May 5, 2011
HS notebook: MLB draft will have Mass. appeal
by Roger Brown/
It’s unlikely that any New England state will have more high school players chosen in June’s first-year player draft than Massachusetts. One pro scout recently said this is the best talent Massachusetts has produced since the 1980s.
Here are five Massachusetts residents who will likely be selected in this year’s draft, which will be held June 6-8 in Secaucus, N.J.:
Tyler Beede (RHP)
Hometown: Auburn, Mass.
School: Lawrence Academy
Many consider Beede to be the top high school prospect in the Northeast. He has committed to Vanderbilt, but could be selected as early as the first round.
John Magliozzi (RHP)
Hometown: Milton, Mass.
School: Dexter School
Florida-bound Magliozzi has a fastball that can reach 96 mph. Helped Dexter stretch its winning streak to eight games with a victory over Buckingham, Browne & Nichols at Harvard on Monday night.
Pat Connaughton (RHP)
Hometown: Arlington, Mass.
School: St. John’s Prep
Connaughton, who is 6-foot-4, is headed Notre Dame to play baseball and basketball. He was named the Massachusetts’ Gatorade Player of the Year in basketball earlier this year. Throws three pitches with a fastball in the low 90s.
John Gorman (RHP/3B)
Hometown: Norwood, Mass.
School: Catholic Memorial
Chose Boston College over some big-name baseball schools. Catholic Memorial coach Hal Carey called Gorman one of the best hitters in the state. He’ll likely pitch and play third base at BC.
Andrew Chin (LHP)
Hometown: Newton, Mass.
School: Buckingham, Browne & Nichols
Doesn’t throw as hard as some pitchers in the state, but shows maturity on the mound. Chin is scheduled to have Tommy John surgery, so the key question will be how much that affects his draft position. Like Gorman, has committed to BC.
Massachusetts
Newburyport (Mass.) High School coach Bill Pettingell recorded his 600th career victory on Tuesday as the Clippers earned an 11-3 win over Hamilton-Wenham.
According to the Boston Globe, Pettengill becomes just the sixth Massachusetts coach to reach 600 career wins, joining Leominster’s Emile Johnson (672), North Reading’s Frank Carey (667), Chicopee Comprehensive’s Dan Dulcino (634), Cardinal Spellman’s Peter Ambrose (628) and Burlington’s Jim Curtin (604).
Pettingell has announced this will be his final season coaching. His varsity career began in 1972.
Connecticut
Erik Sawyer, Alex Bauer, Zack Levins and Chris Peer combined on a no-hitter to help Staples end a two-game losing streak and raise its overall record to 10-2 with a 14-0 triumph over Harding on Monday. Sawyer pitched four innings and was credited with the win.
James Frusciante, Ryan Burke and Tyler Jacobs each hit a home run in the victory.
Maine
Westbrook is off to a 5-0 start in Western Maine Class A, and has outscored its five opponents 58-3. Westbrook has shut out four of its five opponents.
Westbrook’s only real test came against Massabesic. Westbrook received a three-run double from Scott Heath in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 4-3 victory. Heath has committed to play at the University of Maine next season.
New Hampshire
The marquee regular-season game in New Hampshire will be played May 9, when Portsmouth faces Bedford on the road. Both teams are 7-0, and are the only unbeaten teams in Division II.
Portsmouth, which beat Bedford in last year’s Division II championship game, received a scare from St. Thomas on Monday, but stretched the program’s winning streak to 70 games with a 4-3 victory. The Clippers collected six of their seven hits in the third inning, when they scored each of their four runs.
Rhode Island
North Kingstown pitcher Billy Young, a sophomore, tossed a five-hit, complete-game shutout against Bishop Hendricken on Saturday to help North Kingstown post a 9-0 victory. Bishop Hendricken has won the last three Division I state championships.
Vermont
Andrew Delaricheliere of BFA-St. Albans and Mount Mansfield’s Sam Spencer each pitched 10 1/3 innings and received a no decision when BFA posted a 1-0 victory last Friday. BFA won the contest when Nick Swim scored on Ruben Gilbert’s bunt in the 11th inning.
Delaricheliere allowed four hits and struck out five. Spencer limited BFA to three hits and finished with six strikeouts. Colin Howrigan threw four pitches to earn the victory.
