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Strong Senior Class Leads The Way For Portsmouth

PORTSMOUTH, R.I. - A trio of seniors are being counted on to lead the way for Portsmouth this season.

Christopher Bulk, a Central Connecticut State commit, Tim McGuire, a Sacred Heart commit, and Connor Freitas, who will be attending Catholic University of America, have all started since their freshman seasons. Bulk is the 15th-rated 2021 catcher in New England, McGuire the 26th-ranked senior  shortstop and Freitas the 26th-rated 2021 third baseman.

“All three were .315 to .330 hitters as sophomores,” noted head coach Matt McGuire, Tim’s father.

Junior Owen Malone, a cleanup hitter who plays outfield, is another bat expected to produce this year for Portsmouth.

“I’m excited about our hitting, the question mark is about our pitching,” explained McGuire, who lost two solid starting hurlers to graduation in Michael Thomas Morrissey, now at Georgetown, and Dan Janssen.

Will Pierce, a 6-2 right-hander, is being looked at to be the ace of the staff this season.

“We’re hoping for him to be the front guy in the rotation,” McGuire said of the 139th-ranked 2021 RHP in New England. “He was a two-to-three-inning guy as a sophomore.”

Freitas is the likely number two pitcher for Portsmouth with junior Mac Dunn adding depth on the mound. The 17th-rated 2022 first baseman in New England, Dunn is a “solid hitter” according to McGuire.

John Mass, the number four-rated 2024 shortstop in the area, adds to the promise at Portsmouth.

“He’s an exciting kid,” McGuire said. “He’ll play in the infield somewhere and may bat at the top of the lineup as the year progresses.”

The Portsmouth head coach sees a lot to like about this squad, starting with the senior class.

“We have a lot of chemistry,” McGuire pointed out. “It’s a tight-knit group that can play defense. The question is how effective will we be getting other teams out.”

A redesigned league in 2021 will feature a 13-game league schedule - down from the usual 20 - with 15 overall games. Bishop Hendricken and South Kingstown are the favorites according to McGuire, though Portsmouth can not be ruled out.

“This group of guys we have here have been playing together travel-wise and locally - the core of six seniors - since they were 10-years-old,” McGuire said. “I don’t think you can overlook that. We’re hoping that unites us and translates into some success.”

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