ECC LARGE

East Lyme

Coach: Jack Biggs (6th year)

Key returnees: Sr. OF Jon Nazarko, Sr. P-IF Eric Morse, Sr. P-IF Caleb Gulovsen, Sr. C-P Alec Christian, Sr. P Andrew Arnold, Sr. OF Brendan McDermott, Sr. P-IF John Swaney, Sr. P-IF Mike Babcock, Sr. C Harry Esposito, Sr. IF Tucker Regan, Jr. IF Jordan Miele, Jr. OF Al Lloyd.

Top newcomers: Jr. IF-OF Walter Cranston, Jr. OF Pat Loftus, So. C Chase Livingston.

Outlook: The Vikings expect to make noise in an always difficult division and Biggs believes the combinaton of senior leadership, experience and depth will make East Lyme competitive in every game this season.

Fitch

Coach: Marc Peluso (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. P Joey Gingerella, Sr. P-IF Greg Porter, Sr. OF Kevin Shepherd.

Top newcomers: So. P-IF Jon Mewha.

Outlook: The Falcons are a perennial favorite in the ECC, but have a few more holes to fill than usual. They graduated nine seniors, including five starters and their top pitcher (Kevin Carlow). Gingerella (7-2) and Porter (5-1) anchor this year's staff. "(We) need some of the young talent to mature faster than expected," Peluso said. "If this happens, Fitch will have the opportunity to compete in the ECC Large Division."

Ledyard

Coach: Sam Kilpatrick (17th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P-1B Dexter Johnson, Sr. P-3B Patrick Shine, Sr. P-1B Steve Strong, Sr. CF Zeke Torres, Sr. C A.J. Wilcox, Jr. OF Ryan Pementil, Jr. 2B Jack Porter.

Top newcomers: Sr. OF Ray Vasquez, Jr. P-OF Ian Clang, Jr. C Bryan Fillion, Jr. OF Nick Johnson, Jr. IF Matt Liguore, Jr. OF Basil Polsonetti, Jr. P-IF Niko Revis, Jr. P-OF Brendan Sullivan, Jr. P-SS Justin Williams, So. IF Isiah Cruz, So. IF Ryan Parks, Fr. C Kyle Perry, Fr. P-IF Chris Turner.

Outlook: The Colonels just missed the state tournament last season and hope to qualify this season. They're a bit inexperienced, having graduated the likes of J.J. Jablonski, one of their best offensive players last season. "Lack of experience not withstanding," Kilpatrick said, "we expect to be competitive in each game."

Waterford

Coach: Jack O'Keefe (15th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P-OF Colin O'Keefe, Sr. SS Terence Farina, Sr. C-P Alex Tuneski, Sr. OF Corey LaLima, Sr. 1B Jon Conderino, Jr. OF Matt Irvine, Jr. OF Pat Rogers, Jr. 2B Mike Delossantos, So. C-OF James Annello.

Top newcomers: Sr. P Mike Gross, Sr. P Connor Doucette, Sr. OF Bronson Coscia, Sr. OF Gavin LaLima, Sr. P Jake Goldstein, Jr. P-1B Erik Hamler, Jr. OF Joe Mezzaranna, So. P Nolan Long.

Outlook: Baseball is about pitching and defense, and the Lancers have an abundance of both. Colin O'Keefe (9-1), who has signed a letter of intent with Virginia Tech, was a Class M all-state pick last season. "Scoring runs will be the determining factor in how the team progresses through the year," Jack O'Keefe said. Waterford advanced to the Class M semifinals last season before losing to eventual champion New London. It has the talent to go just as far, if not farther.

ECC MEDIUM

Bacon Academy

Coach: Dave Shea (23rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. P-1B David Mahoney, Sr. C Matt Abbatomarco, Sr. DH-UT Mike Dewey, Jr. 2B Bobby Blaisdell, Jr. SS Connor Wotus, Jr. IF-OF Shane Holman, Jr. OF Chad Roggero, So. CF-P-C Alex Couture.

Top newcomers: Jr. P Christian Trantalis, Fr. P-UT Jacob Chwiedz.

Outlook: The Bobcats return one of the ECC's best players, UConn-bound lefty David Mahoney, who went 8-1 in 2009 (his only loss to Branford in the state quarterfinals) with a 1.61 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 63.1 innings. He also led Bacon with .446 average, 33 hits, seven doubles, four triples and 25 RBI. Blaisdell and Wotus are a solid and experienced middle infield combo. The Bobcats have a solid lineup with good speed, but developing pitching depth behind Mahoney will be the key.

