The King Philip baseball team shared the Hockomock League’s Kelly-Rex Division championship last year with Taunton and the way the Warriors have played in the early going this season should keep them in the mix for another division crown and a tourney berth.
So far, Coach Pat Weir’s squad has been solid, defeating Milford, Foxboro, Attleboro and Canton and losing to Oliver Ames for a 4-1 record.
Weir, who’s in his fourth year as coach, has a very simplistic approach when discussing KP’s goals for the 2017 campaign. He’s emphatic when he says: “We want to improve on yesterday and compete tomorrow.’’ It’s a daily objective that keeps the focus on the task at hand without looking beyond the Warriors’ next foe.
“We got to the tourney last year for the first time since I became KP’s coach and we can qualify again,’’ Weir said. “It’s attainable and so is winning the Kelly-Rex title again. I’ve got faith in our players but we’re strictly aiming for improvement each day.’’
The Warriors have multiple strengths — like experience, depth, work ethic, baseball IQ, instincts, aggressive base-running, defense and pitching. The area where improvement is needed is on offense. “We’re solid in the field and our pitching is consistent,’’ Weir noted. “But, our hitting has been slow to come around.’’
KP’s starting pitchers are an impressive group that include seniors Stephen Murray and Chris Wing and juniors Jackson Shiebler and Jeremy Rhines. Murray and Rhines are right-handers and Wing and Shiebler are lefties.
“Stephen is fearless,’’ Weir said. “He throws a fastball in the mid-80s, has an effective curve and is working to improve his control. He’ll average 8-10 strikeouts. Also able to play third base, Stephen is solid on defense and has some pop in his bat. Chris has an accurate fastball but his best pitch is a change-up. His location is good, too. In our opener against Milford, he went six innings, yielded one hit and no earned runs. Then he pitched a complete game shutout against Attleboro. Chris can also play right field where he’s quick and he’s a good contact hitter.
Shiebler had a solid outing against Foxboro, going five innings, giving up two hits and no runs. “Jackson is a crafty left-hander who has good control,’’ Weir noted. “His fastball moves but he also relies on his curve and change-up. He can also play centerfield. His speed and his reads in the outfield are assets. He’s striving to improve as a hitter. Jeremy has a good fastball and curve and his location is effective. Calm on the mound, he also plays third base and is solid on defense.’’
Weir will count on junior left-hander Dan Antunes as his middle inning reliever and sophomore rightie Jack Webster as his closer.
“Dan mixes his speeds, relying on a curve and change-up,’’ Weir said. “His location is very good. He can play centerfield where he’s solid on defense, and he’s working on improving his hitting. Jack is very dependable. He played a key role in our wins over Milford and Foxboro. A transfer from Xaverian, his fastball is live, in the mid-80s, and he’s a bulldog on the mound. Jack has lots of upside — he can also catch and he’s a strong hitter.’’
Junior Colin Cooke is a first baseman who can field and hit. “Colin is fundamentally sound,’’ Weir said. “His footwork is good and he’s always in the right spot.
Senior co-captain Kyle Guenthner, who hit .380 last year, is very capable at second base. His unassisted double play against Foxboro ended the game. “Kyle is a smooth fielder who’s got quick hands and is a fine contact hitter,’’ Weir said. Backing up Guenthner is Brandan Wood, a senior who “provides lots of spirit in the locker-room.’’ A dependable infielder, Wood is adept at using his body to knock down hard-hit grounders.
Senior co-captain Will Weir, the coach’s nephew, returns at shortstop where he was a Hockomock League all-star last year. He hit .400 and had 18 RBIs.
“Will is a quiet leader, who hits for power and is a smooth fielder with a great arm,’’ Weir said. “He’s like a vacuum at short. He’s the glue to our offense and defense and he’ll be attending Holy Cross where he likely will be a walk-on candidate.’’
Murray and Rhines will play third when not pitching, and sophomore David Morganelli will be available in reserve at short or third base. “David is solid in the field and hits for power,’’ Weir said. “He’s got a solid future.’’
Junior Nolan Bradley handles the catching role with Webster in reserve. “Nolan is like a coach on the field,’’ Weir said. “He blocks the plate well, has a quick release to any base and his arm is accurate. We’re hoping he provides some timely hitting.’’
The outfield will feature senior Ryan Coulter in center, junior Ben Furfari in right and junior Patrick Limerick in left. “Ryan hit .340 last year,’’ Weir said. “He’s got speed, a strong arm and an ability to read the ball quickly. I rate him the best centerfielder in the league. Ben also hit .340 last year and is in the cleanup slot. He’s got speed and a strong arm. Patrick gets a good jump on the ball, has a strong arm and is a good contact hitter.’’
Senior Rich Lucente is a reserve in left field and junior Aidan Lawlor is available in right. “Rich is a speed demon who’s solid on defense,’’ Weir said. “Aidan joined us from Westwood.’’
Two seniors who could see action on the mound are Sean Ohlson and Sam Macrina. Ohlson is a left-hander who can also fill in at first base, and Macrina, who’s recovering from a fractured hand, is a rightie who relies on a fastball.
Wier rates Taunton and Franklin as strong contenders for the division title. “Taunton has lots of returnees with experience and Franklin is traditionally strong, has lots of returnees, and is well-coached,’’ Weir said.
Issue Date:
May, 2017
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