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East Hartford

EAST HARTFORD, Ct. - Four seniors, including a trio of four-year starters, will make life easier for head coach Matt Rondinone this spring at East Hartford.

Coming off a 16-7 campaign that ended in the quarterfinals with a 1-0 loss on an unearned run to nationally-ranked Fairfield Prep, the Hornets are primed to make a run at a state title in 2019.

“When these guys were freshmen we were 4-16,” noted Rondinone about his quartet of seniors. “We made state when they were sophomores and the quarterfinals as juniors. So we’re experienced for the first time in a long time. We should be able to swing it a bit with three veteran players.”

Jarod Dalrymple, ranked 136th in New England in the 2019 class, is a left-handed hitting outfielder headed to Bryant. The a 6-1 185-pounder belted four home runs a year ago and heads a returning group that also features Eastern Connecticut commit Julian Gonzalez, UMass-Boston signee Alessio Pressamarita and St. Rose recruit Janiel Ramirez.

“Another strength we have is a guy on the mound who can beat anybody on any given day,” Rondinone said in reference to right-hander Pressamarita, the number two pitcher in 2018 who was the winning pitcher in East Hartford’s second-round tournament win. Pressamarita played left field last season when not on the mound.

Gonzalez, a four-year starter like Dalrymple and Pressamarita and the nephew of former East Hartford standout and MLB first-round draft pick Jimmy Gonzalez (1991 Astros), is expected to take over as the catcher this spring.

“Our biggest concern is trying to solidify the infield,” Rondinone said. “We lost our starting catcher so Julian Gonzalez has to solidify that. We also lost two middle infielders from last year so Alessio may have to fill in there when not pitching.”

Ramirez gives East Hartford more experience in the outfield while also providing a left-handed stick.

A pair of juniors are being counted on to help in the infield. Garrett Allen plays third base and catches while Austin Sagarro, a 6-2 left-handed hitter, can play shortstop, third and first base.

Freshman Xavier Quiles is penciled in at second base while another youngster, 6-2 175-pound sophomore left-hander Jack Falvo, is a “sleeper” on the mound according to Rondinone.

“The keys to success are solidifying the rotation,” noted Rondinone, who lost all-state pitcher Mark Damaschi, now at Eastern Connecticut State, to graduation. “We’re trying to find that number three and four.”

Junior right-hander Joey Magnano, who pitched out of the bullpen a year ago, is expected to be the number two this season.

“Finding that three and four like we had last year will be big,” Rondinone said. “Offensively we can swing it up and down the lineup pretty good, but we need to be able to produce runs on a consistent basis. Tightening up the defense is another point of emphasis.”

Winning is expected at a school like this.

“East Hartford was a power in the 80s and 90s winning multiple state championships,” explained the fifth-year head coach. “There’s a rich bloodline from Little League to Babe Ruth to Legion World Series championships.”

East Hartford won a state title in 1990 when Jimmy Gonzalez was a junior, and followed it up with back-to-back championships in 1995 and 1996 with Gatorade Player of the Year Mike Nowell leading the way.

“We’re expecting to compete for the title,” Rondinone said in reference to the CCC East where East Catholic is the favorite according to the East Hartford coach. “Last year we flew under the radar a little bit. Hopefully, this year we can get back to the quarterfinals and maybe even a little further.”