliminary Round
Coach: Derek Suess
A strong senior class is looking to get Foxboro back into the Davenport division title hunt this season after finishing a distant second last year.

The Warriors’ lineup is full of familiar faces and the strength of the team starts with its five senior captains: Nolan Gordon, Ryan O’Leary, Mike Marcucella, Tom Watts, and Ben Angelini. That group covers a lot of key positions for the Warriors, including on the mound where Gordon, O’Leary, and Watts give head coach Derek Suess — who has been at the helm since 2018 — one of the top rotations in the league. Gordon has a plethora of varsity experience and is committed to pitch at Endicott next year, O’Leary is coming off a terrific junior campaign highlighted by a 1.00 ERA in 56 innings of work, and Watts (2-2) only had four walks in 21 innings last year. Junior Aidan Stow will also see an expanded role, junior newcomer Colin Trimble is a welcome addition to the staff, and juniors Henry Griffin, Trevor Franco, and Harrison Lamson all provide key relief depth for the Warriors.

Watts, who will play first when he isn’t pitching, is also a key returning piece in the lineup offensively and was a HockomockSports.com First Team selection after hitting for a team-high .397 average last year with 27 hits and six RBI. He was a vacuum at first too with a .990 fielding percentage and only one error all season. Angelini has been a staple in the outfield for the Warriors the past two seasons and was also a HockomockSports.com First Team selection last year. Behind the dish, Marcucella is one of the most experienced players in the Hock and has plenty of familiarity with the staff. He’s logged over 400 innings behind the plate in his career and freshman Anthony Rego is a capable depth option for Foxboro. O’Leary is back at shortstop and Stow, who will join Angelini in the outfield, is another talented bat in the lineup. Junior Matt O’Keefe gives Foxboro a power bat in the lineup and can play third along with Trimble, while Griffin, junior Brian Sullivan, and sophomore Declan Mulkern are options at first. Griffin, Paul Moran, and Nick Hardiman provide flexibility in the outfield. Rego and junior AJ Dinunzio are also options in the infield.

“Our success will be dictated by the leadership of our five senior captains,” Suess said. “They have played a major role in our program since their freshman year and now they have the opportunity to cement their own legacy. From top to bottom, the league continues to get better, and we will need to be prepared to compete each day, knowing that success won’t come easy.”

Franklin

2024 Record: 15-9
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 16
Coach: Zach Brown
Franklin had its four-year streak atop the Kelley-Rex division snapped last year but the Panthers enter this season motivated to get back to the top of the standings.

There’s been plenty of turnover over the past two seasons for head coach Zach Brown, graduating over a dozen seniors in each of the last two seasons, including over 160 innings on the mound last year. That means this year’s squad will feature some new faces who have an opportunity to make their mark. As those new faces integrate into the lineup, Franklin will lean on the few returners it does have. Senior captain Zach Winer was a fixture in the lineup last year and returns to the middle of the order to anchor the offense once again. Senior captain Cole Sidwell is back to full health and poised for a breakout season while patrolling the outfield, and junior captain Sean Kryzak is looking to build on a very solid sophomore season. He gave the Panthers a huge spark in the leadoff role last year and will look to provide more offensive production this year. There should be some good balance in the lineup this season and it’s full of athletes so the Panthers will look to use their speed to their advantage.

Junior Jack Sullivan will slide into the shortstop role and he will be a key piece of Franklin’s infield defense. Sophomore Joey Goguen got some reps behind the dish last year and showed some great promise at the dish; he will slot back in as the starting catching this year and could be a key bat in the lineup as well. Both Winer and Kryzak will be options on the mound for Franklin, whose staff will feature plenty of new faces this spring. Junior righty DJ Silverstein made great strides in the offseason and has impressed so far this preseason and could be an impactful arm. Overall, there’s a good amount of variety in Franklin’s new staff but Brown has been impressed with their compete level so far this year and is looking forward to their growth throughout the year.

“Overall, the preseason has gone well,” Brown said. “We have played three preseason scrimmages and are learning a lot about our players. Our leaders and returners have done a nice job providing steady leadership while modeling the way we want our younger players to carry themselves on a daily basis. It’s been a fun group to be around.”

King Philip

2024 Record: 11-10
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 32
Coach: Jeff Plympton, Jr.
After back-to-back trips to the Division 2 state title game in 2022 and 2023, the Warriors suffered a first round exit after an up-and-down 2024 campaign. Now the Warriors bring a roster back that is full of experience and are eager to make a push for the division title and more come tournament time.

