Since winter sports have wrapped up, the Morgan baseball team has been preparing for a tough season coming their way, after losing the second round of state championships last year. Mr. Brown and the boys are focused on becoming stronger for this season.
2024 Season Recap
The Morgan boys’ baseball team ended their 2024 season with a 14-9 record and got beat in the second round of the state tournament by North Branford. They faced their rivals, North Branford and Haddam Killingworth, both during season and post-season. During states, the Huskies came out with a win to Wamogo, 17-9, during round one, then lost the second round against North Branford, 6-7, which ended their season.
The team has lots of positions to fill as they lost their starting catcher, Ross Treubig, and their starting first baseman, Sean Green. The team also lost two right-hand pitchers, Lucas Hoadley and Ryan Donadio. All of these players had lots of experience and were starters, leading up to their graduation that spring.
Leading up to the Season
“The boys have worked hard all winter in their winter workouts,” said Mr. Brown, head coach of the baseball team. During the winter, they would meet every Sunday night at a facility in Old Lyme to lift weights and practice skill work to become stronger. The conflict with winter sports and baseball off-season was a struggle for some of the boys, so only some of the team showed up. Aside from winter workouts, they played baseball throughout the summer on different travel teams.
Their captains were chosen before the winter workouts started, so the captains could then lead them. This year’s captains are Wyatt Luke (35), Creighton Johnson (3), Dominic Larabee (7), and Michael Ferriaolo (17). All the captains are seniors and have been playing Morgan baseball for all four years.
Pre-season Events
Outside of baseball, the boys have a close relationship. Jack Henry, a returning sophomore, stated, “The team chemistry is really good. We are a very close team. We all hang out outside of school and do baseball activities all year round together.”
“It’s time to get out on the field and start to play as a group together and get going,” coach Brown said. The boys have already started the season out with four scrimmages. On Wednesday, March 26, they played against West Haven and came out with a win, 6-2. Then, on Friday, March 28, the boys beat Hillhouse with a score of 21-4. On Monday, March 31, they lost against Mount Saint Charles Academy with 9-7. Lastly, they played their last scrimmage on Wednesday, April 2, against Branford, winning 6-5. They have had a late start to the season, but hopefully, they will pick it up.
What’s Happening This Season?
The Morgan boys baseball team is led by head coach, Trevor Brown, a paraprofessional at the Morgan School, and assistant coach, Chad Neri, an engineering teacher at the Morgan School. Practice is every day out on the Morgan baseball field. If it rains, they will practice in the gym. Their first game is on April 5 against Crowell at 34 Evergreen Rd, Cromwell, Connecticut. Their senior night is on May 14th against Portland at Indian River.
All sports teams have rivals. For baseball, their rivals are Haddam Killingworth and North Branford. Aside from their rivals, Mr Brown has lots of goals for the season, such as “qualifying for both tournaments, the shoreline tournament and the state tournament.” Mr Brown also stated, “The ultimate goal is to get to Palmer Field; that’s where the state championship is.”
However, before the team can reach the championship, they will have to prove themselves this season.,”There’s gonna be a lot of tough games, but if we can play together and play strong, we will be good,” said Jack Henry Palazzo
The boys came out with a win against Cromwell on Saturday, April 5, with a score of 6-3. Stay tuned for their next game, Tuesday, April 8, away against Valley Regional/Westbrook.