Montville

Coach: Phil Orbe (17th year)

Key returnees: Sr. SS Jesse Sutherland, Sr. P-3B Justin Brachas, Sr. C Kyle Holland, Sr. P Dave MacCracken, Sr. LF Ty Seeley, Sr. CF J.P. Morales, Jr. 2B Tyler Contillo.

Top newcomers: Sr. IF Steve Wilson, Sr. OF Derek Chaney, Jr. IF Casey Zalagens, Jr. 1B-3B Tim Nott, So. CF-P Corey Wilcox, So. P Tre Gonzalez, So. UT Nick Kinder, So. C Josh Hill.

Outlook: The reigning division and conference champions are poised to defend their title as they return six starters. Sutherland (.494, 10 home runs, 44 runs and 35 RBI) is one of the state's top talents and teams with Seeley (.330, 18 runs, 19 RBI) and Contillo (.452, 31 runs, 24 RBI) to give Montville a potent offense. The pitching is in good hands with Brachas (5-0, 1.76 ERA) and MacCracken (6-1, 2.09 ERA). Morales is out until May due to wrist surgery.

New London

Coach: Mike Wheeler (2nd year)

Key returnees: Sr. IF-P A.J. Turnier, Sr. IF-P Yohendy Gonzalez, Sr. C Eddie Sierra, Jr. OF Matt Greene, IF-C Nova Crespo.

Top newcomers: Jr. IF Juan Cruz, Jr. P-OF Edgard Santiago, So. UT Reynaldo Sierra.

Outlook: New London's 2009 Class M state title was one of the best stories of the year, with Wheeler taking over just days before the season started and guiding the Whalers to their first baseball championship since 1994. Luis Sanchez, The Day's Player of the Year, is gone, but Turnier and Gonzalez were All-Area picks, and Greene was All-ECC. Pitching may be a little light, especially early, but the Whalers can hit and play defense. New London moves up to the Medium Division and to Class L.

SMALL DIVISION

Griswold

Coach: Kevin Trahan (6th year)

Key returnees: Sr. C Chris Murphy, Sr. P-3B Nick Fessenden, Sr. CF Zack Korenkowicz, Sr. RF Justin Daniels, Sr. LF Ken Olszewski, Sr. 1B Kyle Wezner, Sr. P-1B Dan Corey, Sr. P Kyle Munuzzi, So. P Tyler Mikula.

Top newcomers: Sr. P-3B Alex Bawzer, Jr. P-INF Kolby Carignan, So. INF Zack Wood, So. INF A.J. Openchofski.

Outlook: The Wolverines move down from the Medium this spring and, with six starters back, will contend for the Small Division title. Pitching is a slight concern as Griswold graduated its top two starters. "(We) hope to carry over the momentum from last year where we won our last five games of the season," Trahan said.

Lyman Memorial

Coach: Marty Gomez (23rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. P-SS Tyler Pogmore, Sr. P-1B Jared Szuba, Sr. 2B Alex King, Sr. OF Casey McCall, Sr. OF Nick Bessette, Sr. C Ben Furlong, Sr. P Davin Messier, Jr. P-1B, Jr. P-1B Gregg Kirkpatrick, Jr. OF Tim Murray, Jr. P Jon Hutchins, Jr. OF Steve Starr.

Top newcomers: So. P-3B Keith Chamberlain, So. SS-2B

Aedin Wadja, So. 2B Ben Gould, So. P-C Casey Szuba, So. C

Ben Strenkowski.

Outlook: The Bulldogs return nine experienced lettermen and are in good position to compete for the division title. They have several players who can pitch, and Gomez said that the defense could be solid. "(We have) many interchangable parts around the field," he said.

St. Bernard

Coach: Bill Buscetto (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. 1B Nick Aldrich, Sr. P Josh Bowyer, Sr. SS Dylan Delacruz, Sr. CF Austin Gillespie, Sr. DH Jeff Nossek, Sr. 2B Tyler Wild, Jr. C-OF Brett Rankowitz, Jr. P-IF Trevor Turgeon.

Top newcomers: Sr. OF Conor Desnoyers, So. IF Dan Arundel, So. C-OF Sean Hurley, So. OF Avery Barlow, So. IF Zach Kane, So. IF Tim Lathrop, So. UT Jon Malchiodi.

