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2022 New England High School Team Previews

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2022 Spring Team Preview: Central Catholic

LAWRENCE, Ma. - Central Catholic head coach John Sexton is ready for the challenges ahead.

“I think we play the best schedule in the state,” noted the fourth-year head coach, whose schedule is highlighted by a game with Lowell on May 1 at the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. “We want to be in close, high-intensity games and you want to see velocity so when you see it in the tournament it isn’t a shock. I think by June 1 we’ll certainly be battle tested.”

While playing in the Large Division of the Merrimack Valley Conference is always demanding, strong pitching will make the task at hand easier in 2022 after the Raiders went 10-6 a year ago, finishing second in league play behind North Andover.

“We have every inning back on the mound,” Sexton said about the experienced staff at Central Catholic.

Ryan Cloutier, an Assumption College signee, and Francisco Melendez, an Army commit, head up the staff for the Raiders. Cloutier, a first-team all-conference selection a year ago, is the 25th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in New England while Melendez, who threw a no-hitter last season, is ranked 57th among 2023 right-handed hurlers in the area.

Senior Thomas Green and sophomore Josh Florence, the 25th-ranked 2024 RHP in New England who will also play outfield, are other returning pitchers with Lukasz Rondeau, a left-handed sophomore transfer, adding to the talent on the hill.

“Those five are pretty good,” Sexton said. “I love the pitching depth. Those five in particular are all capable of both starting and closing games. They have swing-and-miss stuff.”

Six of eight position regulars are also back, with catcher and center field positions that need to be replaced.

Junior Nathan Kearney, who hit .355 last season, returns at first base with first-team all-league second baseman Kyle Espinola, who averaged .406 as a junior, back to play second. Jeremy Delacruz, the 43rd-rated 2023 shortstop in New England, brings more experience to the infield with third base unsettled.

Tyler Normandie, the 12th-rated junior third baseman in the area, is “maybe my most versatile player” according to Sexton, and returns after playing right field as a sophomore. Normandie also brings more depth to the pitching staff.

Jake Bartlett, the 34th-ranked 2024 New England catcher, and fellow sophomore Brady Rickenback are looking to see time behind the plate, while each also has the potential to play third base.

Florence is expected to be in center field when not pitching with five other players fighting it out for outfield time.

“This group worked extremely hard over the winter,” Sexton pointed out. “They did a 17-week strength and conditioning program and attendance was great. We have good pitching depth and athletes I think can catch the ball. I’m waiting to see about the offense.

“We return multiple position guys but as a group we need to take a step forward,” Sexton added. “If we do that we’ll be okay.”

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