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2024 New England High School Team Previews

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2024 Spring Team Preview: Southington (CT)

SOUTHINGTON, Ct. - A strong senior class has Southington head coach Stan Switala optimistic about the upcoming season, coming off a berth in the Class LL state finals two years ago and the quarterfinals last season, losing both times to Fairfield Warde.

“We have a lot of returners from the 2022 team,” noted the third-year head coach of the Blue Knights, who has a record of 36-12 in his time at the helm of a program that has won a pair of state championships in 1994 and 1999. “Our top-of-the-lineup hitting will be very strong, so if we can get production out of the 6-9 spots in key situations we could have one of the best hitting teams in the state this year. With the experience we have coming back, we should be able to win close games since they’ve been in these situations many times before and should thrive in the moment.”

Colin Crowley is a big reason that Switala has high hopes about the campaign. The eighth-ranked senior shortstop in New England “is our best pure hitter in the lineup” in the eyes of the head coach. The Winthrop commit hit .342 with three home runs and seven doubles to earn all-state honors last season, and will also serve as the team’s closer this year.

“I believe if we can have a lead in the seventh inning and bring Colin in with an 86 mile-an-hour fastball and wipe out slider to throw one inning, he gives us the best chance to hold on and win that game,” Switala said.

Frank Boutot is slated to be the ace after earning all-conference recognition in 2023 with a 3-1 record to go along with a 2.39 ERA in 26.1 innings. The 10th-rated 2024 left-handed pitcher in New England, is a Georgia Highlands College signee who will bat cleanup following a .367 season a year ago with one homer and seven doubles.

Two other standouts are back in second baseman Caden Angelo and catcher Jack Kushman. A UMass-Lowell commit and the 31st-ranked senior shortstop in New England, Angelo hit .309 with a home run and six doubles in 2023. Kushman, the 44th-rated 2024 catcher in New England, is a Saint Joseph recruit.

“He is one of the top defensive catchers in the state,” Switala said of Kushman, back for his second year as a starter. “He completely shuts down the running game with his arm and is a true leader on the field. He wants to win every time he is out there.”

There is some uncertainty when it comes to the mound according to the Southington head coach, who will be without CJ DiBenedetto, the 52nd-ranked senior RHP in New England, who had Tommy John surgery.

Also gone is two-time team MVP Jade Maia, an all-state player who hit .397 last year. The team’s starting center fielder in 2023 is playing at Dominican University.

“Our weakness as of now is our bullpen is unknown,” Switala related. “It will be pitchers from JVs with no varsity experience asked to control the game for us. In 2022 we had one of the best bullpens in the state. Without a solid bullpen in high school it’s tough to win it all. But I do believe there are enough talented young pitchers coming up to be successful after they get their feet wet at the varsity level.”

Switala pointed to a pair of newcomers to keep an eye on in Shane Richters and Trevor Clark. Richters, the 35th-rated junior outfielder in New England who features great speed according to Switala, will start in center field with Clarke, a junior RHP, looking to make a contribution on the mound.

Staying injury free and pitchers throwing strikes are the keys to the season according to the head coach, who calls Southington “one of the top five schools in the state year in and year out” with four former MLB players. 

“I really like the seniors we have this year, they want a state title,” Switala said. “They are great teammates and leaders and work very hard. I know they’re going to give 100 percent every time they take the field and that’s really all you can ask as a coach.”

Switala added one more thing.

“Every season our goal is to play to the end and win a state championship.”

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