Division: II
Coach: Ben Forbes (20th year)
Last year: 10-7, reached first round
Returning starters: Connor Blandini, sr., SS; Tony Sampo, sr., C/P/1B; Riley Elliott, jr., P/1B; Matt Hamilton, jr., 3B/OF; Ben Harris, jr., P/1B/C; Steven Guerrette, jr., P/3B
Top newcomers: Matt Lamy, fr., P/OF; Kyle Martin, fr., P/INF; AJ Cipriano, jr., OF
Outlook: Long-time coach Forbes and the Falcons are hoping to be in the conversation for a title by the end of the season in Blandini’s final year in a Bow uniform. The do-it-all shortstop who’s committed to Southern New Hampshire University will anchor the defense and the top of the lineup for a deep and experienced Bow squad. Sampo, Elliott, Harris and Guerrette all return to bolster the pitching staff and Forbes is hoping the new players can get up to speed and help out immediately. “Looking to the young ballplayers to mature quickly and produce offensively,” Forbes said.
Division: II
Coach: Seth Wentworth (1st year)
Last year: 6-10, did not make tournament
Returning starters: Jacob Rich, sr., C/P; Spencer Murphy, sr., 2B/P; Travis Carbone, sr., OF; Lucas McCosker, sr., 3B/P; Matt Messenger, jr., C/OF: Ryan Hughes, jr., SS/P; Hayden Knight, jr., 1B/P; Hunter DeCota, jr., 1B/P
Top newcomers: Cole Smith, so., 2B; Jace Johnson, jr., OF/P; Jacob Pelletier, fr., 1B/P; Tyler Grogen, jr., OF/P
Outlook: After just missing out on the tournament last season, the Bears bring back eight starters for first-year coach Wentworth. “This year we have a very strong group of seniors who are ready to lead the way,” Wentworth said. “We had a great offseason and are looking forward to starting off the season strong.”
Division: II
Coach: Dennis Pelletier (6th year)
Last year: 14-4, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Aaron Robertson, sr., C/SS; Brett Patnode, jr., P/3B/C; Jake Cole, sr., CF; Nathan Isabelle, sr. P/SS/OF; Ben Stogner, sr., P/OF; Brady Philibotte, so., SS/3B/2B; Carter Pike, jr., 2B/3B/P
Top newcomers: Nathan Innerfield, fr., OF; Tryten Williams, jr., 3B/2B/P
Outlook: A contender last season, the Generals are banking on being a formidable foe again in Division II. Despite the departure of perennial All-State pitcher and slugger Derek Goldrick, Stark didn’t lose much else. In total, the team returns 12 varsity players, including four pitchers, which will be a strength for the Generals with Isabelle, Stogner and Patnode leading the way. Robertson returns behind the plate to provide the staff with a familiar face and a strong defensive presence. A good lineup, deep pitching and solid defense should make Stark a challenging opponent all season long.
Teams to beat: Kennett, Hollis Brookline, Plymouth, Hanover
Division: II
Coach: Jonathan Hamel (1st year)
Last year: 3-13, did not make tournament in D-III
Returning starters: Tyler Crawford, jr., 1B/P; Brendan Akpan, sr., 3B; Noah Gray, so., 2B
Outlook: The Cougars will certainly have a challenge on their hands as they make the leap up to Division II this spring. Hamel, in his first season, takes over a program that lost a number of key players to graduation and will have four or five new starting spots to fill before the start of the year. The infield should be a source of strength with Gray, Crawford and Akpan all back in the fold, but it could be a trying year facing off against larger schools in D-II for the first time. “This is a great group of kids who are very coachable and have great senior leadership,” Hamel said. “We’re hoping to continue to improve and trying to keep games competitive.”
Division: II
Coach: Sean Wheeler (17th year)
Last year: 7-10, reached first round
Returning starters: Matt Ostrowski, sr., OF; Caleb Heath, jr., OF; Cal Chevarie, jr., 3B; Dillon McCarthy, sr., 2B; Chase Keyser, jr., OF; Griffin Wheeler, so., SS
Top newcomers>res 1: Kyle Dube, jr., 1B; Ben Rose, fr., OF; Matt Renfors, jr., P
Outlook: MV hopes to get out of the gates fast after slow starts hampered the team the past two years. The Pride has a roster full of versatile players and will use guys at multiple positions. While MV returns six regulars with a ton of experience there are question marks on the mound. Gone is All-State pitcher Brian Nylen, who was the ace of the staff the last three years. Juniors Heath and Chevarie are both capable of assuming that role, and senior left-hander Ostrowski and Dube give MV another pair of arms capable of delivering quality innings. Juniors Renfors and Planchet will work out of the MV bullpen. The Pride infield defense was a strength in 2018 and it looks to be that way again with Griffin Wheeler returing to short, McCarthy back at second and Chevarie at third. Dube, along with Rose, will handle duties at first base. Four-year starter Ostrowski will be back patrolling center field when not on the mound. “Getting out of the gate will be important for us if we want to reach our goals of making the tournament. Each of the past two seasons we had to put together a bunch wins in the second half to qualify,” coach Wheeler said. “I like this group, they have been putting in the work and hopefully our results will show that.”
