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04/14/2018 12:00 AMThe Hand baseball team appeared to be a contender on paper in both the SCC and Class L ranks entering the 2018 season. Now that the campaign is underway, the Tigers are making good on their high hopes as they’re off to a 5-0 start, led by a dugout full of returning players who have tons of talent.
Last spring, Head Coach Travis LaPointe’s club posted a regular-season record of 13-7, including a big 4-3 win over eventual SCC champion and Class LL state finalist Amity that halted the Spartans’ 28-game win streak. The Tigers wound up qualifying for both the SCC and Class L State tournaments, where they took opening-round losses against Branford and Watertown, respectively.
Hand has major expectations with so many key athletes coming back this season. In a game full of stats, trends, and tendencies, Coach LaPointe feels the numbers are pointing in the right direction for the Tigers to go on a memorable journey through the playoffs.
“Last year, we made some incredible strides on our pitching staff and with our offensive statistics. Our team ERA shrank to 2.68. This year, our pitching staff has set some specific goals to lower that number even more,” said LaPointe. “In 2017, we had our best offensive year in a long time. As a team, we batted .311 and had a .435 on base percentage. Our offense believes that it is even better and has set some goals to improve upon those numbers. We need to improve team defense. The past three seasons we have allowed about 1.5 unearned runs per game. If we can get below one per game, then we should have a chance to win every game.”
Hand features three senior captains leading the charge this year: right fielder Eddie Sweeney, catcher Will Reiner, and middle infielder Tom Hobin. Sweeney batted .409 with 18 RBI and went 9-for-9 stealing bases last year to make All-SCC and All-State despite only playing 14 games due to a torn labrum. Reiner, who will attend Villanova University, batted .316 with 12 RBI and 13 runs scored last season, while leadoff man Hobin hit at a .348 clip.
“After having surgery and rehabbing all summer and fall, Eddie is in the best baseball shape of his life and has as much talent as any player in the state. He is a five-tool player that can hit for average and power,” LaPointe said. “Will is a top-rated catcher in the state and has great tools as an offensive player, as well. Will has made a remarkable recovery after tearing his ACL during the beginning of the football season. After being sidelined most of his sophomore season with a back injury, Tom came back last year and earned his place as our starting second basemen. Tommy has developed into one of the most skilled players on the team.”
The Tigers’ deep senior class is further bolstered by catcher and 2017 All-SCC Team honoree Cam Fitzgerald, who had a .355 average with 19 RBI and will attend American International College; along with first baseman James DeGrasse (.258 batting average, 11 runs scored), who will attend UMass-Boston; and third baseman Paul Gagliardi.
On the mound, Hand is looking to three-time All-SCC selection Kyle Schaefer, who went 6-2 with a 1.84 ERA last year and will pitch at Roger Williams University; along with Spencer Oliver (3.64 ERA, 36 Ks), who will continue his career at Tulane University.
“Cam is an excellent defensive catcher with a high baseball IQ and great instincts for the game. James is one of the best defensive first basemen that I have been around,” said LaPointe. “Paul has a chance to secure lots of time as our third basemen. He has proven that he has a great glove, great hands, and instincts for the game. This will be Kyle’s fourth year as the ace of our staff. Spencer is a hard-throwing right hander who has really grown into his body and learned how to pitch. He continues to get better and better every day.”
The Tigers’ senior class is rounded by pitchers Christian Hartmann and Graeme McGivern, and outfielder Christian Bray. The junior class includes center fielder Julian Banerji (.250 average, 17 RBI for 2017), pitcher/position player Jake Crawford (2.93 ERA, 13 strikeouts in 14 innings), along with Ian Butler, Kevin Girardi, Will Kleinhenz, Chris Bartosic, and Brad Cosgriff. Middle infielder Phoenix Billings is a sophomore on the squad.
“Julian is a dynamic athlete. He has a strong arm, has excellent speed, and has gap-to-gap power at the plate. Jake had significant experience last season on the mound and has shown some significant improvement,” said Coach LaPointe. “Chris and Graeme are going to be the keys to our pitching staff. They have incredible potential on the mound and will be part of anchoring our bullpen. Christian is a speedy outfielder with versatility that makes him such a valuable piece. Phoenix is one of the most talented sophomore ballplayers in the area and has looked impressive. Ian, Kevin, Will, Chris, and Brad are terrific ballplayers that will have a chance to make a huge impact on the field for us this season.”
The Tigers started off last week by notching 9-1 win over rival Guilford on April 9. Hobin (2 hits, 1 RBI) started off the top of the first inning with a single, and Sweeney followed with a walk. Banerji hit a two-RBI single, and then Girardi crushed a line-drive two-run homer over the left-field fence. With Guilford putting something together in bottom of the first, Banerji (2 hits, 3 RBI) caught a fly ball over his head and threw the lead runner out at second base to complete the double play. After that, Schaefer cruised through six innings. He improved to 2-0, while only allowing four hits and a run.
The Tigers then defeated Branford by a 6-3 final on April 11. With Hand trailing 2-1 in fourth, Sweeney hit a double off the top of the left-field fence and later scored on an RBI single by Reiner to tie the game at 2-2. In the fifth, Branford held a 3-2 edge when Butler led off with a double and Billings followed with an RBI single to tie the game at 3. Hobin walked to set up Sweeney to drive a triple down the right-field line to put Hand up 5-3, and Banerji followed with an RBI single that made it 6-3. After a solid performance by starting pitcher Spencer Oliver, Crawford entered the game in the fifth inning with two outs and a runner on first base. He cruised through the next 2.1 innings to pick up his first win of the season.
The Tigers closed the week by notching a 12-2 victory versus Ledyard on April 13 to improve to 5-0.
Hand will face plenty of difficult competition in a conference that includes formidable foes like Branford and Guilford, as well as three-time defending SCC champion Amity. However, no matter who his team is facing, Coach LaPointe said the Tigers have the tools to give every opponent on their schedule a run for their money this spring.
“[This team has] the most talent that we have ever had. Our seniors have done an incredible job of setting the tone, and there is really something special about this group,” he said. “We are a team that will cause lots of problems. We can pitch, hit, defend, run, and we have a tenacity that will be the most important ingredient in our success.”
From the Sidelines
Travis LaPointe is in his seventh season as the head coach of the Hand baseball squad.
The assistant coaches this spring for the Tigers are Bill Daunais, who’s in his 13th season with Hand; along with Nick Merullo (fourth year), Kyle Heins (third year(, Marty Magzag (second year, and Justin Kaeser (first year).
The Tigers are once again playing in the SCC Hammonasset Division with Amity, Sheehan, Law, and Career.