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East Catholic

MANCHESTER, Ct. - Martin Fiori is doing everything he can to continue a baseball tradition rich in history at East Catholic High School.

Just the third head coach of the program since 1964, the eighth-year mentor has the Eagles reloading year after year. While East Catholic graduated eight players now in college programs from a 15-8 team last season, there are four on this year’s roster already committed.

“We had a very good team last year, we just ran into a buzzsaw in St. Joe’s,” Fiori said in reference to a 13-11 loss in the state quarterfinals. “We expect to be there again this year.”

Seniors Anthony Mozzicato (ranked 172nd in New England’s 2019 class) and James McDowell (ranked 127) give East Catholic an impressive one-two punch on the mound. Mozzicato, a 6-2 180-pound left-hander committed to Central Connecticut, is a four-year standout who fanned 74 in 49 innings last season with four wins and two saves. McDowell, a 6-1 175-pound right-hander headed to Sacred Heart, struck out 34 in 28 frames while picking up five wins in 2018.

There is more help up the middle with the return of shortstop Vincent Caccavale and second baseman Kyle Darby. Caccavale, a Western New England recruit ranked 181st, is a “four-year top-of-the-order guy” according to Fiori who led the team in hits and runs last year. Darby, a Westfield State commit rated 303rd in New England, is another standout hitter for the Eagles

Emilio Acosta, a senior center fielder Fiori calls “the best defensive outfielder in our area”, will bat fourth for East Catholic while depth on the mound returns in senior righty Nick Massaro, the 309th-rated senior in New England.

Two juniors will also play prominent roles for a team that lost the likes of Matt Smith, last year’s four-hole hitter who is now the closer at Stonehill, and Jake Casey, currently pitching at Central Connecticut. Brandon Keeler, the 170th-ranked 2020 in New England, returns at catcher after hitting better than .300 a year ago while CJ Moriarty (rated 409)  is back to play outfield or first base. Moriarty, who bats in the middle of the order, started in 2018 before breaking a wrist in the middle of last season.

“We also have a transfer and a couple freshmen that are eager to compete for spots, but they’ll have to earn it,” noted Fiori, who took over for legendary head coach Jim Penders, who had a 600-317 record at East Catholic. Penders’ son Jim, the head coach at UConn, graduated with Fiori at East Catholic.

“Our tradition here is strong,” Fiori said. “We have four state championships.”

Those came in 1975, 1983, 1996 and 1997. The last appearance in the finals, one of eight at the school, came in 2011 the year prior to Fiori taking over the program.

“We should be really good this year but we’re a victim of our schedule,” explained Fiori, whose team is classified Division M. “It’s so competitive, we could win every game or lose every one. All the teams on our schedule are (Division) LL or L. We want to test ourselves against good competition.”

Fiori points to pitching and defense as the strength of this year’s team.

“If we pitch to our ability we should be very, very good,” Fiori said. “If there’s a weakness, it’s how many runs can we put up. And I say that because of our schedule and the pitchers that we face.

“But I like that we have a brutal schedule,” Fiori continued. “If we can get to the tourney, and that’s our goal, we should be battle tested. We should not face anybody any better than we’ve already faced in the regular season.”

Bridgton Academy in Maine (scrimmage) and South Kingstown Rhode Island are among the opponents this season along with games at DoubleDay Field in Cooperstown, N.Y..

“We try to give our guys an experience they can’t get anywhere else,” noted Fiori, who has a 108-50 record at East Catholic.

Playing in the Central Connecticut Conference, the biggest in the state, adds to the experience.

“We should contend for the conference championship,” pointed out Fiori, winners of the league five of the last six years.

Going far in the tournament is expected.

“M is a tough division,” Fiori said. “We definitely need our two arms to stay healthy. But I’m confident we’ll get eight wins and if we get to the tournament healthy we’ll be a tough out.”