Teams to beat: John Stark, Kennett, Hollis Brookline, Bow
Division: II
Coach: Joshua Coughlin (9th year)
Last year: 6-11, reached first round
Returning starters: Nate Cassidy, jr., INF/P; Chris Daniels, jr., P/INF/OF: Jeff Wagner, jr., P/INF; Hayden Drew, sr., P/INF/OF; Connor Manteau, sr., P/OF; Cam Nixon, sr., C/P
Top newcomers: Ryan Ardine, fr., P/INF; Cove Boucher, so., P/INF/OF; Lucas Escabi, so., P/INF/OF; Jaxen Dupuis, jr., P/OF
Outlook: The Spartans feel like they have a good core in place to make the playoffs for the second straight year. Nixon, Manteau, Drew, Wagner, Daniels and Apgar all return for Pembroke, with Daniels and Wagner being counted on to lead the pitching staff as juniors with varsity experience. “How the pitching goes is how the Spartans will go,” Coughlin said. Offensively, both Manteau and Nixon are expected to be the big bats but plenty of question marks remain in the lineup after that. “With that mix, we look to improve on our 15th seed last year,” Coughlin said.
Teams to beat: John Stark, Kennett, Bow, Plymouth and Souhegan
BELMONT
Division: III
Coach: Matt LeBlanc (9th year)
Last year: 15-4, reached quarterfinals
Returning starters: Colby Brown, sr., SS/P; Austin Didsbury, sr., OF/P; Griffin Embree, sr., P/CF/1B; Austin Garrett, sr., 2B/3B; Cam Magerer, sr., C/3B/P; Brett Auclair, jr., P/1B; Nate Sottak, so., OF/P
Top newcomers: Michael Sprague, sr., P/INF; Lars Major, jr., OF/1B; Jason Gaudette, so., 3B/P/C
Outlook: Under LeBlanc’s watch, the Raiders have made deep runs in the tournament in each of the last two seasons, including a trip to the state finals and a near championship in 2017. Belmont brings back the majority of last year’s team, but did lose four-year starter Matt Pluskis, infielder Kyle Minery and No. 2 pitcher Brett Lima. “Filling the void left by them will be daunting, but several players offer the skillset to contribute to a successful 2019,” LeBlanc said. Embree returns after a stellar junior season and figures to be one of the toughest pitchers to face in D-III. Belmont is also excited about the core of Magerer, Auclair, Brown and Sottak, as well as Embree at the plate. How much some of the younger players can contribute and who steps up behind Embree as the team’s second pitcher will be the biggest storylines to watch as the Raiders get ready for the opener.
Teams to beat: “Division III looks to be extremely competitive,” LeBlanc said.
Division: III
Coach: Skip Foy (14th year)
Last year: 12-7, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Alex Andrews, sr., P/3B; Nick Grimbilas, sr., P/1B; Kevin Anderson, sr., OF; Patrick Brust, jr., C; Ismael Rivera, jr., SS: Jack Compton, jr., OF; Trevor Gallagher, jr., 2B
Top newcomers: Jake Blake, so., 2B; Connor Treybig, so., P/1B/CF; Tom Daly, jr., P/INF; Garin Treybig, sr., DH/1B; Logan Hannigan, jr., INF; Cody Fuller, so., P/INF: Darren Earley so., INF/OF; AJ Cipriano, jr.,CF
Outlook: The Green Giants are in prime position to make another deep run in the tournament after losing in the semifinals a season ago. The biggest name returning is the power-hitting third baseman Andrews, a First Team All-State selection last season after swatting five home runs for Brady. Andrews will be joined in the middle of the lineup by Grimbilas, Anderson and Brust. “Just like last year, we need to throw strikes and play defense and look for an experienced lineup to provide enough runs to win,” Foy said. On the pitching side, Brady will turn to Andrews and Grimbilas, but will need some young arms to step up and replace the production of Max Lamora.
