Prep baseball: How first-year coaches are managing pandemic

New Governor's Academy coach James Cramphin made the move from Canterbury School. (Courtesy photo)

For five first-year coaches, 2020 was expected to be one of hope, promise, personal endeavor and on-going accomplishment.

Once hired, Mike Mastrocola, Tyler Wosleger, Tim Mitropoulos, Thomas Piacenza and James Cramphin each considered themselves indebted in landing their dream jobs. All wasted no time getting to work as they continued to make pain-staking strides in getting to know current players, incoming players along with their families.

Everything seemed to be running smoothly until the pandemic hit, sending everything into a tailspin. The aftermath of COVID forced the cancellation of all spring athletic high school programs nationwide. All of a sudden, five coaches had to put their agendas on hold for at least another year. Outlooks that began so positively were replaced by utter disappointment.

New England Baseball Journal reached out to these five men in getting to know their baseball backgrounds while allowing them to present their reflections of a season lost, along with their thoughts heading into a potential 2021 season and beyond. Each shared their goals and philosophies in taking over their respective programs.