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2024 New England High School Team Previews

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2024 Spring Team Preview: Belmont Hill (MA)

BELMONT, Ma. - A disastrous start to the 2023 season under rookie head coach Dave Cunningham made a quick turnaround and with it came another Independent School League championship for Belmont Hill.

Three Division 1 commits are among 15 returning players to go along with three D-3 and one Junior College recruit from a team that lost the season opener 12-0 and was then beaten in its first league game by a team that eventually finished in last place in the ISL. But Belmont Hill went on to never lose another league encounter en route to a 16-4-1 overall record and the 17th ISL title in school history.

“I’m big on culture stuff,” noted Cunningham, who pointed to technique teaching, character building and the mental side of the game as areas of focus. “Last year we weren’t the most talented team but the buy-in to play for each other and the drive was exceptional. Hopefully, the team this year will buy into the same connectedness and camaraderie. I think our locker room sets us off from others.”

ISL Player of the Year Brady Miller headlines the returnees for the Sextants. The Boston College commit threw a no-hitter, a one-hitter and two other shutouts during a 6-0 campaign, striking out 45 and walking 13 in 42.2 innings with a 0.60 ERA, never giving up more than five hits in a game.

Seniors Brendan Young and Nick Hart are other strong arms in the rotation with Nolan Bibbo, one of a number of two-sport athletes on the squad, adding depth. Young is a St. Lawrence signee, Hart is headed to Brandeis and Bibbo, the team’s starting third baseman who pitched in relief last season, is a Bates commit.

More intrigue comes from 6-4 220-pound junior RHP Luke Waldeck, the likely number two hurler who missed last season with a growth plate injury.

Eric Willi, the fifth-rated sophomore catcher in New England, will be behind the plate backed up by outfielder/DH Cooper Tarli, the 13th-rated junior catcher in New England and a William & Mary commit, who  “will be in the lineup somewhere” according to Cunningham.

Uncommitted senior Zach Khozozian, who was a pitcher/outfielder prior to Tommy John, will be at first base with senior Jake McManus, a hockey recruit by Williams, at second base.

George Washington signee Charlie Walsh, the 11th-ranked senior shortstop in New England, hit .425 with two home runs and 17 RBIs in league play last year with a .950 fielding percentage, and will be back at short while also filling the role as closer.

Nick Anderson, a captain along with Miller and Walsh, will be in center field with a pair of sophomores, Brian Seo and Raes Little, in right field and left field, respectively, depending on where Tarli fits in the lineup. Anderson, who led Belmont Hill in home runs last year, is a Holy Cross commit. Seo is likely to bat lead off while Little, the starting quarterback on the Belmont Hill football team, saw minimal action a year ago as a freshman.

“I think we have a pretty resilient group,” Cunningham noted. “I think the leadership is top notch with our three captains plus the hockey captain and a football captain as a back-up outfielder.”

As is often the case, there will be a target on the back after claiming another league championship a year ago.

“Everyone will have Belmont Hill circled on the calendar,” Cunningham said. “I told our guys you should be proud of that. We have 15 returnees and I think we’re prepared. It will be challenging to do, but we have mentally strong guys.

“The key is resilience and the compete level. The chance to repeat will drive us. On the diamond our defense will be our bread and butter. It carried us last year and I think we’ll be stronger at it this year.”

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