Last year, the Warriors had to integrate some new faces into its rotation but now all three starters — seniors Nate Pennini, Cam Hasenfus, and Ryan Higgins — are back. With three experienced arms, pitching should be a strength for KP. Pennini was selected as a league all star last year and Hasenfus is committed to play at Wheaton College. That duo along with Higgins (18.1 IP) combined to account for 17 starts of the 21 games played for KP.

Offensively, the Warriors will lean on some familiar faces in the lineup. Senior Drew Herlin, who is committed to play at WPI, was also a Hockomock League All Star and earned a HockomockSports.com First Team selection after hitting .409 with 10 multi-hit games and tied for second on the team with 16 RBI. He’s one of the most powerful hitters in the Hock and will be counted on to lead the charge again this year. Senior Aiden Astorino, a HockomockSports.com Second Team selection, is another key returner after collecting 18 hits last year along with 16 RBI that give KP one of the best 1-2 punches in the league. Behind the dish, junior Leo Dowling is back for his third year on varsity and hit .308 last year and junior Brady Herlin has great athleticism and speed to cover a lot of ground in the outfield.

“Going into this season we are excited to bring back a strong and dedicated senior class that provides our team great leadership and experience,” said King Philip head coach Jeff Plympton. “Our goal is to play hard each game and battle with a great league for a Hockomock title.”

Mansfield

2024 Record: 15-8 (Davenport champions)
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 32
Coach: Chris Hall
Mansfield has claimed back-to-back Davenport titles and if the Hornets want a third, they’ll need some new faces to step up in what should be a very competitive division this spring.

After sharing the crown with Foxboro two years ago, the Hornets took care of business and won the Davenport handily in 2024. With over a dozen seniors graduated from last season, including HockomockSports.com Player of the Year Jake Maydak, there is plenty of opportunity for new players to break into the lineup for head coach Chris Hall, who enters his fifth year at the helm. It starts with the four senior captains Luke Rogan, Riley Sigman, Charlie Decelles, and Nate Frenette. Rogan will be a key piece in all aspects, anchoring a pitching staff that will feature some new faces while also providing a steady bat in the lineup. Juniors Jack Peabody, Holden Kresge, and Owen Haaland along with sophomores Gio Scarpellini and Darrian Sanders will look to bolster the pitching rotation and bullpen depth. Mansfield will lean on its pitching staff and defense while the offense will feature a variety of contributors.

Decelles and Sigman will shore up the infield while providing an offensive spark in the lineup while Frenette has proven to be a strong leader both on and off the field for the Hornets. Senior Luke McGuire is expected to help pace the Hornets’ offense, providing both experience and power at the plate, and classmates Brendan Vokey, Eli Alouani, Sam Dunn, and Sam Kelly will all help lead in various roles in the lineup. Hall has been impressed with this year’s senior class, noting the leadership they have provided already this season. Junior James Warren will take over behind the dish to work with Mansfield’s pitching staff and classmates Max DiMarino, Evan Hefez, and Jacob Bianchi are all ready to contribute throughout the lineup. Scarpellini, Sanders, and classmate Ethan Kuchariski all bring athleticism and energy to the lineup and could see time in Mansfield’s outfield.

“We are excited to enter the 2025 with a range of seasoned veterans and some new faces ready to play,” Hall said. “The team features a range of multi-sport athletes who love the game of baseball and have a winning attitude. The Hockomock League is always a challenge, and we look forward to facing the competition.”

Milford

2024 Record: 17-8
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 state semifinal
Coach: Alex Dion
Coming off one of the best seasons in program history, Milford will need a mix of returners and newcomers to try and replicate that success this spring. With the standard set, the Hawks will look to once again be a top team in the Hockomock League.

Some of the top players from Milford’s run to the Division 2 state semifinals are now competing on the diamond at the collegiate level. But the cupboard is far from empty as the Hawks have a talented group of returners: seniors Ian Carter (Bryant), Nick Koch (Merrimack), Tyler Ballard (Wheaton), and juniors Joey McGee and Joe Butler. All five were key contributors on last year’s team and will be counted on to lead the way for head coach Alex Dion as the Hawks work some new faces into the lineup. Carter, who is committed to Bryant, is the lone returning starter but has plenty of varsity experience. He pitched over 48 innings last year with nine starts, posting a 5-3 record with a save, 63 strikeouts, and an impressive 1.44 ERA. Ballard made 11 relief appearances last year and had four saves so he will be an important piece of the Milford rotation this spring.

