Seekonk Baseball Gears Up for 2011 Season

Seekonk's baseball team will play 17 games in the upcoming season. This leaves the team in the unusual situation of having to win more than half their games (due to the odd number of games), while other teams in the state qualify for playoffs with an even record.

"We should be able to win ten games. That's my goal," said coach Joe Demelo, who takes . "My goal would be to win 12...The big thing is health. If we can stay healthy, we can do it."

The new skipper was last year's JV coach and knows his personnel fairly well. As a result, he has an idea what his team will look like, despite the fact that the team has only had two days together thus far.

It appears likely at this point that the left side of the infield will be inhabited by Dylon Swift at third base and Sean Heaney at Shortstop. Jake Silva figures to remain a fixture at first base. 

Andrew Killian is "now" behind the plate according to Demelo. The senior catcher figures to be backed up by "the future" at catcher in Sophomore Jake Roy.

Jack Kane and Matt Foley, who figure to play a large roll in the team's pitching staff, will fill positions in the outfield. This leaves one spot in the outfield and one at second base very much up in the air.

"That [rightfield] is going to be one of our biggest tryouts. There's two sophomores and two juniors over there," said the coach of who might compete for the job.

Daniel Silva appears to fit on the varsity squad, but his role and position are in question. Silva's athleticism and versatility make him an asset, but may cause him to be shuffled from place to place.

Other players who appear headed for varsity are Justin Carvalho, Ryan Corry, and John Balasco, although like Silva, their roles will not be well defined until the season gets closer.

In addition to Kane, Foley and Corry who will vie for roles in the pitching staff, Brandon George will play a key role in the team's pitching situation. George has the most experience pitching at the varsity level on this talented, if inexperienced, staff.

"You've got to remember something, at the top of that list should have been Jake Mayo," said Demelo of . Demelo said of the group that remains, he needs three starting pitchers, and hinted that at least three others will throw in relief at some point in the season.

The Warriors may have more questions than answers, but they are confident, and morale was high at practice on Tuesday. Players were cracking jokes and were clearly glad to be back on the diamond, even in Tuesday's 30 degree weather. "We have three scrimmages next week. I hope we get good weather," said Demelo.