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2024 New England High School Team Previews

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2024 Spring Team Preview: St. Sebatian's (MA)

NEEDHAM, Ma. - Matt Duffy is excited about the challenges ahead at his alma mater.

“I’ve been an assistant here the last two years,” noted Duffy, the new head coach at St. Sebastian’s. “When Mike Calabro decided to move on it made sense. I’m an alum. I love the school. It was a no-brainer.”

Duffy, a 2007 graduate of St. Sebastian, who was the MVP of the Independent School League in baseball his senior year and went on to play professionally for eight years, is ready to bring his influence to the program.

“The last couple of years we’ve had a lot of talent,” Duffy related. “This year we’re trying to bring some toughness, that’s who I am, and build that culture back to its winning ways.

“When people play St. Sebastian's, they're going to get a tough group and get everything we’ve got when we take the field.”

The new mentor understands it will not be easy after losing three standouts from a team that finished a little better than .500.

“Last year we had a solid season but only one team wins it,” Duffy reflected. “It was just the regular season, no playoffs. It’s going to be different this year with playoffs (in the ISL). Every Saturday you’re going to get a college-type arm.”

With eight teams making the Independent School League postseason, Duffy is hopeful the Arrows will be able to make a run for the top spot despite losing a trio of Division I right-handed pitchers to graduation in Jack Volo (Georgetown), Hagen Ward (Notre Dame) and Colin Dowdle (Northwestern).

“Last year we were pitching-heavy with a senior staff,” Duffy said. “This year we need guys to step up and showcase what they have. Position-wise, we have some good returnees. We’ll be senior heavy in the infield.”

The first-year head coach is counting on four pitchers “that will get the lion’s share of innings” on the mound, including a pair of left-handers.

Jack Willams, a 6-7 230-pound senior committed to Merrimack, has had the injury bug the past two years according to Duffy but is being looked at as a valuable piece in the rotation. Junior Connor Crain, who had Tommy John last year, is another that the St. Sebastian’s mentor is hopeful of making contributions on the hill.

Ty Ciongoli and James Ko are southpaws that could make a difference in 2024. Ciangoli, the starting center fielder, was the quarterback on the football team for the Arrows and a junior planning to play on the gridiron in college while Ko is a senior newcomer to the team.

Pitching depth comes in the way of freshman Gavin Wainwright, a versatile athlete who will start at second base and has the ability to “play anywhere” according to Duffy.

A mostly veteran infield starts behind the plate with sophomore catcher Brett Gallo back for his third year as a starter. A 6-3 195-pounder, Gallo started as an eighth grader and is now getting some D-I interest.

Luke Ward, a team captain who is a preferred walk-on at Holy Cross, will be at first base this season with the left-handed hitting Ward joined on the right side of the infield by Wainwright.

Another team captain, senior Matt Dalto, will be at shortstop with fellow captain Aidan Barkley moving over from first base to play third this year. A senior committed to Cornell, Barkley can also help in the outfield.

Ciangoli will anchor the outfield in center and bat at or near the top of the lineup with the corner outfield positions open according to Duffy.

“It will be a combination of bench players from last year and guys trying out,” Duffy said about who will play left field and right.

After being a volunteer coach for one year and an assistant the next, Duffy looks forward to being in charge of the Arrows in 2024.

“I like how the team is gelling,” Duffy noted. “They seem to get along great. They’re a tough group that’s buying into being a team. We’ve also got great leadership with the three captains.”

A deep league led by defending champion Belmont Hill will present challenges for Duffy and his squad.

“Pitching and defense will be the key,” Duffy said. “At the high school level teams that throw strikes and play defense, do the little things well, are the ones that are successful. We stress pounding the zone and letting defense play behind us. We don’t have the firepower pitching we had last year so we’ll be relying more on things like small ball and moving runners along.”

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