Follow on Twitter- @PBNewEngland
Follow on Instagram- @PBR_NewEngland

Interested in attending a Prep Baseball New England event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2024 New England High School Team Previews

To view our complete list, please CLICK HERE.

2024 Spring Team Preview: Trumble (CT)

TRUMBULL, Ct. - Depth on the mound has Trumbull head coach Phil Pacelli excited about what lies ahead in the upcoming season.

“I like what I have seen so far,” noted Pacelli, whose team was unable to get in a scrimmage due to weather until late March. “Pitching and defense have been a strength for us and I am hopeful that our offense and ability to score runs will be better than last year.”

The left side of the infield features experience with the return of a pair of juniors, third baseman Ryan Johnston and shortstop Ryan Paine. The 38th-rated 2025 shortstop in New England, Johnston is a Seton Hall commit, while Paine, the third-ranked junior SS in Connecticut, is uncommitted.

Another junior, Jack Larkin, the 74th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in New England, is back to lead the way on the mound for the Eagles along with senior Aiden Stewart, who will also see time in the outfield.

“We return some experienced players and many started every game for us last year,” Pacelli noted. “Our pitching, defense and overall team speed will make us a tough team to play against.”

There are a number of holes to fill, however, with the graduation losses of catcher Scott Gell (Stonybrook), pitcher Sean Francoeur (Wesleyan), infielder Jack Durland (Hartford) and outfielder Ryan Warner.

However, the addition of junior pitcher Kaiden Escobar and sophomore hurler Trevor Schuelke, the 15th-ranked 2026 right-handed pitcher in New England, will help ease the burden for Pacelli’s squad, which a year ago finished 17-7, including losses to Westhill in the Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference semifinals and Southington in the second round of the state tournament.

A program that has won two state titles, in 1986 and 1998, and four FCIAC crowns, in 1986, 2001, 2005 and 2012, and has had two MLB players come through in Craig Breslow and Jamie D’Antona, has high hopes that this season can be memorable.

“Our pitching depth will be a big asset," explained Pacelli, who has a 242-155 overall record entering his 18th season at the helm of the Eagles. “We have a tough non-league schedule so we will find out early how we stack up against some top teams in the state.”

League play will also be a challenge according to the Trumbull mentor.

“The FCIAC is always strong,” Pacelli concluded. “I’m expecting deep post-season runs by a few teams.”

Recent Articles