The Granite State Baseball Association had the opportunity to see some of New Hampshire's top talent this past Fall in our Showcase Division. From this as well as a fairly strong knowledge about New Hampshire Baseball, it is in our opinion that Salem High School is hands down the favorite to win the Class L State Championship. No coach in the league can honestly say that their team matches up with Salem. They are DEEP in pitching with Weymouth, Perrault, Bates, Hardy and O'Dell. These guys could easily be the number 1 on most Class L teams. However I will say keep an eye on Pinkerton Academy's pitching staff with Nick Gregsak, Billy Dodge and Chris Debonis they might make the post season interesting if they all realize their potential. Merrimack in my opinion does not have enough fire power to repeat however last year's championship game winner Dan Cataldi is as good a pitcher as you will see in New Hampshire but he can only pitch once a week. In other divisions keep an eye out for Larry Longo of Derryfield Academy, this guys pick for the best hitter in the State of New Hampshire. David Brandt Hopkinton High School is one of the finest infields you will see this spring in the Granite State and finally Dan Evans Mascoma Regional High School.....STUD this left handed hitter can hit a ton and has a rocket for an arm out in right field.

I would look for Nashua South to be very competitive this year with Ferriter back and transfer AJ Bazdanes who could be a #1 on any team in the state. They were young last year so add two D1 players (both I think are draftable) to the mix and look out.

I myself would like to see a competive year out of the Class L teams, which is the division I follow the most, however I anticipate following the other divisions more this upcoming spring. CoachC are you the coach of Hollis-Brookline? If so I had the opportunity to see some of your Middle School players this past fall and I can honestly say you have some good ball players coming through your system. Whats the prediction for HB this spring, any players to keep an eye on?

GSBA - Great to hear you mention Larry Longo. He's quite a ballplayer. My son was on the 14U NH Blackflies with him. Larry played the corners and the outfield, and pitched with a slow, deliberate, but very effective delivery. And he could hit!!! We used to joke that he walked like a gunslinger. I haven't seen him in a couple of years - does he still have that look? Do you know Jeff Woj (don't ask me to spell his full last name) from Londonderry? He was also on that team. Pitcher/infielder at the time. I believe he's playing for Londonderry HS.

Don't discount either Nashua team in Class L, this season. Both programs are heading into their 4th year and finally have some experience behind them. CoachC already mentioned a couple of the guys at South, and North is returning a solid core including Brad Zapenas, Harrison Brown, Pat Lucas, Nick Guest, and Alex Hernandez. They should be very competitive.

KmomNH,I have known Larry for years now he is the same guy he was as a 12 year old, quite the character. Then at the other end of the spectrum you have Woj, very quite but boy can the kid hit. Curran Shane also played in our fall league I think he was a Black Flie at one point. Back to my comments about Class L, I don't doubt there will be some strong teams in the division, however I can't imagine all teams are deep starting pitching 5 or 6 pitchers. In addition to the fact the Salem has been with the cream of the crop in Class L now for almost a decade straight. I believe both Nashuas are always a threat and as we all know in baseball any team can win on any day, but I stand by my prediction I think simply put that Salem has more weapons than any other school. With that said, other teams might have a better weapon but not as many. I think we are in for a good season around the league.

You're right, Curran "Cubby" Shane was on that 14U BF team - only kid on the team who wasn't used as a pitcher at some point. Great middle infielder, though. At times, I think we could have laid his uniform on the ground, sprinkled seeds on it, added water and grown a garden. He was always sacrificing his body. Small world we have in our baseball community.

I don't think Nashua South can be beat. i don't know if you heard of this Bazdanes kid but he's hitting 91mph and is a projected to go somewhere between the 20th and 30th round if he doesn't keep his commitment to Maine. Ferriter isa proven outfielder heeaded to UCONN but with Bazdanes a 6'4 200 machine no team in Class L can beat him.

Any thoughts?

No disrespect to Nashua South or any other team in Class L, my view is that no other team has the pitching depth and overall offense that Salem is bringing into the 2008 season. Bazdane might be the top pitcher in the state for 2008 but he can only pitch once a week, Salem has 5 to 6 legitmate starting pitchers. Speaking of talented pitchers, I just saw Dan Cataldi, from Merrimack High School (the winning pitcher of the championship game) working out at MVP Baseball the other night, kid looks sharp good velocity, control and his off speed stuff was working nicely. Another arm to look for in 2008. Any more thoughts on the upcoming 2008 season?

