By MATT STRAUB
STAFF WRITER

There are two things which a majority of the area’s high school baseball coaches agree on. The first is that the season comes too quickly.

Moving it back a week would allow coaches to better understand what kind of team they have and who should play in certain situations.

The schedule isn’t going to change anytime soon, however, which means the first week of games will be as much for experimentation as they are for winning. One thing already clear, however, is the other point on which the coaches agree.

There isn’t a bad team in the bunch.

Here’s a look at why the region has so much hope for another big baseball season in 2013.

New Britain

Coach: Roberto Mercado (3rd year)

Last year: 5-15

Key losses: Nestor Velazquez, Greg Boncek, Bobby Turka

Key returnees: Nick Rodriguez (sr. ss) Kevin Dukes (jr. c), Miguel Ortiz Jr. (jr. cf), Gabriel Santana (jr. p/if), Jon Aleman (sr. of).

Outlook: The Golden Hurricanes are young, but have plenty of options. As the playoffs slipped away last year, Mercado used the last few games to insert some new faces who now enter this season with experience. Now he will ask those young guys to lead his team back to the playoffs.

The pitching is in flux, but Mercado has choices. Sunday Okoro, Danny Annear, Kevin Fazio and Malcolm McLeod are all juniors with a chance to pitch, with Santana the most experienced.

Offensively, Dukes will be the anchor, teaming with junior Hugh Crundwell. Rodriguez will lead off, while junior Mike Calvo will be a key as well. Toby Taradeina is the utility man who will play a lot, but all over the field. Elvin Silva will be part of a strong outfield.

Southington

Coach: Charles Lembo (3rd year)

Last year: 15-8, lost in Class LL semifinals

Key losses: Justin Robarge, Craig Frobel, Ben Nichols, Jordan Gray

Key returnees: Brett Susi (sr p/if), Dave Palladino (sr. c), Matt DiNello (sr. 2b/p), Ted Shaw (sr. ss), Matt Sirois (sr. 3b), Joe Rivera (jr. of/p), Justin Rose (sr. of), Chris Bunko (sr. of), Junior Nichols (sr. of), Steve Mierzejewski (sr. dh),  Nick Calabrese (jr. if/of), Brett Shaw (soph. of), Zach Susi (soph c), Nick Sciota (sr. p) Andrew Goralski (sr. 1b/p) 

Outlook: The Blue Knights are getting used to long tournament runs, and have the experience needed for another one this season. They had nine underclassmen take the field at various points of the semifinal last year, and have a handful of players heading to play college baseball next season. Throw in the fact that these players have come through the ranks together, and Southington is expecting to have a well-oiled machine.

“The chemistry has been great,” Lembo said. “To have the leadership of these guys like we do is important.”

So is depth. Susi won six games last year and Lembo has plenty of choices with which to fill out the rotation. Rivera and DiNello seem the best bets, but Joe Hayes, Nick Sciota, Adam Coonan and Kyle Cole could all be in the mix.

Offensively, Palladino, Shaw, DiNello and Sirois were in the lineup last year and hit well.

“I think we just want to hit the ball hard,” Lembo said.

The Blue Knights should be solid defensively, particularly in the infield. They will find out what kind of pitching is has in a tough schedule which includes Glastonbury, RHAM, East Catholic, Greenwich and Plainville.

Berlin

Coach: Leo Veleas (26th year)

Last year:  11-11, lost in second round of Class L tournament.

Key losses: Tim Norton, Colin King.

Key returnees: Mitch Williams (jr. p/if), Kyle Naples (jr. p/if), Daren Grabowski (jr. of), Jordan Zima (sr. C), Jeff Sylvester (sr. if), Alec Norton (soph. if), Connor Bennett (sr. p)

Outlook: Veleas has had as storied a career as any coach in the area, but his philosophy has never been complicated. If you can pitch the ball and catch the ball, he says, you can win baseball games. To execute that plan this year, Veleas is in search of some pitching depth. He has two returning players with varsity experience to build the rotation around, and senior Danny Wrona, who is new to the varsity, might be another. Bennett missed all of last year with injuries, but his return to form could be a big boost for the Redcoats’ staff.

The team is fairly young but many of the starting nine will have previous varsity experience.

“They’re not young anymore,” Veleas said. “Hopefully our experience will pull us through.”

If Berlin can pitch, there’s enough talent on offense to win plenty of games.

Newington

Coach: Ben Alaimo (1st year)

Last year: 14-7, lost in first round of Class LL tournament.

Key Losses: Sam Tinkham, Johnny Snyder

Key Returnees: Patrick Meucci (sr. 3b), Kyle Bellizzi (sr. ss), Bryant Morander (sr. p),  Jeremy Weyman (sr. 1b),, Mike Avenoso (sr. p),  Nick Sanford (jr. c).

Outlook: Alaimo is new to the team’s capsule, but he isn’t new to the program, having served under Eric Frank in the past. With Frank now in Glastonbury, however, Alaimo takes the reigns of a program which has become one of the more consistent winners in the area.

This year’s edition of the Indians has five starters back from a year ago, and the five are good ones to have. Yes, Tinkham’s departure leaves a big hole, but Morander has experience and should be able to help fill the void. Avenoso will have to help on the mound, but Newington shouldn’t have to rely solely on its pitching.

Meucci and Bellizzi will be prominently featured in the offense, with Weyman and Sanford needed to fill roles.

“Experience should be a strength,” Alaimo said. 

Courtesy of NB Herald