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When the Coventry High baseball team won its first Class S state tournament title since 1984 on June 8, 2019, no one could have predicted that its reign would last until 2021.

But the COVID-19 pandemic forced the CIAC to cancel the 2020 spring sports season before it began, extending the Patriots reign another year.

Mondays home opener against East Granby will be the Patriots first game since winning the state title, a span of 674 days.

Its pretty crazy how long its been, Coventry coach Ryan Giberson said. The older kids are excited to be back and the younger kids are excited too. The turnout we had, we had 32 kids. For us, thats a lot. I think its exciting. Were taking it one day at a time.

The NCCC has returned to its one-division format after being split into two regions based on geography in the fall and winter.

The CCC will use its traditional East, West, North and South divisions after using different regions in the fall and winter. The conference will also allow its member schools to play non-league games.

Traditional state tournaments will be played, something that hasnt happened in any sport since March of 2020. The baseball tournament starts on June 1, with championship games slated for June 11-12.

The regular season begins Saturday. Heres a look at the Journal Inquirers area teams.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Josh Orzolek; Colin Nichols; Juniors: Cal Bulley; Patrick Frommer; Justin Decker; Peter Czepiel; Matt Godek; Thomas Zalewski.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Senior: Kaleb Carlson; Sophomores: Ben Post; Jack Werhle; Freshmen: Tiarnan Doyle; Bryan Diehl; Riley Gavin; Ben Roth; Sam Segar; William Heller.

OUTLOOK: Consistent pitching and solid defense will be the keys for a Bolton team returning a solid core of upperclassmen led by Orzolek, Nichols, Bulley, Frommer, Decker, Czepiel, Godek, and Zalewski. Jodoin is excited about the potential of pitchers Doyle and Diehl, who he describes as having live arms.

RETURNEES: Senior: Josh Malcom, c/p; Junior: Matt LaFountaine, inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Junior: AJ Rooks, p; Freshmen: Ethan Hunt, p; Evan Menzel, inf.

OUTLOOK: Malcom and LaFountaine are the only starters remaining from Coventrys 2019 Class S state title team. The Patriots are young and inexperienced, particularly on the mound, where they dont have a single pitcher who has thrown an inning in a varsity game. Giberson hopes to build his rotation around Malcom, Rooks, and Hunt.

RETURNEES: Senior: Mike Russotto, c; Junior: Jake Martin, p/if.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Juniors: Ryan Lee, p, Jordan Agey, p/if;, Curt Zyra, p/if; Eric Wyse, p/if, Nic Saponare, of, Sophomores: Shane Ritchie, p/if; Matt Blachuta, p/of.

OUTLOOK: East Windsor will rely on Russotto, Martin and Lee to lead the inexperienced Panthers to a fourth straight state tournament appearance in 2021 after graduating 22 seniors over the last two years. Martin, the only pitcher with varsity experience on the roster, will anchor the rotation alongside Ritchie, Blachuta, Lee, Zyra and Agey.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Jason Leslie, of; Tommy Garrow of.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Seniors: Tyler Sakos, p/of; Jordan Terry, c; Matt Mateya, inf; Ethan Sgarlata, p/inf; Noah Madore, p; Brandon Zanher, inf; Junior: Mike Bontempo, inf; Sophomore: Ryan Delaney.

OUTLOOK: The Knights are ushering in a new era, as Pointek takes over for longtime coach Keith Tautkus, who retired at the end of the 2019 season after 22 seasons at the helm. Leslie, the teams only returning pitcher with varsity experience, will be relied upon to anchor the Knights rotation. Pointek expects defense and leadership to be two of the teams strengths this season.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Anthony Mierez, p/of; Joe Kaminski, inf; Juniors: Steven Kozak, of.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Seniors: Matt Walsh, p/of; Zach Clapp, inf; Sam Wheeler, c; Jack Steed, dh; Alex Dionne, p/inf/of; Juniors: DeShaun Perry, p/inf; Matt Ryan, inf; John Ryan, of; Sophomore: Joe Stawski, p/inf.

OUTLOOK: Mierez, who helped lead Rockville to an 18-6 record and an appearance in the Class M tournament semifinals as a sophomore in 2019, will anchor the Rams pitching staff alongside Perry and Stawski. Caron expects Mierez, who hit close to .300 while going 6-3 with a 2.63 ERA and 46 strikeouts as a sophomore, to be one of the top pitchers in the NCCC.

