Follow @pbrnewengland

Interested in attending a PBR New England event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

To view the commitment tracker, click here.
To view the uncommitted spotlights, click here.

Lawrence Academy

GROTON, Ma. - Five one-run losses in the last inning or extra frames left a bad taste in the mouth of Chris Margraf.

“We haven’t seen anything like that,” the Lawrence Academy head coach said about so many tough defeats during an 8-7 season.

With five key returnees, including Stanford-bound pitcher Max Meier, the 2019 campaign has the makings of better times ahead for Margraf, who started coaching at the school in 1998. While the early days were struggles, the program has blossomed highlighted by a 15-0 season in 2011.

“Baseball has gotten better across the board,” noted Margraf, who has an overall record of 188-153.

Meier, a 6-2 200-pound hard-throwing right-hander ranked 17th in the New England senior class, gives plenty of promise to the coming year after striking out 73 and walking 17 in 42.2 innings in 2018. Meier, a left fielder when not pitching, had a 4-2 record with a 1.15 ERA.

More pitching comes via junior Jackson Avila-Connerney, the number two hurler who was 1-1 with a 2.40 ERA, throwing 25 frames a year ago, fanning 20 with a dozen free passes.

“Our number one and two pitchers are good, but after that we’ll go by committee,” noted Margraf, who is looking at senior lefty Conor Caccivio as potentially next in line on the mound.

A trio of returnees adds to the experience of this year’s Spartans including Jordan Kjoniksen, the leading hitter in the Independent School League a year ago. The 6-1 195-pound senior center fielder, an Army commit rated 23rd in New England, batted .466 in 2018.

Tyler Gonzalez, a Stetson signee, is back at third base after averaging .340 and leading Lawrence Academy in extra base hits as a junior.

Another key component to this year’s squad is James Broderick, a junior who hit .340 a year ago. A shortstop last year, Broderick will start the year at first base after requiring Tommy John surgery in late August. The left-handed hitting 53rd-ranked 2020 in New England has given a verbal to Tulane.

“We have a good mix of young and old, the problem is depth is limited,” noted Margraf, who must replace the loss of three now playing at the next level - Braden Karess, left-handed pitcher at Bates; Jake Miller, catcher at Franklin-Pierce; and Matt Killian, center fielder at Stoney Brook. “We can’t have a lot of injuries. The problem is a top recruit has a back injury and is out for the season. He was going to catch for us.

“We’ll be a little lean on the mound, but we’ll be competitive. It will be exciting to watch the older kids be mentors to the younger ones.”

Three underclassmen could also be impact players according to the veteran coach. Evan Burke, “Mr. Utility” according to Margraf, is rated 285th in New England’s junior class and will lead off and play in the infield, outfield or catch. Sean McGivern, another junior ranked 471st in the 2020 New England class, is penciled in to bat fifth and play catcher or first base if he can overcome a torn ACL during football season. Ben Croteau, the lone freshman on last year’s team, is rated 188th in the New England sophomore class and will play catcher or third base.

“When we play good defense and throw strikes, can advance runners and do the little things, we’ll be very competitive,” Margraf explained. “That’s when we’re playing good team baseball.”

A trio of freshmen are also looking for playing time this year for the Spartans. Jared Lucido, a three-sport standout who also participates in football and hockey, is a middle infielder while Liam Yardley, an honorable mention all-league football player this past fall, plays first, third and catcher. Jack McLaughlin, a left-handed pitcher/outfielder, is another ninth grader in the mix.

“My expectations are what they are every year,” Margraf noted. “We want a winning record, we want to be competitive and we want to make a run at the ISL, that will take 10 or more wins.

“Realistically, with the young and old on our team, we have a chance. Our goal is to win it, but to have a chance we have to be in the top five.”