Baseball: Marlborough, AMSA playing well - Gate House http://marlborough.wickedlocal.com/article/20160428/SPORTS/160427098?template=printart

By Phil Ricciuti Sports Correspondent

April 28. 2016 1:00AM

Baseball: Marlborough, AMSA playing well

Marlborough High School baseball coach Paul Duplessis knew coming into this season that he would have to be patient. The Panthers were hard by graduation and have only one senior in the starting lineup.

“We are definitely very young and inexperienced this year, but we do have a lot of talent so I think that we are definitely going to improve as the season moves along,” Duplessis said.

Duplessis’ patience might be rewarded sooner than he thinks. After handing Duplessis a present (his 200th career win) in the season’s opener, a 3-2 win over Algonquin the Panthers proceeded to lose their next three games. Things came together in Marlborough’s fifth game, though. The Panthers’ offense came alive in that game and banged out a 16-3 win over Hudson in the consolation round of the John Ahearn Memorial Tournament. The Panthers followed with a 3-2 Marlborough outfielder Kevin Falvey dives walk-off win over Westborough to even their record at 3-3. for the ball during last Saturday's game Marlborough’s inexperience begins on mound where it will have to rely on a freshman, Hunter Reynolds, and a senior, against Westborough. Also running to the Kelvin Falvey, to lead the staff. Other pitchers are senior Zack Huaman, juniors Paul Wydom, Dillan White, Joe Punera ball is the Panthers' Brett Frederico. The Panthers edged the Rangers, 3-2. Wicked and freshman Brett Frederico. Falvey, Reynolds and Wydom have accounted for Marlborough’s three wins. Wydom Local Photo/Bradley Cauchon also had the game-winning hit against Westborough.

Senior Cam Plank is behind the plate. Plank, who started several games for the Panthers last season, provided the winning runs against Algonquin with a two- sixth-inning . He is backed up by junior Evan Schmidlein. Plank and Schmidlein will also share first base, depending on who is catching. Junior Mike Gould and sophomore Michael Ryan have both seen action at second base. Senior Matt Bertochi returns at shortstop. Wydom and Reynolds will play third base depending on who is pitching.

Falvey has been the starter in center field. When he is pitching sophomore Mike Whitman will step in. Frederico and Punera will be in left field depending on who is pitching. Robby Short, a sophomore, will also play left field. Ryan, junior Dillon White and senior Andrew West will all see time in right field. Junior Dan Coughlin will play in the outfield and pitch.

The Panthers may be short on experience, but according to Duplessis they are not lacking the desire to work hard and to improve. “The kids are coming to practice and to our games with a great attitude and are working very hard to get better,” he said.

“The most important things that we will be looking for will be to see individual improvement in every game. If we can do that the wins will come and even more importantly everything we do this season will show up in the future.”

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