With the amount of returners back, Milford could have one of the top lineups in the league. Koch, who is committed to Merrimack, is coming off a breakout season in the outfield and earned HockomockSports.com Second Team honors, hitting .349 with a team-high 29 hits and a team-high 21 runs scored. He was a huge spark at the top of the lineup at the leadoff spot and is also a terrific defender who can cover a lot of ground. McGee (.308) and Butler — a two-year starter in left field — are two other integral returning pieces for the Hawks’ offense. Sophomore Ryan Flis will step in to take over catching duties while junior Derek Marcolini will look to provide in his first year starting in the infield. We are looking forward to another opportunity to compete this spring. There is a standard and culture that this senior class has helped create over the last few years that they hope to build upon this year.

“We are looking forward to another opportunity to compete this spring,” Dion said. “There is a standard and culture that this senior class has helped create over the last few years that they hope to build upon this year.”

North Attleboro

2024 Record: 11-11
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 2 Round of 16
Coach: Mike Hart
With the majority of its lineup back from last year’s 11-win squad, North Attleboro enters the 2025 season optimistic it can be a contender for a division title.

The Rocketeers are back in the Davenport division where they won three division titles in four seasons from 2018 to 2022 and with two-thirds of the lineup returning, North is an immediate contender in what could be one of the most competitive title races in recent history. North returns two of its top pitchers from last season in senior Gio Martello, a HockomockSports Second Team selection who led the Rocketeers in innings pitched (43) and strikeouts (47), and senior Dillon Waterhouse, who made tossed over 32 innings across nine appearances and posted a 4-2 record. The Rocketeers will lean on their pitching as some new faces step up on the offensive end. Senior Brady Paradis, senior Kyle Malcolmson, junior Bryce Silva, junior Nick Torres, and sophomore Jake Ronci will all look to provide depth and flexibility on the mound for head coach Mike Hart.

Paradis and classmate Lucas Crovo are back in the outfield and will look to lead the offense once again this year. Paradis is coming off a breakout season in which he hit 0.348 with a team-high 24 hits, including six doubles and a pair of triples. The centerfielder was the catalyst for North’s offense last year hitting in the leadoff spot and his experience can help set the tone. Crovo is back in right field and will look to pick up where he left off at the dish after collecting a team-high 11 RBI last year. Junior Ethan Belanger will complete the outfield group by patrolling right field. North’s infield unit will depend on who’s on the mound but will mainly feature Martello and Silva in the middle with Ronci as an option. Senior Cody Boutilier and juniors Evan Tetreault and Zach Breton are also battling for time in the infield while Torres will take over behind the dish.

“The Hockomock League is super competitive; we need to play consistently at a high level,” Hart said. “Every team has an arm that could shut anybody down. We believe our pitching can keep us in games. How we play offensively will be key in staying in contention.”

Oliver Ames

2024 Record: 4-16
2024 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Joe Abarr
After battling through a difficult 2024 season, Oliver Ames is hopeful it can use the experience it gained last year to compete in a crowded Davenport division.

The Tigers competed with some of the top teams last year, including one-run losses to both division champs Mansfield and Taunton. With a bit more varsity experience this year, Oliver Ames will be looking to pick up a few more wins and get back into playoff contention. Pitching should be a strength this season for the Tigers with juniors AJ Baroncelli, Ryan Johnson, Alex Saade, and Jack Devonshire leading the way. Baroncelli and Johnson could be poised for breakout seasons while both Saade (16 IP) and Devonshire (14.1) will look to build on the experience they gained on the mound last year.

Senior captains Harrison Fitzpatrick and Andrew Whiteside will lead the team both on and off the field. Fitzpatrick finished second in the Hock in batting average two years ago as a sophomore and will look to return to that form this season to be a catalyst for the offense. Whiteside had four starts on the mound and made three more relief appearances so his leadership for a pitching staff mainly made up of juniors will be crucial. Head coach Joe Abarr said there are plenty of options offensively when it comes to the lineup.

“We are excited for another year of Hockomock competition where the quality of baseball just seems to keep getting better and better each year,” Abarr said.

Sharon

2024 Record: 6-14
2024 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Larry Yaffe
Sharon took a step in the right direction last season and with a large chunk of last year’s roster back, the Eagles will look to continue that upward trend.

The Eagles have 15 players back from last year so there’s plenty of varsity experience with this group. That includes the two captains, seniors Cole Arundale (Southern Maine) and Drew Yaffe, who are both entering their fourth season as starters. Arundale is one of the best returning arms in the Hockomock League and will anchor the Eagles’ staff in 2025. Sharon has plenty of other arms that will provide depth beyond Arundale, who was Sharon’s pitcher of the year last year, including returner juniors Matt Cronin (17.1 IP) and Will Tobey (8.2 IP) along with sophomore Mason Silverman (15 IP). Seniors Ari Grossman and Ethan Sparacino along with sophomores Naman Shukla and Brady Shuffain are also expected to contribute off the mound. Senior Aidan McAuliffe will be tasked with working with Sharon’s pitching staff as the starting catcher with junior Benny Hertzel providing depth behind the dish.

