Falcons look to repeat last year's success


Minnechaug catcher Todd Kosel takes a rip during batting practice on March 28. Reminder Publications photo by Chris Maza

April 2, 2012

By Chris Maza

chrism@thereminder.com

WILBRAHAM — Before the start of last season if you had asked the Minnechaug baseball team's third-year head coach Erik Mandell what he predicted the season to be like, he probably would have told you the Falcons were on the verge of something special, but probably a year or two away.

Special came early for the Falcons in 2011 as the team gelled at just the right time to overcome a mid-season slump and win the Western Massachusetts Division 1 championship and make it all the way to the state championship.

"Last year's team was a relatively young team. It was a four-senior team last year. Trying to forecast into the future, we thought that we were building more towards 2012 and 2013 based on the makeup of the roster in terms of experience," Mandell said. "It was certainly exciting. I felt like we were close all the way through."

The Falcons went through some growing pains on their way to the championship, but rounded into form just before the playoffs, entering the postseason with a 10-10 record before taking the sectional championship and winning an 11-inning state semi-final over St. John's.

"We were making the one critical mistake that was killing us," Mandell said. "We went into the playoffs with nothing to lose and throughout the playoffs, we had eliminated the critical mistake and the confidence was building at that point."

Now the Falcons return a veteran team that's hungry and experienced with nine seniors — Kevin Baker, Chris Daigneault, Brian Goossens, Greg Heineman, Jason Erhardt, Todd Kosel, Joe Noble, Nick Ottomaniello and Matt Rushby — all of which were part of the team's impressive 2011 run.

"Even from the start of tryouts, you could see the energy in everyone," Goossens said. "We were ready to go on day one and you can see the intensity and it feels like we're picking up right where we left off."

Mandell said the experience from last year's post-season as well as the team's experience in his system could prove invaluable this season.

"We have nine seniors returning this year and I think just going through the process the last couple of years with me and how I practice is very valuable," he said. "Guys know the system and with the experience we gained last year going to the state [championship] game, I think there's a degree of confidence that we earned the right to be there and we can repeat that and even be better this year."

However, confidence does not equal cockiness for this group, Heineman said.

"I think this year we're going into the season with a target on our back, so we have to work even harder to make sure we stay a step ahead," he said.

The Falcons do have the task of replacing most of their offensive production from last year in Matt Warren and Kevin Sugermeyer, Brady Forrest and Corey Polom, as well as some terrific defensive play up the middle of the field.

"We had a graduating senior at third base, second base, center field, and full time player between catcher and first base, depending on the pitching rotation," Mandell said. "They are key positions. You want strength up the middle."

With the season just beginning, there are still battles for the second base and centerfield spots, but Mandell said he's confident in the players he has to choose from.

"We've got to replace second base and Corey Polom was a gold glove caliber second baseman and Brady Forrest was also a gold glove caliber player in the outfield, so we have some spots up the middle we have to fill, but we feel we have some good candidates," he said.

Kosel, a catcher, backed up Warren, who split time between first base and catcher last year, is expected to take over primary duties behind the plate. Junior K.J. White, who served as the team's designated hitter in the playoffs last year, will take over first base.

"Todd Kosel played 60 percent of the innings behind the plate, so we certainly have confidence in his abilities," Mandell said.

If the old adage that pitching wins championships holds true, the Falcons should be in very good position as they boast one of the top pitching staffs in the region.

The program returns a strong core, anchored by the team's aces Goossens and Heineman. Goossens has already signed a letter of intent to play baseball for Sienna College in New York next year.

"I consider them more of a No. 1 and 1A as opposed to our No. 1 and No. 2 starters," Mandell said. "They were the ones who were our starters throughout the playoffs. They were pitching so effectively they were throwing complete games."

Re-joining Goossens and Heineman in the pitching staff are Rushby, the third starter, Erhardt, who pitched in relief and earned the win in the state semi-finals, and Noble, the team's primary left fielder who also fills in in relief. Tim Cebula and Ryan Leonard are the newcomers, earning a promotion from the junior varsity squad.

"I'm not sure if other programs have that kind of depth on the staff," Mandell said. "To have that many guys returning that are that good is obviously a wonderful thing for us to have. I think most other programs would be very happy to have the seven guys that we have."

What's more, Mandell said he felt the depth of the program in general is something many others would envy.

"One thing we do have is depth within the program. We had 70 kids try out for the program at any level and it was a tough club to make," he said. "I think we have the depth to fill spots when we need to fill spots and to be a successful program going forward, you've got to have depth. The teams that have depth are the teams that are going to be good year in and year out."

Comments From Our Readers: