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07/01/2021 12:00 AMMike Buccaro made as big of an impact as any player on the Guilford High School baseball team this season. Mike earned the starting spot as the Grizzlies’ catcher as a freshman and posted a .317 batting average for the year, while striking out just five times in his 46 plate appearances.
Guilford saw some struggles in the win-loss column during its first year with Head Coach Nick Merullo, finishing with two victories on the campaign. Still, Mike was happy to become a regular in the Grizzlies’ lineup in his freshman year, and he believes that the team is primed for a strong season in 2022.
“Record-wise, it was obviously a disappointing year for Guilford baseball. But for me personally, the experience I gained from playing varsity baseball as a freshman will no doubt be beneficial in the years to come,” Mike says. “I will be working hard this year and next, trying to improve as a player, so I can become one of the better catchers in the SCC. I also think the team as a whole will improve a lot in coach Merullo’s second year.”
Mike first got involved with baseball when he was three years old. Mike quickly fell in love with the sport after practicing in the yard with his father Christopher.
“I’ve been playing some form of organized baseball since I was six years old, but I started practicing the game in my yard when I was three years old,” says Mike. “My father and both grandfathers loved the game and introduced the game to me at a very young age. I really enjoyed the game, and it’s become a passion of mine ever since.”
One of Mike’s favorite aspects of baseball is how it simultaneously serves as both a team sport and an individual sport. He also enjoys the mental challenges that come with playing the game.
“Baseball is unique in that it’s both a team sport and an individual sport at the same time. While you compete along with your teammates in trying to win a game, the game becomes an individual sport when you are up at the plate trying to get a hit off the opposing pitcher,” Mike says. “I enjoy the ability to compete alongside my teammates, but love taking my turn in the batter’s box, trying to do what I can to help my team win.”
It means a lot to Mike that he earned his place behind home plate as Guilford’s starting varsity catcher as a freshman. Mike also saw success in the batter’s box as his .317 batting average was the second-best on the squad.
“I’ve had a lot of fun moments playing the game, and it’s hard to choose one that would be my favorite. I would say one thing I am very proud of is making the varsity team as a 14 year-old freshman, being named the starting catcher, and playing well throughout the season,” says Mike. “As someone much younger than most of the players I competed against, I was very proud to finish with the second-highest batting average on our team.”
Coach Merullo says that Mike impressed everyone in the program from day one of preseason workouts with the team. Merullo adds that Mike has smooth left-handed swing that gives him the look of a seasoned veteran, helping him move up in Guilford’s lineup over the course of the campaign.
“Mike took advantage of his opportunities early in the year and earned a starting role as a freshman. He began the season hitting toward the bottom of our lineup and finished the year hitting cleanup. He just continued to get bet swinging the bat every week,” Merullo says. “Mike is a joy to coach. He’s a great kid, a hard worker, and absolutely loves the game of baseball—the type of player who will do whatever his team needs. The coaching staff is very excited to have Mike returning for three more seasons as a catcher and look forward to helping him develop into a very strong player for our baseball program.”
Mike had never met Coach Merullo prior to the start of the season, but appreciates how much the first-year skipper and former catcher helped shape his game this spring. Mike feels excited about competing for Coach Merullo and the Grizzlies throughout the next three years.
“The fact that Coach Merullo was an All-State catcher who went on to play NCAA Division I and professional baseball, and the fact that I am a catcher, made it obvious to me that there was much I could learn from him that would make me a better baseball player, especially at the catcher position,” says Mike. “I enjoy his personality and demeanor. He has a lot of great advice to offer his players both on and off the field, and I am excited to play for him in my remaining years at Guilford.”