The snack shack got back to business at Mead Park a couple weeks ago. Now the boys of the New Canaan Rams baseball program are getting ready to do the same.
After a 2013 season that culminated in the program winning its first state championship since 1950, it was going to be tough for the 2014 Rams to follow such an act.
But while 2014 didn’t include any championships (14-6, 12-6 FCIAC) it did feature continued development of some top talent and leaders that are ready to create their own story in 2015.
Brandon Abate fields a Wethersfield bunt last season. Credit: Terry Dinan
That story begins with the team’s four senior co-captains: outfielder/pitcher Alex LaPolice, pitcher/outfielder David Giusti, shortstop Brandon Abate, and All-State catcher Zack Smith.
The Harvard-bound LaPolice, who’s entering his fourth season as a member of the Rams, knows what it takes to win championships. He not only was a crucial component of the 2013 team as a sophomore, but he’s also won a FCIAC championship and two CIAC state titles as a member of the school’s football team, which is the sport he’ll be playing for the Crimson come fall.
Zack Smith heads for first after ripping a double last season. Credit: Terry Dinan
“We have a lot of good senior leadership,” LaPolice told NewCanaanite.com.
LaPolice and his fellow co-captain Giusti, who missed the second half of last season due to a back injury, are two gentlemen that head coach Mitch Hoffman will look to get a lot out of this spring—whether it’s on the mound, in the field, or at the plate.
With the depth of talent in the program, filling out the rest of the positions for the upcoming season is something that coach Hoffman says “has made [for] some hard decisions.” But that’s a great problem to have.
Zack Smith rounds third. Credit: Terry Dinan
Third base, right now, is senior Kyle Levasseur’s, but fellow classmate Victor Lu as well as sophomore Matt Burger are also expected to see time at the position. Shortstop is locked down by Abate. But he’ll have a rotating partner in turning double plays (at least to start out), with a healthy competition still ongoing at second between sophomore Patrick Diamond, Lucian Tamburro, and looking to become the latest Casali to be a part of a championship Rams squad, Chase Casali. First base will see a combination of sophomore Robby Jones and junior Thomas Williams.
Alex LaPolice on his way to first after hitting a single last season. Credit: Terry Dinan
Then the outfield will include LaPolice, who will man centerfield when he’s not on the mound; senior Kane Curtin, who coach Hoffman sees as “the backbone of the outfield;” as well as junior Thomas Reynolds, Williams, and Giusti.
“Right now, I would probably say the strength of this team is offense,” says Hoffman.
And it should be.
With the likely one-two of LaPolice and Abate as table-setters, the rest of the Rams lineup should see plenty of RBI opportunities (and those two have been known to drive in a few clutch, runs as well).
Postgame talk from head coach Mitch Hoffman last season. Credit: Terry Dinan
However, coach Hoffman’s hope is that the team’s strength becomes pitching as well as defense because, “If your offense goes cold, you better have some good defense and pitching.”
So behind the two aces in LaPolice and Giusti, the Rams will rely on Jones, fellow newcomer Jack Havard and senior Clark Newlove, as starters or out of the pen. With the co-captain Smith making up the other end of the battery behind the plate, who’s presence is invaluable, it gives credence to Hoffman’s hope coming to fruition before season’s end.
Another thing this New Canaan squad has going for them is that most of them have known each other for the better part of a decade, playing together on the same teams and in the same leagues. That familiarity with one another is something that can’t be valued enough. “Our chemistry is awesome,” LaPolice said. “We spend as much time with each other [as we can], on and off the field.”
That will help New Canaan as they prepare to play a vaunted FCIAC conference, which Hoffman calls “one of the best in the state in all sports.” Adding to that, Hoffman says, “The FCIAC is so deep. The last two years, the six or seven-seed has won the FCIAC championship. [If] that happens in any other sport, I would like to see that.”
A perennial contender such as Staples, along with consistently improving programs like Fairfield Warde and Trinity Catholic, only begin to highlight the challenging road that lies ahead for the Rams this spring.
It’s a quality mix of both veteran and new talent, but in order for the wins to come in 2015, coach Hoffman states that the team must, “Achieve and accomplish the goals they set out to — while having respect for the game, their teammates, and their opponents. [If] that happens, then the winning will take care of itself — but that has to happen in order for us to win.”
The regular season commences on Thursday, April 9 at New Milford High School at 4:00 p.m., with the home opener the following Monday, April 13 at Mead Park at 4:00 p.m.
Head Coach: Mitch Hoffman (6th year)
2014 Record: 14-6 (12-6 FCIAC); Made FCIAC and CIAC Class L Playoffs
Returnees to watch – Alex LaPolice (OF/P), David Giusti (P/OF), Zach Smith (C), Brandon Abate (SS), Kane Curtin (OF), Kyle Levasseur (3B), Clark Newlove (P), Victor Lu (3B)
Key newcomers – Robby Jones (1B/P), Jack Havard (P), Patrick Diamond (2B)