Prep report: Roxbury Latin on a 4-year rise in the ISL

Roxbury Latin pitcher Joey Ryan is a Boston College commit. (Marcus Miller/Roxbury Latin)

Over the past couple of seasons, time has shown Roxbury Latin School to be a team on the fast track. Since 2017, the Foxes have gradually raised their level of play to the point where they now find themselves in the conversation as being a viable contender within the always demanding Independent School League (ISL).

You can attribute a lot of that success to fourth-year head coach David Cataruzolo. In Cataruzolo's initial campaign, he guided Roxbury Latin to a 9-8 record. Two years ago, the Foxes bettered that mark by going 11-6. Last spring they finished 14-3, and remained in the ISL title hunt for the entire season.

"I am really pleased with where we are as a program," said Cataruzolo. "Every coach wants those high-end players who help you win, but I like the type of athletes we are attracting  _ baseball players with multiple interests and talents. As young a team as we are this year, I still feel we are in a really good place with a healthy team culture that sets us up well for the future."

A native of Watertown, MA, Cataruzolo is all too familiar with the ISL. He was an exceptional two-sport athlete in both baseball and hockey at Buckingham, Browne & Nichols School. Cataruzolo later attended Bowdoin College where he served as captain of the baseball and hockey teams. He is also a member of the Polar Bears' 100-hit club in baseball (128) and 100 point club in hockey (126).