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2024 New England High School Team Previews

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2024 Spring Team Preview: Winchendon School (MA)

WINCHENDON, Ma. - Since the baseball program at Winchendon began in 2019 under the direction of head coach John Toffey, success has been the norm. Despite graduating 13 from last year’s squad that went on to play at the next level, prosperity on the ball field should continue in 2024 with a pitching staff that includes more than a handful of college commits.

“Our depth speaks for itself,” associate head coach Bryan Muenzner said. “We play so many games, we want to have a rotation and have pitchers prepare themselves for Tuesday/Wednesday starts.”

Senior Nico Tambascia is back after “pitching in most of the big games for us last year” according to Muenzner, who previously was an assistant at Cheshire Academy. The 11th-rated 2024 right-handed pitcher in New England is a Middlebury College signee, and being counted on to lead a staff that lost RHP Brian Buckler, who is now at Virginia Tech.

Connor Haas, a 6-4 180-pound left-hander who has lost 50 pounds since his sophomore year, is an Assumption commit ready to make a statement in his senior year. Eric Bridges, a two-way player recruited by Northern Essex CC, is another senior pitcher that throws heat.

Ryan Burke, a Lafayette commit rated 18th among junior RHPs in New England, “opened a lot of eyes pitching at a PBR Showcase” and Muenzner is of the belief he will also be a key member of the staff.

But there are more arms that will contribute in Ryan Crum, the 16th-rated senior southpaw  in New England who is committed to Salisbury University, and uncommitted Shea Gendron, the sixth-ranked 2025 left-handed pitcher in New England. Dominic Gabardi, who will start in right field, adds more depth to the staff.

The biggest question is behind the plate where Winchendon lost its top three catchers who have gone on to play at High Point, American International and Worcester Polytech. Two sophomores, Logan Katz and Brian Murray, are expected to battle for playing time at catcher this season.

“We have a lot of trust that they can play at a high level,” Muenzner said of the 10th-grader backstops.

Despite the loss of Alex Marot, a third baseman now at West Virginia, the infield is loaded this season led by shortstop Brian Connolly, a senior committed to Wake Forest who came over from a high school in Maine.

Post grad Brady Nichols will be at first base with the College of Wooster signee getting help from Anders Liimatainen, a power hitting transfer from Baltimore who missed last year with an injury and is a reclass junior.

Jake Hajda, the fourth-rated 2024 shortstop in New England, a three-year starter who missed part of last season with a broken thumb, will be at second base with the Elon commit backed by Tommy Ocasal, a left-handed hitting post grad who can play third, second and short.

Tom Fabbo, another reclass junior, is penciled in to see action at third.

Gabardi, the seventh-ranked senior outfielder in New England, will be in right field for Winchendon with the Fairfield signee joined in center by sophomore Ryan Ruggiero, a lefty stick who started as a freshman. Another 10th-grader who bats left-handed, Willie Torres, adds speed to the outfield in left with Collin Harty, a post grad signed with Nichols College, available to play in the outfield and third base.

“I think with the smaller numbers we have, a lot of guys got a lot of ABs last year,” noted Muenzner. “Last year we split the squad with two schedules to get everyone a lot of at-bats. This spring we have 31 enrolled in the program for varsity and JVs.”

Muenzner sees another big year ahead at Winchendon, which lost to Hamden Hall in the small school New England Prep Baseball championship game a year ago.

“The best thing about this team is it’s a close group that likes to push each other,” Muenzner explained. “We have a good mix of different grades and can see a lot of good things happening.

“The biggest thing in making that next step is to dial in, not look at this as a job. It’s high school baseball playing at a high level and you want to make it fun. If you’re having a good time it reflects in the classroom and on the field. It represents the kind of kids we want here.”

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