By RANDY BURLINGAME
Correspondent
WESTFIELD – Spirits were high at the North Middle School baseball fields as the Saint Mary’s varsity baseball team practiced outside for just the second time this spring, giving way to fly-balls and drills that otherwise would have eluded them had they been playing in the high school gym.
Just under a year ago the team won their first ever Division IV state championship after beating Archbishop Williams, a school with hundreds more students, in the state finals. The Saints are now focused on the 2018 season and getting ready for their opener on against Southwick Regional High School on April 10th at North Middle School in Westfield.
St. Mary’s Jake Butler tosses the ball to first base just before the runner touches the plate during spring training. Butler and the Saints prepare to defend their state title. (Photo by Randy Burlingame)
The state champions will lead the way as members of the community rally behind the Saints and their sports teams this spring, serving as beacons of hope for the school and what they have to offer to Westfield.
“It helps for everyone to see sports thriving,” said Bill Lamirande, Saint Mary’s athletic director. “This school doesn’t quit. We still go out and win.”
Nine players from last year’s championship squad are joined by a few new players for the greatly anticipated 2018 spring season.
“We’re very happy with what we’ve got,” said Lamirande, also one of the baseball coaches. “These guys are battle tested. You don’t play in states and not have that. Nothing scares them.”
Matt Masciadrelli, one of the returners from last years team, explained the importance of teamwork for their success, especially after adding young new players. The rest of the team’s seniors nodded their heads as he brought it up.
“Team chemistry is a big thing,” said Masciadrelli. “We hope to get that team chemistry from last year back.”
Coach Troy Collins said that the team shouldn’t feel too much pressure this year because they already know the system they run. He gave a nod to the current senior players, commending their leadership skills.
“We have some young kids coming in that can definitely help us,” said Collins. “It helps that our senior leadership is good. I haven’t had anyone better. They just come out and work. We’ll be a tough team to play against, but we have to show up every day.”
According to Lamirande, one of the big changes for the Saints this season will be their schedule. They will remain a Division 4 team, but are scheduled to play Division 3 programs such as Hampshire Regional and Palmer more often than they were last year. He said the change in schedule is not having an effect on their confidence.
The Saint Mary’s baseball team huddles up at the end of practice to discuss plans for
field maintenance. The team takes on the responsibility for maintaining their own field. (Photo by
Randy Burlingame)
“We’ve played bigger schools with bigger players,” said Lamirande. “We beat Wahconah, who won the Division 3 Western Mass. title, 4-2 on a Saturday morning last year. Our guys came away very positive from that.”
None of the athletes said a word about the potential closing of the high school at the end of the 2018 school year and Collins said it’s something they aren’t really focused on.
“We’re going to play our baseball season,” said Collins. “We’re going to have a good time doing what we love to do. I can’t wait to get going. It should be fun.”
Lamirande said the Saints hold true to a no cut policy, which allows more students to play sports they may not normally try. For the JV baseball program, this includes two international students that have never played before.
“They are taking an interest in playing as many sports as they can now, said Lamirande. “They’re here everyday. They try hard. That’s what’s great about Saint Mary’s. It’s just something that wouldn’t happen anywhere else.”
The athletic director said the future of the baseball program is looking bright, partially due to how early they are able to work with young players and the creation of the Westfield Junior Legion team this year.
“The fact that our seventh and eighth graders can play JV is an advantage,” said Lamirande. “The Junior Legion team gives us a chance to help some younger players and continue success. The city is very excited about that.”
Three of the seniors said they plan on playing baseball in college next year. Matt Masciadrelli will play for Wentworth, Hunter Authier will play for Eastern Nazarene, and Jake Butler plans to play for Westfield State University.
Lamirande said that the seniors have all been accepted to every college they have applied to, and that more of them have the potential to play if they choose to do so.
