RallyNorth.net

Central Catholic Baseball Preview

2007 record: 13-8, lost in Division 1 North first round

Returning starters (7): Michael Romano, Sr., INF/P; Chris Sartori, Sr., 1B; Ross Sarmento, Sr., 2B; Roberto Valenti, Sr., CF/P; Zak Adamopoulos, Jr., P/1B; Andrew Guyer, Jr., C/OF; Brendan Walsh, Jr., P/OF

Returning lettermen: Chris Davis, Sr., OF; Ryan Kemp, Sr., INF/P; Brendan Slein, Sr., OF/C; Marc Crowley, Jr., SS

Newcomers: Darren Infante, Jr., INF; Patrick Noone, Jr., P/OF; Matt Novak, Jr., P/OF; Garrett Reed, Jr., OF; Robert Taylor, Jr., P/INF; Tim Wheeler, Jr., P/OF; Matthew Pelletier, Soph., C; Christopher Berganti, Soph., P/OF; Ben Bousa, Soph., INF

Candidates in all grades: 120

Captains: Roberto Valenti

Returning leaders: Michael Romano, .426, 12 runs, 12 RBIs; Roberto Valenti, .480, 17 runs; Brendan Walsh 4-1 record, 4.59 ERA, 36 Ks in 29 innings

Returning honorees: Roberto Valenti, Eagle-Tribune honorable mention; Michael Romano, Eagle-Tribune honorable mention

Assistants: John Sexton, varsity assistant; Miles Page, varsity assistant; Kevin McCarthy, JV; Ken Gabriel, JV; Bill Morin, Frosh.

Opener: April 4, host St. John's Prep at Mount Vernon

Odds and ends: After three losing seasons in the last four, Central rebounded in 2007, carrying a challenge for the MVC title into the final two games. ... The Raiders have a large, 20-man varsity roster, which the coaches attribute to a deep and talented junior class. Coach Marc Pelletier's son Matthew, a sophomore, is pushing for time in a three-man race at starting catcher. ... Ryan Kemp returns to the team after leaving the team mid-season last spring. He hit .426 with 14 runs scored as a sophomore. ... Central will be playing May 10 on Martha's Vineyard. ... The two holdovers from the state championship basketball team are pitcher/outfielder Tim Wheeler and assistant coach John Sexton, who is with the team until late in the year when he'll return to his summer job, coaching in the independent pro Frontier League.

Coach Marc Pelletier (21st year, 245-180): "This group has a lot of potential. Our strength lies in the quantity of pitching we have. The one thing we lack is the experience on the hill, and we'll have to cut our teeth fast. I'm optimistic that we're going to swing the bat. (Michael) Romano and (Roberto) Valenti will be leaned upon. And (Ryan) Kemp had a big sophomore year. As long as our kids buy into the system and we all settle on roles, we'll contend."