Baseball – 2014 Preview: Manchester

Manchester Hawks

Head Coach: John Musolf, 18th season
Record Last Year: 12-10 (8-6, tied for second in B South)

Key Losses: Ed White (P/1B), Jeremy Carney (SS), John Sudol (2B/3B)
Key Newcomers: Connor Lynch (Sr., P), Jonathan Meaney (So., INF/P), Ryan Vanderham (So., INF), Marc Wernoch (So., 1B), Pat Williams (Jr., OF), Dan Mills (Jr., OF), Dylan Megill (Jr., OF), Darrius Garcia (So., C)

Team Outlook

The Hawks have remained contenders for the division title year in and year out thanks to an ability to churn out quality pitchers at the top of their rotation. In order to do that, a team has to have an understudy for every ace and this year, senior Devin Tomei goes from pupil to master for Manchester. After slotting into the No. 2 spot in the rotation behind Ed White last year, the 6’4” senior right-hander will take over at the top of the rotation. Tomei is an imposing presence with good velocity, but he does have some improvements to make after walking 26 batters in 25 innings last year. With those walks came 25 strikeouts, so the stuff should play as long as Tomei is pounding the zone more often.

Coming off a season in which he hit .343 with five doubles, Tomei is also Manchester’s best returning offensive player. No other returning full-time player hit .300 or better for the Hawks last year, so even if Tomei develops into one of the top pitchers in the division, his team will still have to figure out how to score. Senior Matt Buss hit .284 last season and will be another of Manchester’s key lineup cogs, while seniors Shaun Wernoch, Mitch Stage and Frank Rose will look to take the next step forward after mixed results last year. Stage is a returning catcher, which should help the defense and the pitching staff. Wernoch and senior Garrat Barry will see time on the mound behind Tomei and senior Dan Pisowski is the favorite for the No. 2 spot after pitching to a 2-1 record and a 0.74 ERA last year.

Manchester also brings in a good group of sophomores that look ready to contribute. Shortstop Jonathan Meaney leads the group, while Ryan Vanderham, Marc Wernoch and Darrius Garcia could also see time. The Hawks have enough on hand to compete with anyone on a given day, but in order to make a run at the division title, they may need for some of the sophomores to emerge while the senior returnees show improvement.

BASE - 8 - Great bunt by Tomei (Manchester) to load bases in 6th - BarnvsManch from All Shore Media on Vimeo.