Stoughton High Baseball Team Has Great Expectations This Spring

Players, coaches and fans of the Stoughton High baseball team are deeming this to be "the year" for their local nine.

After making it to the MIAA state tournament last season, the Knights return a strong core of talented seniors and juniors who have varsity experience under their belt. Stoughton returns the majority of its roster, and this experience is something the Knights will look to use to their advantage this upcoming spring.

If the Knights can stay consistent offensively, something they had trouble with last year, this year's team will be one of the favorites to come away with the Davenport Division crown and make a deep run in the state tournament.

Last season's record: 10-10 (Lost in first round of the Division 2 South MIAA state tournament to Plymouth North, who advanced all the way to the D2 State championship)

Head Coach: Mike Armour

Captains: Pat Jackman, Mike Connelly and Will McGrath (All four year varsity players; Jackman and Connelly are two-year captains)

First game/Key Games: The Knights open up the season Tuesday, April 2 at home against Attleboro. First pitch is at 3:30 p.m. 

Key Hockomock League games are listed below:

• Wed - 4/10 Stoughton @ Sharon 3:45 p.m.
• Mon - 4/22 Stoughton @ Oliver Ames 3:30 p.m.
• Fri - 4/26 Stoughton vs. Canton 3:30 p.m.
• Mon - 5/6 Stoughton vs. Sharon 3:45 p.m.
• Wed - 5/8 Stoughton vs. Foxboro3:30 p.m.
• Mon - 5/13 Stoughton vs. Oliver Ames 3:30 p.m.
• Mon - 5/20 Stoughton @ Canton 3:30 p.m.

A complete schedule can be found by clicking here. 

Burning Questions:

1. Who Replaces Brian Kaplan's leadership (he was a captain last season) and who replaces him in the rotation behind junior Mike Gallagher and senior Mike Dixon?

Coach Mike Armour knows Kaplan will be missed but looks for his seniors to once again step it up this year.

"Brian Kaplan was a great leader for us last year, and was instrumental in our success whether he was on the mound or on the bench," Armour said. "Mike [Connelly], Pat [Jackman] and Will [McGrath] are the tri-captains this year, and I am confident that they will continue to set the standard for their teammates to follow."

Armour then talked about how his rotation will fare with the loss of Kaplan as the third starter.

"We are truly fortunate to have Gallagher and Dixon back on the mound for us this year, with Will McGrath, Zach Gibb, Sam Werman, and Jovani Pires all candidates for some innings as well."

2. How does the team avoid a slow start like last year (1-5)?

"Honestly, that start seems too long ago to remember. We had a strong finish to the season last year and lost a hard-fought first round tournament game to the eventual Eastern Massachusetts D2 State Champion," Armour said. "We have a strong nucleus returning and are determined to make this year special and see what we can do."

Outlook: The Knights have a chance to have their best season in years. With many of the core players returning and two ace pitchers in Gallagher and Dixon, Stoughton has as good a chance as anyone to make a deep run in the MIAA state tournament. 

If Stoughton can stay consistent offensively they seem to be a team that can compete with Oliver Ames and Sharon for the Davenport Division regular season championship.

Senior captains Connelly and Jackman talked about how important it is that the core of the team is back this year.

Connelly said, "It's huge we got our core back because that's experience and that's what good teams have. We are hoping to have a great season."

Jackman agreed with Connelly about the importance of returning most of the team.

"We've all been friends since we were in little league, but last year we really meshed as a group, and only a week into practice [this season], a brotherhood has already developed. Being on the same page and communication is only going to make us better. This is my fourth year here and I've never seen this much hype."

Jackman has high expectations for his team on the field as well.

"I think we have a lot of potential coming in with just about all of our starters still here. I think in the past we have been shooting for a tourney spot, but this year we want to win the league and we know we can."

Connelly and Jackman went on to talk about we what he would like to see his team improve on this year.

Connelly said he is looking for the team to put some runs up in the early innings, rather than save all the offense for the middle and later innings. 

Jackman added, "We could of won 5-6 more games last year if we had solid run support. Hopefully we can get the bats going this year."

The "bats" is the biggest question mark going into this season.  Stoughton knows they are going to get solid pitching from Gallagher and Dixon as they did last year, but unlike last year Stoughton will look to have a more consistent hitting game.

Stoughton has plenty of talent to do just that. 

All three senior captains (Jackman, Connelly and McGrath) are a force at the plate when on their game. 

Jackman will look to be atop of the league again in batting percentage and stolen bases. Connelly, when hot is one of the best power hitters in the Hockomock League. Juniors Pat Raeke, Jovani Pires, Zach Gibb and Gallagher could all have breakout years at the plate for Stoughton this year.

Junior Kaleb Ballou should be a solid infield player. Sophomore Brian Crimmins provides depth at catcher for Stoughton, while freshman Jake Gibb (Zach's younger brother) is a potential starter at second base. Senior utility players Brett Hoffman, Billy Wirth, and Mike Romaine are valuable assets off the bench.