Season Preview: Optimism is High for Malden Baseball

Kevin Carpenito has guided seven Malden baseball teams to the MIAA tournament in 11 years on the bench has head coach. 

He wants to make it eight out of 12.

The Golden Tornadoes will have the bulk of a nucleus that got them 11 wins last season and a trip to the playoffs, before bowing out in the first round of the tournament.

Look for the pitching staff to lead this team. The Golden Tornadoes have four-deep in their rotation and all four pitchers are juniors or younger. Bradley Applin is the bona-fide No. 1 starter for Carpenito. The head coach said Applin, who throws from a side-arm delivery, but can still control three pitches in the strike zone, will get the ball in a big spot no questions asked.

But with unsettling weather in the spring in New England, it’s good to have four pitchers that can go on short notice.

“With the weather that we have, you need four or five guys,” said Carpenito. “Bradley is our guy. When he is ready he will get the ball.”

Falling in behind Applin will be junior Dakota Pelligrini, junior Ricardo Mendez and sophomore Chuck Gibson.

“These guys have a ton experience,” said Carpenito. “They all pitched last year. They were basically the staff last year. I think it will be a good thing.”

Pelligrini is a tall, hard-throwing right-hander, while Carpenito said that Mendez and Gibson are the type of pitchers that will battle the opposing hitter and throw pitches in the strike zone.

Mendez and Gibson won’t only help on the mound, they will help in the lineup as they will provide some punch and depth in the batting order.

The Golden Tornadoes are a younger squad, but there are three seniors that will be the key leaders on the team on the field and off of it.

Kevin Valey mans the shortstop position, while Marc Woodman will bring his two years of experience behind the plate. Woodman will be right smack in the middle of the lineup and will provide a thumper from the left-side of the plate.

Matt Howe and Ausin Peal will bring some depth on either side of the diamond.

Camaraderie, which can be so important on a baseball team, will not be a problem for Carpenito’s squad.

“They all get along,” said Carpenito. “I think they hang out a lot even though some of them are in different grades. I have a lot of faith in our seniors to be good leaders.”