Hawks will look to defend title

By Matt Metcalf
Posted 4/4/17

The Hendricken baseball team graduated some key players off its championship roster from a season ago, namely centerfielder Dante Baldelli and starting pitcher Matt Kennedy, but it will be left with plenty of talent with

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Hawks will look to defend title

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The Hendricken baseball team graduated some key players off its championship roster from a season ago, namely centerfielder Dante Baldelli and starting pitcher Matt Kennedy, but it will be left with plenty of talent with title history when it begins its push for a sixth consecutive state crown this week.

Nico Salvaggio will be back to headline the Hawks’ pitching staff after posting a standout sophomore campaign that concluded with the right-hander taking the ball in the title-clinching game against South Kingstown at McCoy Stadium.

Senior Chris Hindle also accrued valuable innings last season as Hendricken’s top reliever. He will increase his workload as a starter this season.

After Salvaggio and Hindle, junior Dylan McCormick and senior Isaiah Mylers have both looked good so far, as have sophomores Jordan Marot, Matt Smaldone and Kyle Marrapese. Andrew Flint, one of Hendricken’s top hitters, will also see time on the mound, while Rob Vaillancourt is in the mix for innings too.

In the field, Andrew Hopgood, who has won championships in football, hockey and baseball, will resume his duties at first base after starting there last year. He hit above .300 as a junior and was solid defensively to contribute to the Hawks’ title run. Ernesto Espinal and Smaldone will also see time at first.

The Hawks will go with some youth in the middle of the infield, as sophomore David Bordieri and freshman Domenic Crocenzi should start at second and shortstop.

Juniors Jaimen Albizu and Mike Swanholm and senior Max Hempe are competing for the starting job at third.

Senior Jordan Carvalho will start behind the dish, but Hopgood can also catch if he is needed. Manny Urbaez and Hempe will back up Carvalho.

Brothers Andrew Flint and Tucker Flint will occupy two of the outfield spots in their senior and sophomore seasons, respectively. Andrew Flint has the ability to play both infield and outfield, and he’ll be a mainstay in the middle of the Hawks’ lineup. Tucker Flint will look to build off last spring, as he started in left field during his freshman season.

Billy Roberge came on strong at the end of last season, and he’s back for his senior season in Hendricken’s outfield.

Sophomore Kevin Gower has looked good as well and should earn some time, while Pat Thomas, Conor Kiely and Marrapese will also push for innings in the outfield.

Salvaggio will get the opportunity to occupy the designated hitter role when he’s not on the mound.

Ed Holloway will be Hendricken’s head coach once again, and Chris Sheehan, Angelo St. Laurent and Bryan Leahey will also be back as assistants.

Hendricken will open its season today when it hosts East Providence. The Hawks will then take on Cumberland at home on Thursday. Both games are slated for 4 p.m.

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