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Staples

WESTPORT, Ct. - A year ago Staples finished 19-6 and ranked ninth in the final state poll. With seven returning starters, head coach Jack MacFarland has even higher hopes this spring.

“We have real high expectations,” admitted MacFarland, who led the Wreckers to a state championship in 2017. “We’re playing in a tough league but I like our lineup. I’m confident in the program and what we’re bringing back.”

Chad Knight, an all-state player who was the conference Player of the Year in 2018, headlines the returnees for Staples this season. The third-ranked senior in New England and the 16th-ranked 2019 catcher in the country is a Duke commit. A 6-0 190-pounder who will also pitch for the Wreckers, fired a five-hitter while hitting a three-run home run in the 2017 state finals.

Union College recruit Harry Azadian, a 6-0 200-pound right-hander, was second-team all-state in 2018 and returns to pitch and play first base for the Wreckers.

More pitching comes from senior Russ Krauss, a 6-2 188-pound right-hander headed to Haverford College who was 3-1 last year with Staples.

The middle of the defense appears strong with Andrew Moy back at shortstop, Drew Rogers at second base and Adam Petro in center field. Moy, the 482nd-ranked senior in New England, can play second or third base as well. Rogers, an all-conference performer a year ago after hitting .340 with five home runs and 18 stolen bases, is a 6-1 170-pounder rated 300th in the 2019 class. Petro, who averaged .370 to earn all-conference honors last season, is a 5-9 167-pounder moving from left field to center for his junior year.

“The keys for us will be playing great defense,” MacFarland said. “When we run up against a Division I pitcher we need timely hits when we have a runner in scoring position. We need to win the one-run games.”

Seniors Sam Robin and Kevin Rabacs, junior Zach Zobel and sophomore Alex Deutsch are other players being counted on this spring for the Wreckers. Robin, an Amherst commit, plays catcher and pitches while Rabacs, a speedy wide receiver in football headed to Union College, will play outfield. Zobel is a power hitting outfielder while Deutch is a left-handed pitcher.

“I think we can be at the top of the league but staying healthy is the most important thing,” explained MacFarland, who had good things to say about the Staples school district.

“This is a good baseball town,” MacFarand said. “A new field in 2009 created a lot of interest.”

This group of players were a big part of that.

“The Little League team in 2013 with these guys finished in second place to California in Williamsport,” MacFarland noted the Little League World Series in Pennsylvania. “We have the same one-two pitchers in Chad and Harry.”