2017 Massachusetts Spring Team Preview: Lawrence Academy
April 5, 2017
By Dylan Hefflinger, Dennis Healy, Trevor Brown and PBR Staff
Editor in Chief / Co-Director of Scouting
With the 2017 spring season right around the corner, PBR New England is eagerly anticipating bringing the New England states the best high school coverage throughout the region.
Starting in Late-January, we began releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into the Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings.
If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2017 Team Preview, click here.
Interested in attending a PBR New England event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
2017 Massachusetts Spring Team Preview: Lawrence Academy
Team Name: Lawrence Academy
Head Coach: Chris Margraf
Division: Private- ISL
2016 Record: 13-6
Conference Record: 10-5 ISL
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/0
2017 Team Strengths:
- Leadership
- Defense
- Pitching Depth
- Team Speed
2017 Team Weaknesses:
- Youth on the mound
- Need better offensive production
Coach Outlook: "Graduated 3 senior pitchers (Jack Harlan - Columbia, Josh Garber - Union, Mark Russell - Bates) senior catcher (Liam O'Sullivan - St. anselm's and junior reclassified at IMG (Luke Benoit - committed to U. Kentucky). Saying that, we will be young on the mound. A couple of positional players will also get time on the mound. Last 2 years we have had a team ERA of 1.30 while only hitting .230 as a team. Our defense will be strong. We have four new recruits (1 ninth grader, and 3 sophomores) who will contribute. Lots of small ball and team focus."
PBR Outlook: A great deal lost off of last year's club is never an easy thing to overcome. There are some good young players in the program and they should flourish as the season progresses. Good group to watch play a full season.
Top Returning Players:
- Zach May, SS/RHP, 2017, 6'0", 195 lbs, 2-year starter, captain, U. St. Petersburg
- Matt Killian, CF, 2018, 6'2", 180 lbs, 2-year starter, D1 prospect
- Jake Miller, 3B/RHP, 2018, 5'11", 185 lbs, transfer
- Tyler Gonzalez, 2B, 2019, 6'1", 180 lbs
- Braden Karess, LHP, 2018, 5'10", 170 lbs
- Dom Murgo, RHP, 2018, 6'1", 195 lbs
Top Underclassmen:
- Jordan Kjoniksen, OF, 2019
- James Broderick, SS, 2020
- Jackson Avila-Connerney, OF, RHP, 2020
A Look Back At 2016 Preseason Articles:
To view the 2016 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2016 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.