Follow on Twitter: @pbr_newengland
Follow on Instagram: @pbr_newengland

To view the full list of 2023 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

2023 Spring Team Preview: Dexter Southfield

BROOKLINE, Ma. - A Central New England Preparatory School Baseball League championship has eluded Dexter Southfield, but 2023 could be the season it finally happens.

“We are deep,” admitted head coach Dan Donato, who has 10 players back with varsity experience from last year’s 11-9 squad that lost in the CNEPSBL semifinals to Phillips Andover, nine players in all that have made a college commitment. “Our guys are a tightly-knit group. They like being together, and they enjoy pushing each other. We’re experienced, with five of our top six bats and our top two pitchers returning this year. We’re really excited about some of our new arms and looking forward to seeing how they develop and forge roles for themselves throughout the spring and beyond.”

Chase Hartsell, the 10th-rated sophomore RHP in New England, is the top returning pitcher after posting a 6-3 record with a 1.05 ERA in 33.1 innings. Uncommitted Dillon James had a team-high seven starts and threw 32.1 frames while Hernandez and Pavone, the 83rd-ranked senior RHP in New England, are others back that pitched on a limited basis. Hartsell is a Boston College commit, Hernandez is going to San Jacinto College and Pavone has signed with Bucknell.

Andrew Middleton, the number 10 senior left-handed pitcher in New England who has committed to UMass Amherst, is another impressive arm that will be on display for Dexter Southfield this year.

“We just returned from a week in Florida where 12 different pitchers saw innings in varsity scrimmages, and all evidenced the ability to get outs,” noted Donato. “Senior righty Dante Pavone has made a leap through his offseason work – he might be our hardest thrower - and lefty Andrew Middleton will immediately bolster our rotation after missing 2022 with an injury. Strong internal competition will make our whole rotation better.”

Ivan Arias is now at Vanderbilt leaving a big hole to fill at shortstop.

“Replacing Ivan Arias will be a challenge,” pointed out Donato, who will also miss Damon Alexander who is playing at Bentley University. “Austin Hartsell was one of the best third basemen in New England last year and he might stick at third, but there’s a good chance that he’ll log significant innings at the middle infield spots. Either way, we’ll need guys to step into larger roles in the infield.”

Hartsell, the fifth-rated 2023 shortstop in New England, hit .373 with 22 runs scored and 16 RBIs in 2022.

Two-year captain Ryan Grundy, the third-rated senior first baseman in New England and a Holy Cross commit, is back after averaging a team-best .404 with the left-handed hitter driving in 22 runs and scoring 17.

Fairfield commit Matt Lussier, the 15th-ranked senior outfielder in New England, returns to anchor the outfield in center with Matt Conte, the 23rd-rated junior catcher in the country who hit .344 a year ago, back behind the plate.

More experience comes from Eddie Morrissey, an uncommitted junior who can play catcher, infield and outfield.

“We have a very experienced returning varsity core,” Donato explained. “Chase Hartsell and James were our top two arms last year and they both have multiple seasons remaining with us. Conte, Grundy and Morrissey are in their third year as starters for us, and Lussier and Austin Hartsell also have long track records of varsity-level success. They know what it takes at the level of competition we face and set the tone for their less experienced teammates.”

There is more that stands out about the 2023 team to the head coach.

“We’re polished defensively up the middle,” Donato said. “Conte, Hartsell and Lussier are among the best defenders at their respective positions in New England, which elevates our overall defense.”

Donato pointed to a pair of newcomers that are expected to play major roles.

Boston College commit Gabe Malaret, the 262nd-rated sophomore in the nation, will be in the meat of the batting order and play middle infield while junior Ben Valente will play corner outfield and also provide another arm to the staff.

“When we play against teams with similar levels of talent, it comes down to pitching and defense,” Donato related. “We have a deep rotation this year, so if we take care of the baseball defensively we’re going to give ourselves a chance to win some baseball games.

“Offensively, we need to do a great job hitting situationally. We have quite a few guys with pop and nice offensive resumes but wins and losses against the strongest teams in our league will come down to the bottom of the lineup turning the order over and the whole lineup stacking together quality at-bats. We have quite a few guys who run well in our regular order, which should give our offense an added dimension this spring.”

As always, the CNEPSBL will be strong in the 2023 campaign.

“There was a lot of parity in our league last year and we’re expecting more of the same this upcoming season,” concluded Donato, who also heads up the Dexter Southfield hockey team. “We see a Division I quality arm in nearly every league game, which is always an adjustment for hitters facing this level of competition daily for the first time. We also face quite a few teams that emphasize and execute the small-ball game, putting pressure on opposing defenses for seven innings.

“Our guys are not taking any opponent lightly going into this season, and they’re looking forward to measuring themselves against some of the best players in the region.”

 

Recent Articles