Baseball – 2021 Shore Conference Preview: St. Rose
With only one starter back from the 2019, last season would have been one focused heavily on development for the St. Rose baseball team, so this year’s team comes in with a lot of players who would have been returning starters but who did not get the actual experience of starting for a full high-school baseball season.
The upcoming season will show how well this group did preparing in the offseason, as the Purple Roses try to bounce back from a two-win 2019 by surprising the Class A Central field behind its young roster. One key addition for 2020 that carries over to 2021 is catcher Logan Boag, who transferred from Colts Neck before last season and will be one of the division’s top all-around catchers.
Boag is one of five seniors likely to see time as a starter, with Tom Turnbach playing first base or designating hitter, Jack Crawford manning third base, Shane Killeen in left field and Lucas Hope working in at either an open infield spot or DH. Sophomore Jack Lomerson and junior Matt Gowen will form a promising double-play combination, while Ryan Rogers and Ryan Murray join Keenan in the outfield as two-way left-handers.
Turnbach is the only returning starting pitcher from 2019 and would have been the horse on the pitching staff, but he is still recovering from Tommy John Surgery last May. Coach Rich Lanko said Turnbach should be able to get back on the mound as a reliever by May and could even make some starts later in the year if his elbow feels good.
Crawford will assume some of the burden of innings left open by Turnbach, while Lomerson, freshman Jack Tiernan and the three left-handed outfielders help cover the mound work as well. The early part of the season will be a challenge while Turnbach heals and an inexperienced group covers him, but there are some quality players on hand to help St. Rose handle the grind.
St. Rose at a Glance
Head Coach: Rich Lanko, fourth season
Key Losses: Nolan Dacey (Sr., C)
Around the Diamond (Returning 2019 starters in bold with available stats)
Catcher: Logan Boag, Sr.
First Base: Tom Turnbach, Sr. (.191, 5 2B)
Second Base: Matt Gowen, Jr.; Lucas Hope, Sr.
Shortstop: Jack Lomerson, So.; Matt Gowen, Sr.
Third Base: Jack Crawford, Sr.; Jack Tiernan, Fr.
Left Field: Shane Killeen, Sr.
Center Field: Ryan Rogers, Jr.
Right Field: Ryan Murray, So.
DH: Lucas Hope, Sr.; Jack Tiernan, Fr.
Pitchers
Tom Turnbach, Sr., RHP (1-5, 3.95 ERA, 28.1 IP, 30 H, 13 BB, 26 K)
Jack Crawford, Sr., RHP
Jack Lomerson, So., RHP
Shane Killeen, Sr., LHP
Ryan Murray, So., LHP
Ryan Rogers, Jr., LHP
Jack Tiernan, Fr., RHP
College Commitments
Logan Boag – Stevens Institute of Technology
Tom Turnbach – Roger Williams University