Baseball Hopeful for Another Winning Season

After last spring’s winning season in which they ended with a 16-6 record, Exeter’s boys’ varsity baseball team anticipates another strong season out on the fields, as well as a unique team dynamic with a balanced mix of new, younger faces and returning varsity players.

This season, the team is scheduled to play 19 games against other New England prep schools—two of them against Andover—and the New England Tournament on May 20. Its first game was on Apr. 5 against Tabor Academy.

Leading the team this spring are seniors and co-captains Colin Shapiro and Harrison Money, both four-year varsity baseball players. Money expressed his optimism and hopes for his last season playing for Big Red. “Everybody is working hard and we’re excited to start the season and get outside,” he said. “Last year, we had a really good season, making playoff for the first time since I’ve been here. We’re trying to do as well in the regular season and have a good post-season.”

“I don’t think the injuries are affecting how we go about the season. We’re still working hard and we’re not going to use the injured pitchers as a crutch.”

In addition to the captains’ firm leadership, postgraduate Nick Hall appreciated the duality of the coaches’ training styles, describing Coach Dana Barbin as an “old-school” mentor whose “see it, hit it” training philosophy focuses on progressing the boys’ strength and endurance. Alternatively, Coach Tim Mitropolous, known to players as “Coach Mit,” targets the advancement of the boys’ fundamental technique and form.

Although the team’s top two pitchers, senior Connor Singh and postgraduate Henri Pratt, are currently taking leave from the sport to tend to their arm injuries, Barbin expressed his faith in the skill and determination of the team’s other pitchers, Hall and seniors Nick and Ryan Moore. “The team has been dealt a tough blow as our top two pitchers are out with season ending injuries,” Barbin said. “The other pitchers are going to have to step up and do their job on the mound.”

Money is confident that team’s vigor will not be hindered by their absence. In fact, he believes that it will provide younger pitchers the fortuity of developing game strategy. “I don’t think the injuries are affecting how we go about the season. We’re still working hard and we’re not going to use the injured pitchers as a crutch,” he remarked. “We’re going to need other guys to step up and fill those positions. At the same time, it’s a great opportunity for the younger pitchers to show their talent.”

The team has been preparing for the season even before the start of the academic term. During their spring break, Exeter’s varsity and junior varsity players traveled to Orlando, Florida, where they participated in intensive training sessions and contended four Florida regional teams.

Since then, the team has been practicing on the turf and at a batting cage set up in the hockey rinks due to unfavorable weather conditions, and the players look forward to warmer days on the field. “We are on a good track for our first games. Our starting lineup is strong and the pitchers are getting better every day,” upper Kyle Jadatz said.