GSBA - I know you've had exposure to players in the other classes. What are your thoughts about the 2008 Class I, M, and S teams?

GSBA - This is off topic a bit but my son is looking forward to playing in your woodbat league this summer. He is in his first year with the Nashua Knights (13U) and one of the reasons we chose this program was the exposure to the wood bat league, not only as a batter but also as a pitcher. Any words of advice on the league or preperation for it? He is already using a woodbat in his winter workouts and isn't afraid to come inside on a batter.

redsox8191, the summer league is something I take a ton of pride in 2008 will represent our fifth season. Your son is going to love the wood bat league, and any program that Rich Loftus is part of is a great program to be in. I can not truly share with everyone what a great person Rich is and what he means to baseball in Nashua. I have a world of respect for him. As for getting ready for one of our seasons, the number one thing batters need to learn is to go the other way with the pitch and for pitchers they need to realize with a wood bat they can command the inside corner unlike when the batters are using a metal bat. From a parent's point of view the games are not as long and the final scores are baseball scores and not football scores. I hope you both enjoy the season and I look forward to hearing what you think about it.

GSBA - I really like coach Loftus. he is a no nonesense guy and tells it as it is. He is running the winter workouts for the teams. The kids really like and respect him as well. He seems to communicate well with them and they stop and listen intently when he speaks. Well my son should do ok in the wood bat league because he already is adept at taking the outside pitch the other way and isn't afraid to come inside on a batter. I'll be sure to reinforce those traits with him though. Looking foreward to participating in your league this season!!

KmomNH, I am not as knowledgable about teams in the other classes but I have a pretty good idea of specific players to keep an eye out for, such as Dan Evans from Mascoma Regional High School. This young man has all the tools, and a phenominal work ethic that can not be taught. Keep a look out for this young man this spring, I exchanged emails with him last month he will be attending Franklin Pierce this fall which I feel is a great addition to a very strong roster. Next David Brandt, Hopkinton High School. This kid is a natural athelete with a baseball player's mind and can he run. In the State of NH, speaking only of High School players I would say he is one of the top 10 shortstops in the State, my number one pick Brad Zapenas from Nashua. Also from Hopkinton keep an eye out for a kid named Evan Levy, my sources tell me that on the mound the kid can flat bring it, and he will only be a junior this season. From Pelham catcher Bryan Toupin will also be a junior this spring, behind the plate he receives the ball very well and handles pitchers in a very mature manner for a player his age. Finally one of my all time favorite players Larry Longo from Derryfield. 2008 Player of the Year, forget the fact he plays in Class S, too often do I hear the pharse, he's good for Class S. The size of the Class DOES NOT MATTER. My view is each player should be evalutated on their individual performance and not have the Class they play in factored into their ability level. Longo would hit in Class M, Class I, Class L and he will hit in the Little East next spring when he is playing for Keene State College. My preseason pick for player of the year is Larry Longo.

One more note, I would also say when teams are coached by a Tom Underwood or Jeff Hastings they are dangerous. Personally these two are the finest coaches I have seen first hand coach, I look to them as examples when I am coaching.

You are right he is a sophmore, sorry about the mispost. Makes him that much more impressive, I think he played with the Salem Legion or Sr. Babe Ruth team this summer and their coach loved him.

Who does Bryan Toupin play for?

I am also a coach and I have seen Salem. While I agree they will be a top team (as usual) I disagree with your assesment on their pitching. I have seen all those kids you mention and they are decent, but not "#1's" on most other Class L teams. As for Bazdanes I thought I had seen him last year, but I had him mixed up with another kid. I guess I am surprised that a kid that good was cut- though it is tough to make any sort of judgements as we don't know all the circumstances. The kid from Salem threw pretty hard last year as well, anyone know where he is this year? I lost track.
Thanks

South is the top team this year. I'd also put Salem, Londonderry, Trinity, Goffstown, and Keene up there. The bottom line is, come tournament time, it doesn't matter much who the best team is: the finals had two teams ranked in double digits. Spaulding, Londonderry, and Salem were the top teams last year- none of them made it to the big game.
Also, I would take Jamie Ferullio of Spaulding ove Zappenas at shortstop.

The season is two weeks old, anyone want to change predictions?

Oldschool where do you coach? I stand by my pick Salem. And my pick at SS in NH this year has to be Zappenas but that is just my opinion as is my pick of Salem.