Massachusetts Maritime Academy In Bourne Begins New Baseball Season

By: Press Release
Published: 02/24/11

In a world that brings constant change on a seemingly minute-by-minute basis, it’s comforting to know that there are some things that have remained consistent over the years.

Included on that list would be the excitement, optimism, and enthusiasm that Bob Corradi has brought to the Massachusetts Maritime baseball program for nearly four decades. Corradi continues to provide the same vibrant leadership that he had in his first season in 1973 to this, his 39th campaign, in 2011.

The Buccaneers welcome back 17 letter winners into the fold from last year’s squad whose highlights included victories over perennial regional powers Worcester State and Bridgewater State, and Corradi is looking to blend in 13 newcomers to create a mix that will have Massachusetts Maritime in the thick of the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference race throughout the spring.

A key ingredient in creating that mix will be leadership, and Corradi will look to seniors Nick Levitre, Corey Murphy, Neil Patnaude, and Michael Vargas to set that example as team captains this season. Corradi calls this quartet “experienced in the core values of what this program stands for—integrity, character and pride.”

In the infield Vargas and fellow senior Brad Musk form a solid combination up the middle. Vargas batted .300 with 27 hits and 16 RBI at shortstop while Musk batted .286 with 24 hits, including four doubles, at second base. Levitre, who earned all-MASCAC accolades once again in 2010, paced the Buccaneer attack with a .403 batting average that included five doubles and three triples as a part of a team-leading 31 hits, and he will look to alternate time at first base with Murphy, who batted .271 with three doubles and four RBI, once again this spring.

Senior Andrew Saari enjoyed a solid campaign for Corradi last spring by batting .316 with five extra-base hits and six RBI, and he looks to take over on a full-time basis at third base, while fellow senior Sarkis Nahigian returns to the program after spending last spring in China on a semester abroad and will lend additional veteran experience in the infield. Sophomore Zachary Sullivan saw most of his time as the designated hitter during his rookie campaign, and he will join Levitre and Murphy for time at first base for the Bucs, while junior Andrew DiNisco and freshman William Cooksey will be vying for playing time as well this spring.

In the outfield senior Greg Wiggin is the lone returning starter. Last season he batted .254 with a team-leading three homers to go with 12 RBI, as half of his hits on the year went for extra bases. Sophomore Aram Mulhern gained experience as a rookie last season by appearing in 12 contests for Corradi, who will look to fill the other spot from the freshman quartet of Jonathan Moffitt, Devin Rudolph, Brendan O’Kane, and Stephen Paine.

Junior catcher William Shouldice leads the way behind the plate for Massachusetts Maritime as he batted .333 with 18 hits, including a homer and four RBI last season. Sophomore Hunter Horton appeared in five contests during his first campaign a year ago, while the freshman trio of Matt Pelletier, Ben Maher, and Luke Kondrotas will be vying for backstopping time for the Buccaneers as rookies.

Murphy was the top performer on the mound for the Buccaneers in 2010 as he posted three victories to go with a 5.08 ERA while fanning 31 and holding opponents to a .245 batting average, and he looks to pair with 2008 MASCAC rookie of the year Levitre at the top of the rotation. Senior Eric Moreschi returns from a one-year hiatus to lend additional experience from the left side for Corradi, while sophomore Tyler Genereux emerged as a solid starter during his inaugural season by posting a pair of victories in six appearances. Patnaude, junior Jared Lowe, and sophomore Patrick Derrane combined for 18 appearances out of the bullpen last spring while freshmen Nick Thomas, Chris Gallagher, Keith Sanchez, Bryan Sweeney, and Steve Ellershaw will look to make an impact for Massachusetts Maritime on the mound as rookies.

A new season brings the same enthusiasm and passion that Bob Corradi has exuded throughout his career at Massachusetts Maritime as he brings a career total of 513 victories into his 39th campaign, which begins on Friday, February 25, when the Buccaneers take on Cornell (Iowa) in a nonleague matchup in Fort Pierce, Florida. After a three-week layoff, Corradi’s crew begins its northern slate on Saturday, March 19, by entertaining Lyndon State in a nonleague doubleheader at Commodore Hendy Field beginning at 1 PM.

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