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2023 Spring Team Preview: Franklin

FRANKLIN, Ma. - Success is nothing new to Franklin in the time Zach Brown has been head coach.

“We won the Super 8 in 2018 and that started us on a pretty good run here,” noted Brown, whose first year as head coach of the Panthers came in 2014.

A state title just eluded Franklin last year with a 2-1 loss to Taunton in the finals.

“It was a really successful season,” reflected Brown, whose team won the Hockomock League for the third consecutive season. “We started off slow at 3-3 but then rattled off 20 straight wins. We just came up one run short.”

The formula to success is simple.

“Pitching and defense are strengths for us,” Brown explained. “We build around 60-feet six-inches and go from there. If you can pitch and your defense is strong, you’ll be in every game. Then it comes down to competing in the box in critical moments of the game.

“Offensively, I think we’re pretty dynamic,” Brown added. “We manufacture runs any way we need.”

Optimism is at a supreme level this season after last year’s 23-4 campaign.

“I think we have a strong core returning,” Brown pointed out. “We have four Division I commits back on this year’s roster and all had strong seasons for us last year. We also have a catcher returning that is going D-III, so we have five guys that will be playing at the next level.

“We have 13 returners that saw varsity time last year,” Brown continued. “But each year you rely on how the young players adapt to the varsity game. The quicker they do it, the stronger you’ll be.”

Alfred Mucciarone, the 37th-rated senior right-handed pitcher in New England, is being counted on to be the ace of the staff this year following the graduation of Jacob Jette who is now at UMass Lowell.

“He’s a dynamic guy on the hill for us,” Brown said. “He was in a 1A/1B role last year and he’s primed and ready to have a strong season for us. He will provide leadership for the younger guys we’re leaning on.”

Junior left-handers Austin Campbell and Jake Shaughnessy will be vital on the mound this year to back up Mucciarone, a UMass Lowell commit. Campbell is the sixth-rated 2024 southpaw in New England and Shaughnessy number 21.

Matty Miller is another junior being counted on with two outfielders also penciled in to provide innings this season in Eisig Chin and Jase Lyons. Chin, the fifth-rated senior outfielder in Massachusetts and a Stonehill College commit, will pitch in a relief role while Lyons, “one of the top hitters in the league last year,” according to Brown, will pitch as well as play outfield, first base, MIF and DH.

Tyler Bellon, a senior signed with Wheaton College, will catch with Michael Davide, the 12th-ranked junior catcher in New England, adding depth.

Shaughnessy and Lyons are among those that will see time at first base with Miller and seniors Ethan DePaolo and Luke Sidwell potential second basemen.

Henry DiGiorgio, a Northeastern commit, will be back at short.

“He had a fantastic year last year,” Brown said of the Franklin junior. “He’s an elite defender.”

Ben Jones, a senior two-year starter who was drafted last year to play junior hockey, returns at third base.

Ryan Gerety, the top-ranked senior outfielder in New England, is back to lead off and play center field for the Panthers with the Northeastern recruit joined in the outfield by Chin and either Sidwell, Lyons or junior Rex Cinelli.

“I like the DNA of this crew,” Brown related. “The seniors were sophomores when we came off Covid and missed their freshman year. We relied heavily on them and went 16-2 and to the state semis where we lost to Bavarian which ended up winning it. They’re grinders who love practicing. They’re always staying after doing extra.

“I just love guys that appreciate the grind and want to get better and love to compete. It’s exciting to see them as leaders of the program.”

With losses to the eventual state champion the past two years, Brown is hoping this is the year.

“It’s razor thin,” Brown said of the margin between winning and losing. “We’re playing the best baseball teams in the state on the biggest stage. When you do that everything gets magnified. These guys have a lot of experience in big games and have had a lot of success.

“It’s about enjoying the ride, enjoying the moment and not letting the moment get too big,” Brown concluded. “For us it’s about finishing and knowing at the end of the day you worked as hard as you possibly can.”

 

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