KEY PLAYERS: Seniors: Shawn Gentilcore, p; Ethan Haluch util; Juniors: Alex Grenier, c; John Zapolski, inf; Cody Palazzesi, p/inf; Kaede Wood, p/of.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Juniors: Aidan Connors, inf; Sophomores: Thomas Lesco, inf; Colby McCormick, of.

OUTLOOK: Somers returns six starters from its 2019 team and has a solid core of veterans highlighted by Gentilcore, Haluch, Grenier, Zapolski, Palazzesi, and Wood. If the Spartans continue to improve defensively, McCarthy expects his team to compete with the upper echelon in the NCCC.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Nic Houle, p/of; Trent Kology, c/of; Junior: Isaac Minaya, p/inf/of.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Juniors: Ryan Duffy, c/of; Attley Stevens, c/inf/p; Andrew McGann, of/p; Sophomores: Collin Gudeman, inf/p; Sam Formus, p/of.

OUTLOOK: Optimism is abound around the Bulldogs program. Martin says the 2021 Bulldogs have more pitching depth than at any point in his tenure (since 2006) and called Houle one of top overall players in league, and likely one of top pitchers. Martin says the team has enough pitching to contend for a league title if the offense can produce at a high level.

RETURNEES: Vincenzo Marmo, inf; Max Beaudoin, inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Mason Ferrari, of; Nicholas Gomes, of/p; Chase Tyburski, p; Sam Beaudoin, p.

OUTLOOK: Suffield boasts a deep pitching staff with six players who can pound the zone and go deep into games, Flynn says. The rotation will be anchored by Beaudoin, Gomes and Tyburski. The Wildcats expect to compete for a conference title and play deep into the post season.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Ryan Barthel; Colin Hinckley; MJ Perry; Juniors: Chris Duquette; Michael Jubrey.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Sophomores: Dalton Wright; Allen Hinckley.

OUTLOOK: Precourt calls Barthel and Colin Hinckley the anchors on defense. Hinckley is a strong defensive catcher and Barthel can play multiple positions. The Raiders expect to be a NCCC contender despite having a young, inexperienced squad.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Frankie Mozzicato, p; Ryan Shaw, p; Ryan St. Jean, of/inf; Trevor Juan, of; Abel Collado, of; Hank Penders, c; Michael Wearne, p; Sammy Neves, inf; Alex Irizarry, inf; Ryan Turco p/inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Sophomres: TJ Winn, p; Harry Roy, p; Freshman: Dylan Roy, inf.

OUTLOOK: The Eagles return a talented core highlighted by Mozzicato, a UConn commit, Ryan Shaw, a UMass Boston commit, Ryan St. Jean, a Western New England commit, Trevor Juan, a Roger Williams commit, and Abel Collado, a UConn-Avery Point commit. Fiori calls Mozzicato has arguably one of the best arms around and Irizarry arguably one of the best all around infielders and hitters, according to Fiori. East Catholic, which is ranked third in the GameTimeCT/New Haven Register preseason state poll, expects to be in contention for both the CCC and state titles this season.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Jack Falvo, p/inf; Jacob Tipton, c/p/inf; Antonio Ortiz, of; Darrion Williams p/of; Jacob Carrion, p/inf; Juniors: Xavier Quiles, p/inf, Max Banelis, inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Freshmen: Kacin Robinson; Cody Seggara; Sam Montovani.

OUTLOOK: East Hartford is going through a rebuild after graduating 13 seniors in the last two years. Quiles, who started at second base as a freshman in 2019, will anchor the Hornets defense. The team has four dependable starters in Falvo, Williams, Carrion, and Tipton.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Alec Bairos, of/inf; Jason Bourcier, p; Mike Nicholetti. util; Juniors Mark Osorio, c; Dylan Jackson, inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Juniors: Mason Cycenas-Heimer, p; Ben Cherry, of/p; Nate Heimer, of; Jonah Neilson, of; Brandon Wrona, inf; Tyler Barry, inf/p; Gio Morales, of/p; Cam Forstell, p; Ben Roy, p. Sophomores: Jared Lindstrom, c/inf; Dennis Flores, inf/p; Jack Stokes, inf.

OUTLOOK: The Red Hawks graduated nine seniors but return a talented core of upperclassman highlighted by Bairos, Bourcier, Nicholetti, Osorio, and Jackson. Marineau is excited to see how his players handle a season unlike any other.

RETURNEES: No returning Varsity players

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Will Bonazelli; Brian Allard; Jack Dempsky; Jordan Dill; Robert Godi.

