Brunswick baseball team out to continue its FAA reign

The pitching staff is deep, the lineup is loaded and the defense seems stellar — yes the Brunswick School baseball team has the components in place to once again, be one of the teams to beat in the competitive FAA.

Now the Bruins have to put all those aspects together once the games really start, which for them is Wednesday against non-league foe High School for Institute and Technology from New York City.

“We want to get better every day and if we do that, this could be one of the best teams we’ve had,” Bruins coach Johnny Montanez said. “This is a talented, excited youthful bunch and they are extremely coachable. They are hungry and they love being a part of the program.”

Brunswick graduated several key sluggers and some premier pitchers from last season’s squad, which captured the FAA Tournament Championship. Yet the Bruins still possess depth on the mound, in the field and at the plate.

“We are really deep in our pitching staff,” senior pitcher/quad captain Reed Mascolo, who will bring his pitching talent to Seton Hall University next season. “We have a lot of quality starters and a really deep staff. We need a lot of pitching to help push us to the FAA title and win a lot of out of league games.”

Junior tri-captain Jake Hyde should also anchor the Bruins’ impressive pitching rotation.

“I feel pretty confident about the team, we have a lot of young guys with a lot of talent and a lot of guys returning as well,” Hyde said. “If we can start putting together our pitching, hitting and defense each game, we are going to be a dangerous team.”

Marc McGuire, a senior tri-captain, capable of playing multiple positions, believes the team will be tough on opposing pitchers.

“Last year we had a very good lineup and we lost a couple of hitters, but overall, our hitters are still very good,” McGuire said. “I think we have the potential to be as strong as we were last year. We definitely are determined to win the championship again and we have to work hard and do everything we can to have another championship season.”

AT THE HELM: Montanez is beginning his ninth season as coach of the Bruins. He guided the team to a record of 17-5, including its third FAA Tournament title in four seasons. Brunswick beat Hopkins for the championship, 4-3.

WHO’S GONE?: Aaron Sabato, the team’s leading run producer, graduated and is off to a great start for the University of North Carolina baseball team. Sabato led the team in home runs and RBI and was a constant threat at the plate, while flashing his impressive defensive skills at shortstop. Trystan Sarcone, the ace of the pitching staff in 2018, is on the mound at Dartmouth College, where he is already making his mark. Pitchers J.D. Sparks and Liam Benjamin were also among some of the players who graduated from last season’s squad.

POSITIONS: Junior Jack Griffin and McGuire are catchers, along with junior Thomas Doster, who is nursing a back injury. Doster had a standout freshman season in 2018. Hyde plays first base and pitches and sophomore Cole Mascolo is a first baseman/pitcher. Sophomores Aidan Redahan and Billy Carangelo are second basemen and freshman Josh Feldman will help out in the infield. Jack Matthews and Redahan are each sure-handed shortstops.

Luke Fisher (junior), Danny Lauter (sophomore) and Feldman will aid the squad at third base. Griffin, Reed Mascolo, McGuire, Feldman, junior Leo Socci and junior Joe Henry give the Bruins a lot of outfield depth.

PITCHERS: Reed Mascolo, a right-hander, leads an experienced, hard-throwing staff. Socci, a transfer from Westhill, will be a pitcher to watch in the FAA, as should Henry and Hyde. Cole Mascolo, Fisher and Feldman could also contribute on the mound.

“The pitching staff is as deep as we’ve ever had it,” Montanez said. “We have guys who pound the strike zone and understand the game. There is great leadership on our pitching staff, with guys who have been successful.”

Said Reed Mascolo: “I’m working on mixing in a third pitch and I just hope to out there, throw strikes and set a good example on the mound for my teammates.”

LINEUP: The speedy Redahan is slated to lead off, with McGuire batting second and Socci, Hyde and Matthews anchoring the middle of the lineup.

“We have some young guys who are unproven, but there is a lot of excitement going on in our line and a lot of talent,” Montanez said. “For our younger players, now it’s their turn.”

dfierro@greenwichtime.com