This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
04/01/2018 12:00 AMThe Morgan baseball team is welcoming some new faces this spring, and one of those faces belongs to first-year Head Coach Michael Grant. The Huskies are coming off of a year where they went 19-7 and advanced to the semifinals of both the Shoreline Conference Tournament and the Class S State tournament in their final campaign of John Litevich’s 11-year tenure as head coach. In his first season with the club, Coach Grant is keeping the Huskies’ expectations modest, although he still believes that they will be vying for a spot in the postseason.
“We’re not putting too many expectations on the season. Just win eight games and get into the tournament,” said Grant. “What happened last year happened last year. I know they had a lot of success. We’re just going to try to be the best version of this group this season.”
Coach Grant is prepared for the growing pains that may come for his pitching staff after Morgan graduated Shoreline Conference Pitcher of the Year Cooper Thompson and All-Shoreline Conference Second Team selection John Urban, who won nine and six games, respectively, last year. Returning senior Russell Green is the only athlete on the roster who has any varsity pitching experience, but he’s currently nursing an injury that will keep him off the mound to start the year. Coach Grant is hoping that the rest of the team can pick up the slack for Morgan in the meantime. Sophomore Kyle Suraci is getting the nod to start the first game of the season for Morgan.
“The biggest challenge will be the pitching. We don’t have a pitcher with varsity experience to start the season. We’re all hands on deck. We have eight or nine guys who can throw the ball over the plate, and we’re using them accordingly,” Grant said. “Some young guys will get the opportunity and, hopefully, some guys will rise to the occasion. I’m hopeful that we’ll play sound defense and get some timely hitting to keep us in games.”
While there are some question marks on the mound, Coach Grant expects senior captain Nick Caprio to provide a steadying presence in the infield, as well as the heart of the Huskies’ batting order this season. Grant said that Caprio’s leadership should prove invaluable for Morgan.
“He’s just a typical leader. He’s there early, and he’s the last to leave. He’s real diligent and a hard-working third baseman and shortstop,” said Grant. “He’s a good left-handed bat in the middle of the lineup. We’re hoping he’s going to be a real impact player for us.”
Junior AJ Fritz will be another important player for the Huskies. Grant said that Fritz is a sure-handed fielder and also makes solid contact at the plate—something that bodes well when there are people on base.
“He’s a great defensive player,” Grant said. “Offensively, he puts the ball in play. He also runs really well.”
Coach Grant wants the Huskies to take advantage when they have men on the base-paths by moving runners over from first with bunts and hit-and-run plays. Morgan will also look to press the issue and go from first to third when the opportunity presents itself. As long as Morgan plays solid defense, Grant feels that his pitchers will have the chance to work out the kinks during the course of the campaign.
“We feel we can run the bases pretty well. We’ll have to play small ball and hit situationally,” he said. “We can take advantage of timely hits. We hope we’ll play sound defense, but the pitching will be trial and error early on.”
Coach Grant has seen the Huskies embrace his approach at practice throughout the preseason. Grant feels grateful that his athletes are open to different methods, and he said they’re working hard to prepare for the season. Right now, the focus is on making all the routine plays and knowing where everyone should be in any given situation.
“I think they are responding well to the coaching. They’ve been great. I know we’re doing things a lot differently, whether that be good, bad, or indifferent. They’ve been really responsive and taking to it very well,” Grant said. “We’re just trying to prepare for all situations—first and third defense, cutoffs and relays, fly-ball communication—and just trying to be a good fundamentally. You have to be able to play catch out there on defense.”
The other athletes on Morgan’s varsity roster this year are seniors Trevor Follo and Kyle Gray; juniors Kyle Burt, Michael Menacho, and Jack O’Sullivan; sophomore Michael Zingarella; and freshmen Cameron Carlson, Stephen Egan, and Robert Zirlis.
Coach Grant will be assisted by JV Head Coach CJ Caprio and volunteer assistant Mike Spotz in his debut campaign as the Huskies’ skipper.
“We’ve been working together great. I’m really lucky to have these guys,” said Grant. “They’ve worked really well with me and welcomed me with open arms as the new guy.”
From the Sidelines
The Morgan baseball team will once again be competing in the Shoreline Conference this year and has two games against fellow conference opponents Coginchaug, Cromwell, Haddam-Killingworth, North Branford, and Valley Regional. The Huskies will also face Shoreline foes Creed-Hillhouse, East Hampton, Hale-Ray, Old Lyme, Old Saybrook, Portland, and Westbrook once during the regular season. Additionally, the Huskies have two games against non-conference opponent Guilford and one versus non-conference squad East Lyme.
Huskies’ Head Coach Michael Grant has been coaching baseball for 19 years, including stints at Somers, Glastonbury, and Eastern Connecticut State University.
Morgan has put together a nice run of success in recent seasons by reaching the Class S State Tournament quarterfinals in 2014, the final in both 2015 and 2016, and the semis in 2017. Morgan also advanced to the Class M State Tournament final back in 1968.