OUTLOOK: South Windsor is entering a rebuilding year after graduating all nine starters from its 2019 team. The Bobcats will need Bonazelli, Allard, Dempsky, Dill and Godi to produce at a high level to keep them competitive in the CCC East.

RETURNEES: No returning Varsity players

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Seniors: Caleb Martinek, inf/p; Justin Chaplin, of/p; Jake Chaplin, p; Max Chipman, inf/c/of; Zander Boyd, p; Brady Rancourt, of/p; Matt Voneisengrein, of; Juniors: Chris Seille, inf; Bryce Dipero, of; Brendan Rowe, of; Tighe Thebedeau. of; Jayden Maynard, p/inf; Tom Kluntz, c/p; Dom Kohler, inf/of; Anthony Noke, p/inf; Sophomore: Cannon Marshall inf/p.

OUTLOOK: Enfield has five capable starting pitchers and four solid arms out of the bullpen. The question mark is the Eagles offense, which will need to manufacture runs for the team to have success.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Matt Milone, p/Inf; Brendan Foley, inf/p; Dan Orzech If/p/of; Ryan Schultz, p/of; Junior: Mike Poncini, p/inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Senior: Kevin Braunwart, c/of; Juniors: Chase Melzen, of; Bradley DAmico, inf; Garrett Nichol, of; Pat Miller, inf; Sophomores: Max Nylen, c; Ethan Polochanin, p/inf; Tom Puetzer, p/inf; Chase Massey, p/inf; Aiden Zern, p/inf; Freshman: Sean Connolly, of.

OUTLOOK: The Raptors return five starters from their 2019 team Milone, Foley, Schultz, Orzech, and Poncini. Steiner expects pitching to be an area of strength with Milone, Poncini and Schultz anchoring the rotation. Nylen, Polochanin, Puetzer, Massey, Zern, and Connolly will be relied upon to step into the starting lineup and contribute.

RETURNEES: Senior: Ethan Bonadies, of/p; Junior: Jared Wilhelm, of/p.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Junior: Joey Keane, inf/p; Sophomores: Nate Bowes, c.

OUTLOOK: Dietch takes over a team that went 4-16 in 2019 and returns only one starter. The Eagles will rely on a talented core of upperclassman, led by Bonadies and Wilhelm, for production.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Isaac Rosario, of/inf/p; Julian Rivera, inf; Clark Churchill, p/inf; Jeremy Blackwood, p/inf; Alec Lachniet, p; Juniors: Jonathan Lattimer, c; Mason Glickman, inf/p; Breon Parker, of.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Senior: Christian Hicks, of; Juniors: Ryan Cramer, inf; Brandon Cosgrove, inf; Nason Busca, of; Aiden Serrano, of; Sophomores: Nate Acabchuck, p/inf; Frank Kula, inf; Luis Hiraldo, of/p; Austin Oberle, of/p.

OUTLOOK: The Warriors have quality pitching depth with Blackwood, Churchill, Glickman and Lachniet, along with a few younger arms. Parker and Rivera will be relied upon to set the table at the top of the lineup ahead of power hitters Rosario, Lattimer, Glickman and Blackwood.

RETURNEES: Owen Stephens, p/inf/of; Ben Curcio, c; Sam Benedict, inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Grant Powers; Spencer Azarra; Sean Borden; Patrick Flaherty; Colin Thomas; Alex Boucher; Jake Benedict; Nick Verdone; Drew Jean; Mike Herviuex; Dan Cantafi; Dan Beagle; Luke Fahey; Elliott Hamilton.

OUTLOOK: Glastonbury has a solid defense with a balanced line up, but the pitching staff is an area of concern. The Guardians will need arms to step up as the staff battles injuries and inexperience.

RETURNEES: Seniors: Jared Holbrook, p/inf; Isaiah Brothers, p/inf; Shawn Rock, of; Ben Gendreau, of; Junior: Adam Bowman, inf.

OTHER KEY PLAYERS: Sophomores: Dylan Connaughton, p/c; Jack McLellan c; Ben Schaefer, inf; Jacob Perez, inf; Elias Martinez, inf; Freshmen: Rafael Acevedo, of/inf; Branden Robles, of/p.

OUTLOOK: Cheney Techs rotation is anchored by a pair of talented upperclassman in Holbrook and Brothers while the lineup is paced by Rock, Gendreau, and Bowman. The Beavers will need Connaughton, McLellan, Schaefer, Perez, Martinez, Acevedo, and Robles to step up in order to win a second straight CTC Conference championship.

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Coventry eager to get its baseball season going - Journal Inquirer