Outlook: Bowyer (5-3 last season) and Turgeon (2-3) will be asked to take on more responsibility and anchor the pitching staff. The Saints will also be breaking in a new catcher as Ryan Brahm, a Day All-Area pick last spring, graduated. St. Bernard has become a fixture atop the division standings, and Buscetto said that, "our goal every year is to win the state championship."

Wheeler

Coach: Jay Mellow (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P-SS Conor Gleason, Sr. C Tom Gavitt, Sr. P-IF Ben Pearson, S. P-CF Jamie Douton, Sr. 1B Justin Walter, Jr. P-OF Chris Dellaporta, So. OF Chris Fowler.

Top newcomers: Sr. P-2B Eric Vetelino, Sr. C-RF-1B Kevin Noonan, Sr. DH Eric Nelson, Jr. 3B Paul Worobey, So. P-C-RF Trevor Stefanski.

Outlook: The Lions should qualify for the Class S tournament for the third straight year. Gavitt, Gleason and Pearson are all four-year starters, and Dellaporta, Douton and Stefanski add depth to the pitching staff. The Small Division is looking quite competitive this spring.

OTHERS

Norwich Tech

Coach: Anthony DeFilippo (third year).

Key returnees: Sr. OF Tyler Molcan, Sr. P-1B Patrick McKeon, Sr. SS Trevor Marttila, Sr. OF Zach Nagel, Jr. P-3B Kenny Wilson, So. P-3B Matt Derosier.

Top newcomers: So. 2B Mike McKeon, So. C Tyler Miner, So. C Mickey O'Connor.

Outlook: Molcan, Nagel and McKeon were the Warriors top hitters last season, and they have strong senior leadership. Derosier, McKeon and Wildes lead the pitching staff. "We are looking to be competitive with every team on our schedule and return to the state tournament," DeFilippo said.

Old Lyme

Coach: Randy St. Germain (7th year)

Key returnees: Sr. 1B-P Sawyer Gregory, Jr. SS-P Nick Carlson, Jr. P-IF Wyatt Stanland, Jr. C Justin Zabalonsky.

Top newcomers: Jr. OF Charlie Peck, Jr. OF Sean Loper, Jr. OF Chris Strycharz, Jr. OF David Shoemaker, So. 3B Nick Bellas, So. OF Dylan Sheffield, So. 2B Brendon Johnson, So. IF Jace Montasanto, Fr. SS-3B Slater Gregory.

Outlook: The Wildcats are perennial Shoreline Conference contenders, but they'll have a tough time this season after graduating several starters. "We will be very young with little varsity experience," St. Germain said. "If our pitching holds up, we should have a good season."

Old Saybrook

Coach: Steve Woods (third year)

Key returnees: Sr. RB James Canavan, Sr. P-OF Ken Henry, Sr. 1B-P Rod Macleod, Sr. IF Cody Bell, Jr. SS Joe Ferrantelli, Jr. OF Mark Rubano, Jr. P-IF Nick DePalmermo, So. 1B Max Alden, So. P-IF Justin Beal.

Top newcomers: Sr. IF Justin Barber, Jr. P-OF Mike Pereira, Jr. IF-OF John McElhone, Jr. 2B Nick Scott, Jr. OF Andrew Mill, So. P-IF Ryan Daniels, So. OF Steve Carlson.

Outlook: Pitching is a concern as the staff is inexperienced, but Woods has liked what he's seen in scrimmages. Canavan and Ferrantelli (.475) were both All-Shoreline picks last season. "I think we will be competitive and a good solid club," Woods said.

Williams

Coach: Scott Hockford (10th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P-C Doug Weatherby, Sr. P-1B-OF Jake Goldberg, Sr. P-IF Noah Spigelman, Jr. SS Spencer Espy, Jr. OF-IF Jeff Brodie.

Top newcomers: Sr. IF-OF Tim Larson, Sr. 2B-OF Kolton Harris, So. P-IF Peter Schavoir, Fr. P-C-1B Drew Watson, Fr. P-C-SS-OF Julian Madison, Fr. 2B Parker Douglas, Fr. P-C-IF Aaron Hosking.

Outlook: Pitching will carry the Blues, who must replace six starters but return three quality arms in Weatherby, Goldberg and Spigelman. Esty gives Williams experience at the top of the lineup while Watson and Madison will provide pitching depth. The Blues have a young lineup, but playing .500 baseball is definitely within reach.