Podcast: MIAA preview with Dan Guttenplan and Pat Donnelly

Taunton enters the 2024 season having won three of the last four MIAA D1 championships. (Kyle Prudhomme/NEBJ)

The MIAA baseball season is underway, and we recently released our Preseason Top 10 with a familiar Hockomock League powerhouse at the top.

On The Base Path Podcast, host Dan Guttenplan discusses the 2024 season with New England Baseball Journal MIAA beat writer Pat Donnelly, who also selected a 25-man roster for the Preseason All-MIAA Team.

Donnelly shared his thinking behind ranking two-time defending state champion Taunton No. 1 in the preseason poll.

“I’ve given them the nod for the top spot in our preseason rankings,” Donnelly said. “You’ve got to give the reigning champs the nod there, right? Obviously, they lose Dawson Bryce, who’s going to be at Merrimack this season. But Brayden Cali’s the big one. He hit 435 last year, stole 20 bags, and struck out four times all season, which is crazy. That’s insane. So, they’re one of those teams that feels like they’re just always going to figure it out, no matter what.”

Podcast: Predictions and players to watch for 2024 MIAA season

As for the biggest threat to unseat Taunton at the top of the D1 standings, Donnelly believes it’s St. John’s Shrewsbury.

“I have St. John’s Shrewsbury at No. 2,” Donnelly said. “They’re an interesting case this year. (Head coach) Charlie Eppinger stepped down last season. In comes Casey Cummins, an ’08 grad. He’s been at Sutton the last couple years. St. John’s Shrewsbury made the Final Four last year, and fell to Taunton. There’s no shame in losing to the eventual champions.

“You get Noah Basgaard back. He’s a Stonehill guy. They bring back Brady Shea. So, they have a solid rotation there. Basgard’s topping 90 mph. Shea had a 1.80 ERA over the spring and summer. So, they will be laying the foundation on the mound.”

Listen to the entire MIAA preview podcast.

The New England Baseball Journal podcast is brought to you by the University of Nebraska High School as well as Netting Professionals.

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