On top of a deep pitching group, the Eagles will lean heavily on their defense. Junior Matt Berkley returns as the starting shortstop and will help set the tone defensively in the infield. Silverman, who started at second last year, will slide over to third with two-year starter Casey Stengel out to start the season due to injury. Cronin will man first base when he isn’t on the mound while senior Brody Lasser and Shuffain are battling for time at second. Junior Ben Eio provides some depth and can help fill in at first. Sharon’s outfield unit will also be shorthanded with Yaffe, the team’s defensive MVP last year, out injured to start the year. Last year’s team offensive MVP Soham Kulkarni is a familiar face back in the outfield, senior Harry Librot will step in to replace Yaffe in center, and Jacob Mento, Grossman, and Shukla are all in the mix for innings in the outfield. Senior Tim Broughton will look to give the Eagles a boost at the dish.

“It all starts with pitching and defense for us,” said second-year Sharon head coach Larry Yaffe. “We made huge improvements in those areas last season and that will be our foundation to rely upon. This is an extremely close group of kids who have been working together on their own since the end of last season. They have completely bought into understanding what it takes to compete in this league. We are looking forward to the challenge of moving up to the Kelley-Rex division and the opportunities it provides to us.”

Stoughton

2024 Record: 7-13
2024 Finish: Missed postseason
Coach: Rich Jasmin
Stoughton has a new coach in the dugout this season in Rich Jasmin, who brings over 40 years of coaching experience to the diamond this spring. In order to build on last year’s seven-win campaign, Jasmin will need some younger players to step up.

The Knights only have four returners from last season and just one senior in that group. Senior Andrew Beder is back to patrol the outfield and give the Knights some innings on the mound after tossing over 30 last year in a tram-high 12 appearances. Junior Drew Geaney and sophomore Gavin Alexson gained some important experience last year and will anchor Stoughton’s defense up the middle of the field. Geaney was second on the team last year while Alexson led the Knights in plate appearances last year and was among the team’s leaders in runs scored.

Sophomore Patrick McLoughlin is another returner for the Knights who will join Beder in the outfield as well as innings on the mound. Juniors Mason Lessa, Jake McSweeney, and Joel Short will look to break into the lineup this season and find ways to contribute both defensively and at the dish. Freshmen Kyle Bunker and Jasmel Vasquez are looking to contribute in their rookie seasons.

“We are a young team and it may be tough but I love the way these kids are ready for the challenge,” Jasmin said. “One thing I can see is they will give it their all and will not quit. With such a young team the future is looking good for us.”

Taunton

2024 Record: 19-5
2024 Finish: Reached Div. 1 Round of 16
Coach: Blair Bourque
There’s no doubt that Taunton graduated some talented pieces from last year’s Kelley-Rex champion squad, but this program is at a point where it continually reloads, not rebuilds.

Replacing its top two starters from last year Brady Morin and Jack Cali, who combined for 15 starts and over 90 innings, will be a big challenge but head coach Blair Bourque has some talented options to choose from. Taunton’s success this season could largely depend on how its rotation takes shape. Senior Johnny Escobalez, who was the starting pitcher in Taunton’s 2023 state championship win, is back for his final year with the Tigers and has over 70 innings of experience at the varsity level. Senior Cam Tomaszycki (UMass Boston) emerged as a reliable arm on the mound last year and went 4-0 with a 1.09 ERA in 25.2 innings of work. Seniors Alex Hebert (UMass Dartmouth) and Ryan Crowley will step into more significant roles this spring to help bolster the Tigers’ pitching staff.

The Tigers had one of the top offenses in the Hockomock League last year so having their top hitter back in the fold will be a major boost for this season. Senior Caden Lindskog (UMass Boston) was Taunton’s most consistent hitter last year and is back to anchor the heart of the lineup. After Lindskog, the Tigers graduated its next four top hitters so there are some holes to fill. Junior Joseph Benoit will look to build upon a solid sophomore season while senior Jace Galente and junior Corbin Melo bring some veteran experience to the lineup and can drive the ball gap-to-gap. Both Melo and returning senior Cam Dorr will be competing for playing time behind the dish. Offensively, the Tigers might not have as much speed as the past couple of seasons so finding a way to manufacture runs in a different way will be imperative to their success. With pitching depth a little bit of a question mark going into the season, head coach Blair Bourque knows his team’s defense will need to be sharp.

“If we can stay committed, continue to work hard, hold each other accountable while being great teammates, and play fundamentally sound baseball, we’ll put ourselves in the best position to compete and be successful,” said Bourque, who has been at the helm of the Tigers since 2017.