Sports
Stoughton High Baseball Team Aims For Second Straight Postseason Berth
The Black Knights are coming off a 12-8 season in 2010, but lost ten seniors from that team and look to retool in 2011, while still being able to contend.
Heading into the 2010 season Stoughton baseball coach Mike Armour faced the challenge of trying to turn around a team that finished 1-19 in 2009.
The Black Knights went 12-8 last season, earning a spot in the state tournament, losing 5-0 to Milton in the first round. But, 10 seniors led the team to that remarkable 11-game improvement. Included in that bunch: captains Trevor Derochea, Kyle Connors and Dan Floro. Derochea was the top pitcher in the Hockomock League last season, Armour said.
So heading into the 2011 spring season, Armour faces a different sort of challenge: winning with a new look team.
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“We’re just going to have to see [how we do]. It’s kind of too early to tell,” Armour said. “We have some big shoes to fill.”
Senior Pitchers Sean O’Malley (righty) and Adam Kenney (lefty) are the captains this season.
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The team returns three sophomores, who earned playing time as freshmen: Mike Connelly at catcher, Pat Jackman at shortstop and Will McGrath at second base. Jackman and McGrath will also pitch.
The Black Knights also return their starting outfield: Eric McPherson, Luca Venterosa and Atticus Rentsch.
Derochea was a workhorse last season for the Black Knights. Armour will look to O’Malley to lead the rotation this season, but isn’t planning on relying as heavily on one pitcher this year as he did a year ago with Derochea. Kenney, Jackman, McGrath, Kenny Boykin and Brian Kaplan figure into the mix this season at pitcher as well.
Stoughton plays in the Hockomock League’s Davenport Division, which features a “loaded” Oliver Ames team, who finished the 2010 regular season at 19-1 and a Sharon team, who also made the tournament last year.
“We’re just looking to be competitive,” Armour said. “Our goal this year, given what we lost and the young guys coming back, making the tournament will be a huge success this year.”
The team opens its season at home against non-league Quincy Wednesday afternoon and hosts Foxborough in Davenport Division action Thursday afternoon.
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