Teams to beat: Hopkinton, Winnisquam, White Mountain, Hillsboro-Deering, Belmont, Gilford and Laconia
Division: III
Coach: Erik Hagstrom (3rd year)
Last year: 8-9, reached first round
Returning starters: Kevin McCaffrey, sr.; Jordan Berrocales, sr.; Jack Ferguson, jr.; Sawyer Jones, jr.; Gunner Hagstrom, jr.; Joseph O’Brien, jr.; Owen Coombs, so.; Issac Healey, so.
Top newcomers: Edwin Figueroa
Outlook: The Hillcats are excited to get the season going after reaching the playoffs last season. Pitchers Gunner Hagstrom, Jones, Ferguson, Coombs and newcomer Figueroa are expected to take up the majority of the innings this spring and the addition of some new players should blend in well with the existing group. H-D isn’t the deepest team in Division III, but if things go right on the mound, the Hillcats should more than hold their own.
Division: III
Coach: Dave Chase (23rd year)
Last year: 12-6, reached quarterfinals in D-IV
Returning starters: Caleb Yianakopolos, sr., 3B/P; Mike Baer, jr., P/SS; Sam Crawford, jr., C/P; Colby Marshall, jr., OF/P; Kevin Newton-Delgado, jr., OF/P; Larsen Burack, sr., P/1B; Sam Rawson, jr., OF/P
Top newcomers: Jack Morrall, fr., C; Bryce Charron, fr., INF; Peyton Marshall, fr., INF/P; Max Aframe, fr., INF/P; Brendan Elrick, fr., INF/P; Hunter Boissey, fr., OF/INF
Outlook: After spending the last two seasons in Division IV – including a championship in 2017 – the Hawks are making the move back to Division III with a deep and talented team. Hopkinton wants to be competitive in its new home and has seven returning starters and some key young players to do just that. Yianakopolos was a D-IV First Team All-State selection last season, while Crawford and Marshall both made second team and Newton-Delgado was an honorable mention. The schedule won’t make things easy as Hopkinton is scheduled to face eight of the projected top teams, but the Hawks aren’t backing down. “If we indeed hope to compete, we will need to put the ball in play, throw strikes and make the routine plays,” coach Chase said. “I think I can speak for my players when I say we are excited to be back in Division III and look to prove we belong.”
Teams to beat: White Mountains, Gilford, Belmont, Campbell, Monadnock, Bishop Brady and Laconia
Division: III
Coach: Fred Caruso (13th year)
Last year: 6-12, reached first round
Returning starters: Michael Allard, jr. P/1B; Jack Beaulieu, jr., P/3B: Philip Nichols, so., P/SS; Andrew McKinnon, sr., INF/OF
Top newcomers: Garret Mango, so., 2B/P; Dante Gentile, sr., C
Outlook: The best thing the Bears have going for them is experience on the mound with Nichols, Allard and Beaulieu leading the charge. Both Mango and McKinnon are also expected to see a few innings. The Bears also get a boost with catcher Gentile back as the senior only had one at-bat last season before breaking his hand. “Depth could be an issue, but the guys who are here are good ballplayers and have been working hard all winter,” Caruso said. “We’ll need to hit better than we did last year.”
Teams to beat: Gilford, Belmont, White Mountains, Laconia, Campbell
Division: IV
Coach: Rob Stockman (12th year)
Last year: 16-2, reached semifinals
Returning starters: Kyle Stockman, sr., INF/P; Devin Bedell, jr., INF/P; Jesse McGlashing, so., C; Gavin Bedell, fr., INF/P; Decota Geddis, fr., P; Ben Stephens, sr., OF; Corey Gilleney, sr., OF; DJ Zensky, jr., INF/OF; Ben Stopyro, so., OF; Caleb Stopyro, so., P/INF; Tyler Prentice
Outlook: The Panthers lost half their infield and nearly all of their outfield from a season ago, so defense will be the main priority as players settle in to new roles. But Pittsfield returns a solid core, including a lights-out pitching staff with Devin Bedell (6-2, 3.15 ERA last season), Kyle Stockman (4-0, 2.17 ERA), Gavin Bedell (2-0, 2.80 ERA) and Geddis. Stockman, a All-State First Team pick last season after batting .560 with 31 runs, 21 RBI and 27 steals, will lead an offense that also features the sophomore MacGlashing, a .375 hitter last season. Coach Stockman is counting on the rest of the returners to add depth to an already solid lineup.
Teams to beat: Littleton, Newmarket, Sunapee, Wilton-Lyndeborough