The goal every year for the Northbridge baseball team is to win the State Championship. Last year after finishing 11-7 during the regular season the Rams earned themselves a 10 seed in the Division 4 State Tournament and were able to beat Rockland and East Bridgewater, the number seven seed, before losing to Lynnfield the two seed in the Round of 8. Lynnfield would go to the State Championship game where they lost to Millbury 3-2.

“First and foremost, we’re looking to win the league,” Northbridge Co-Coach Matt Abrain said. “Moving to the CMAC this year is going to be tough as we’ll be going up against some tough teams twice during the regular season. It will be like playing in the playoffs in mid-April, but it will definitely get us ready for the post season.”

Northbridge graduated the core group of senior athletes from the team but will be returning 11 seniors this spring looking to make the goal a reality.

Senior JP Bolduc will be the Rams’ ace on the mound and will patrol centerfield when he’s not pitching. The senior hurler will be given the ball in a majority of the team’s big games. He may not be a have a top-notch fast ball, but he knows how to hit his spots and will also be competing. 

The coaching staff is hoping that he can continue to go out there and throw strikes when he takes the mound giving the Rams positive results and put the team in a position to win. Abrain noted that the squad will try to line up Bolduc for the bigger games.

Junior Ryder Meagher, the team’s number three starter last season, will be looked upon to move up a notch and take the role behind Bolduc as the team’s number two hurler. Following the two top throwers Northbridge will be looking to see who can step up on the mound to help the team by throwing strikes and giving them a chance to win. Although it is still early, Abrain said the coaching staff will be using scrimmages to hopefully warm up those arms.

Antonio D’Alfanso can play everywhere and anywhere on the field for the Rams. Last spring he secured the hot corner, but this year he will most likely see a lot of time in the outfield. 

“He’s been on the team since his sophomore season and has been playing all over the place for us,” the co-coach said. “He’s our Swiss Army knife – and will play wherever the team needs him to play and as coaches we have total trust in him wherever we happen to play him.”

Two seniors who will be holding down infield positions for Northbridge this season will be Matt Caughlin at second and Keondre Gaines at first. Caughlin, who is known as Turbo, is one that can put the ball in play and get on base. Once on the basepaths he uses his legs and aggressiveness to move around the bases. Gaines, on the other hand, is one of the team’s power hitters. The first baseman will be one of the team’s bats that should account for a majority of the Rams’ runs this year.

Playing in his third season behind the dish and catching the pitchers will be catcher Jacoby Galerani. According to Abrain, his offense started coming along last year and he should be able to help the team this spring. A solid athlete, Galerani hits in the ninth hole but has been able to provide the team with some big-time timely hits.

Rounding out the players who are known to be able to give this team a shot at their goals is senior Ryan Ruzzo. Unfortunately, Ruzzo will have some very big shoes (Jay Costello’s) to fill taking over the shortstop position.

“We are hoping that Ryan can be half as productive as Jay was,” Abrian said. “He’s a defensive shortstop that can put the ball in play at the plate and is fast once he gets on the bases.”

 Having a solid core of players should give the Rams the step they need to get them moving in the right direction, but the team may also find some diamonds in the rough once they begin practicing on the diamond but to accomplish their goals they are going to have to play disciplined baseball.

“We need to make the plays on defense while throwing strikes on the mound,” the co-coach said. “Once we get on base our baserunners are going to need to put pressure on the opposing teams. If we can put all this together we should have a successful season.”