MA: St. John's Prep
April 9, 2019
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St. John's Prep
DANVERS, Ma. - Is this the year St. John’s Prep gets over the hump and wins the Super 8?
The Eagles have been a participant all five years that the Super 8 has been in existence but Dan Letarte’s teams have come up short each time.
“It’s always a goal,” Letarte said of being part of the “best eight teams in the state” playing for bragging rights. “If we do it again we’ll be the only team to make it the last six years. No disrespect to the regular tournament, but our goal is getting to the Super 8. If you get there, the pitchers are phenomenal.”
Letarte, who in five years at the helm has an overall record of 94-23 and a regular-season mark of 82-25. is hoping his pitching staff can live up to that billing. Three right-handers and a southpaw give St. John’s Prep a strong possibility of making a solid run at a Super 8 title after going 17-7 a year ago and losing in the first round.
Sean Letarte, Max Gieg and Chris Rassias are proven right-handed pitchers looking to improve upon strong junior years with each headed to play in college.
"I am proud of all four of these student-athletes obtaining their goal of playing Division 1 baseball,” Letarte said about the trio as well as catcher Alex Lane..”All four will be playing against ACC, Pac 10 and SEC opponents, that's some competitive baseball. In my opinion they are going to the schools that are the right fit for their athletic and academic endeavors with outstanding coaches."
Letarte, a UMass-Lowell commit, had 14 appearances with a 3-0 record, one save and a 2.74 ERA last year.
"Sean is primarily a middle reliever and enters the game in tight-pressure situations,” explained his father and head coach. “He has a knack of getting outs at the right time."
Gieg, a Boston College signee and one of the team captains along with Letarte, is 3-0 with a 1.62 ERA over the past two years.
"Max is a power pitcher with a consistent 89-92 mph fastball,” Letarte said. “We are expecting big things from him this season.”
Rassias, a 5-11 180-pounder ranked 105th in the New England 2019 class, was 1-1 with a 3.50 ERA a year ago.
"Chris is a tremendous athlete that has earned the respect of his teammates and coaches,” explained Letarte, who was the head basketball coach at St. John’s Prep from 1996-2008. “His work ethic is through the roof."
Eddie Hardiman is a left-hander that has committed to Salve Regina and brings more firepower on the mound.
“Eddie has really improved in the offseason,” Letarte said. “He’s a left-hander with outstanding movement on his ball.”
More pitching depth comes from lefty Kevin Dulling, a Union College football recruit who was 2.2 with a 2.86 ERA in 2018. James Lamarca has had an outstanding preseason and will also see action on the hill along with junior left-hander Ryan Bradley, a 5-10 170-pounder rated 72nd in the New England 2020 class. Junior southpaw Zach Fortune and junior right-hander Matt Remley are others that will give the Eagles innings
“Pitching is definitely a strength,” pointed out Letarte, an assistant for 19 years before taking over the program from legendary head coach Pat Yanchus (491 wins) prior to the 2014 season..
The same can be said of catching with Lane back behind the plate.
A Bryant commit, Lane has five home runs, 28 RBIs and a .354 batting average over the past two years with St. John’s Prep. The 6-5 230-pound Lane is the second-ranked senior catcher in New England.
"Alex is an outstanding leader behind the plate,” Letarte said of the third team captain of the Eagles who can also play first base and outfield. “He has the ability to be an impact player immediately at the D-I college level.”
Additional experience also returns with senior shortstop Will Potevin (rated 98), junior second baseman Jack Cairns and sophomore third baseman DJ Pacheco, the sixth ranked 2021 in New England, set to solidify the infield along with senior first baseman Rodney Nyborg.
Seniors Zeke O’Connell, Jake Miller and Max Freedman are outfielders with juniors Richie Willrans and Will Frain also in the mix. O’Connell, ranked 187th, is committed to Salve Regina and Miller to Trinity while Freedman is signed to play football at Bowden.
“These guys all have a strong work ethic and they can all hit,” Letarte said. “They’re all hard workers.”
But there are a lot of big shoes to fill from a team a year ago that struggled with injuries to two pitchers and three outfielders. Gone on to play at college from the 2018 squad are Andrew Dembowski (Babson), Tyler MacGregor (Columbia), Dan Regan (Columbia), Josh Cerretani (Dean College), Garrett Siegel (John Carroll), Sean Lang (Skidmore) and Jake Sanderson (UConn).
“We’re hoping to compete to win a league title,” Letarte said about the Catholic Conference, the only wooden bat league in the state.
A Super 8 title would make the year even better.