By Michael Letendre
BRISTOL – Don’t sleep on the Bristol Eastern baseball team this year.
The squad finished the 2022 with a flurry and brings back several experienced arms to the mix this year.
The Lancers graduated four major contributors but if all the pieces fall into place, this could be the program’s most successful campaign under head coach Steve Gaudet.
Of course, it won’t be easy with Maloney, Platt, Lewis Mills, Berlin and Bristol Central in the CCC South mix.
The Lancers are looking for another playoff jaunt this season and here’s how Eastern will look in 2023:
BRISTOL EASTERN BASEBALL
Head coach: Steve Gaudet (3rd season, 16-26 overall)
2022 season: After a 9-11 regular season, 23rd ranked Eastern battled Class L runner-up Maloney in first round play, falling 9-4.
Key Losses: Elliot Norris (2B/P), Cole Latko (SS), Jaydon Churchill (CF/P), Connor McCormick (RF/P).
Roster/Possible positions: Rio Fernandez (jr, C/P), Jose Feliciano (sr, RF), Owen Myers (so, 1B/2B/P), Ryan Maglio (sr, 3B/P), Anthony Nocera (so, 3B/P), Ben D’Amato (jr, LF), John Montgomery (jr, P), Connor Cyr (sr, CF), Mike Roalf (sr, P), Caleb Molinsky (jr, P/SS), Noah Gatti (so, P), Kyle Babin (sr, OF), Preston Guarda (jr, 1B, injured), Mason Harris (jr, 1B/DH/SS), Brayden Schenck (jr, 2B), Declan Schenck (jr, 1B/P), Gabe White (jr, SS/2B), Jed Sutula (sr, C/2B).
2023 Season Outlook: Eastern was a little lean on experience last season but that won’t be a problem this time around.
The Lancers have a ton of arms locked and ready to go and the rotation will once again see players that have more than a little varsity experience.
This team is also fairly versatile, and players can be moved here and there as the season moves along.
“I believe experience and depth are our two biggest strengths,” said Gaudet. “Practices have been competitive, everyone is fighting for playing time and is willing/capable of playing multiple positions. Ben D’Amato, Ryan Maglio, Connor Cyr, Jose Feliciano, Rio Fernandez, Roalf, Guarda and even Owen Myers and Anthony Nocera (who are only a sophomores) have played many meaningful varsity innings.”
“I think we may surprise some teams with the growth we’ve made since last year.”
That’s the key as Eastern hopes to be not just a year older but a year better and that pitching staff could go a long way in helping with that endeavor.
Maglio (3-4 overall, 35 innings pitched, 37 Ks, 4.20 ERA) is one of the most experienced arms Eastern returns while Roalf (2-4, 29 Ks) threw 37 innings last year.
Fernandez, Myers (1.68 ERA), Nocera (3.18 ERA), John Montgomery, Caleb Molinsky, Noah Gatti and Declan Schenck could all be asked to provide support on the mound this year.
“This is the most pitching depth I have had in my tenure here at Bristol Eastern,” said Gaudet. “Roalf and Maglio are established varsity pitchers who both have improved their velocity and ability to throw their off-speed in any count. Molinsky, Gatti, and Montgomery have impressed all preseason. Nocera and Myers threw meaningful innings last year and continue to mature and get better. Rio Fernandez has put in the time and effort to make himself a legitimate option in a relief role.”
Gaudet was still trying to fill a few positions around the field even after a few scrimmages were in the books.
Players were battling for first and second base as well as DH though Myers will factor somewhere in that mix.
The surprise of the squad could be Feliciano who had just 28 at bats last season but truly put the work in during the offseason to become a player to be reckoned with in 2023.
And D’Amato (.423 batting average, team leading 30 hits) like all the players from the D’Amato family, carries baseball genes in their DNA.
“Jose has put in so much work in the offseason,” said Gaudet. “He is in incredible shape, and is swinging the bat and playing the outfield with incredible confidence. Ben D’Amato obviously will continue to do what he has done at the plate his first two seasons as a Lancer.”
Joining D’Amato and Feliciano in the outfield will be veteran Connor Cyr (center), a good trio on the defensive end.
Whatever is thrown Eastern’s way, the crew over on King Street should be in good shape this season.
CCC South Outlook: The Lancers will be in the thick of the Southern competition once again this year.
And Gaudet likes both Bristol Central and Maloney as favorites in the South.
“Bristol Central and Maloney both teams have the pitching and the bats to make a run at a state title,” said Gaudet.
The league is once again loaded and don’t be surprised if Eastern can pull off an upset or two along the way, playing some of those top-tier CCC South programs.
The Schedule: Eastern is already out of gas money for the year due to its trip up to Storrs to battle Edwin O. Smith on Wednesday afternoon in a 5-1 victory.
But the Kingstreeters jump right into the CCC South mix this Monday against Lewis Mills (3:45 p.m.) from Clem J. Roy Field (where’s the new fence for the outfield??? And the dugouts? Here we go again…).
The Lancers are at Berlin (3:45 p.m.) on Wednesday as the CCC South schedule starts off with a bang.
This season’s crosstown showdowns against Central commence from beautiful Muzzy Field on May 5 and May 22.
All TBE readers, supporters and donors
The Bristol Edition will be limiting the number of stories non-members and free readers may access each week. This decision is based on our financial projections and, most certainly, to remind people that TBE is serious about providing accurate, timely and thorough reporting for Bristol. To do this we have devised a financial support structure that makes unlimited access extremely affordable, beginning with a $6 monthly donation.
- Non-members will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Free readers and people who have subscribed by email will be able to access four (4) articles per week.
- Donors and financial supporters will have unlimited access as long as they log in.
Note: Donors may have to contact TBE if they find they are being limited, since we will need to set up a membership account for you. Email editor@bristoledition.org for instructions. Sorry for any inconvenience. People with financial difficulties may write editor@bristoledition.org to be considered for free access.
