Tiverton High School baseball preview

Tigers baseball team looks to have a ‘banner year’

Story and photos by Richard W. Dionne Jr. rdionne@eastbaynewspapers.com
Posted 4/10/18

TIVERTON — The Tiverton High School baseball team looks to come out of the gate strong and pick up where they left off last year. In 2017, the Tigers finished second in Division II Southern with a …

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Tiverton High School baseball preview

Tigers baseball team looks to have a ‘banner year’

Posted

TIVERTON — The Tiverton High School baseball team looks to come out of the gate strong and pick up where they left off last year. In 2017, the Tigers finished second in Division II Southern with a 13-5 record and a loss to Prout in the semifinals.

“We feel that our pitching staff is going to be our strength this year,” said Head Coach Bob Murray.

“Mason Farias will be our one. He was one of the best pitchers in the league,” said coach Murray. “Garrett Nolan will be our two. Matt Potvin will be our three, and Josh Schneider will be our four.”

Farias, a senior co-captain, was named to the Division II Southern All-State first team with a 7-2 record in 2017. The righthander throws five different pitches, a four-seam, two-seam, curve ball, slider and changeup. When he’s not pitching, he plays third base and shortstop for the Tigers and hits third in the batting order.

“I’m pumped for this year,” Farias said. “We are getting a banner this year. This is going to be a big year for us.”

Co-captain and pitcher Garrett Nolan agrees.

“We are going to have a good run this year. I’m really excited to get started. We lost some players last year, but I’m not too worried. When we play clean baseball, we can put runs on the board and win games.”

Nolan started off slow in 2017, but figured things out and came on strong during the second half of the 2017 season.

“I calmed myself down and got out of my own head. I figured out how to improve and get the strikeouts and outs that we needed,” Nolan said.

Nolan is an outfielder when not pitching and hits cleanup for the Tigers.

He and Farias played in the Division II all-star game.

“Mason pitched in the game, and I played in the outfield. We had a lot of fun.” Nolan said.

“The question will be what we do defensively,” said coach Murray, though last year the Tigers played well defensively.

“Coach is very particular with the way we play defense,” said Nolan. “He’s okay with the physical errors that occur. But when it’s a mental error, he doesn’t like that. It’s all about decision making.”

The weather this spring has hampered the team’s hitting practices. The Tigers have been practicing in the gym and parking lot, but have lacked proper hitting practice until Monday. The team struggled to hit in their two scrimmage games this season.

“We did okay, but we struggled at the plate. You could tell that we haven’t hit the ball,” said coach Murray.

The Tigers will look for their top four hitters to break out this year. Junior Matt Potvin will lead off.

“He puts the bat on the ball like a one hitter should,” said Nolan.

Senior Damien DeGala will hit second.

“He’s pretty quick and knows how to get on base. Whether he has to lay down a bunt or get a little hit and run it out and beat the throw,” said Nolan.

Farias and Nolan with follow them.

Despite graduating six seniors, the Tigers still look strong, with six returning seniors and five underclassmen.

Returning seniors are catcher Paul Amaral, second baseman Josh Schneider, pitcher and third baseman Mason Farias, pitcher, outfielder and first baseman Garrett Nolan, leftfielder Damien DeGala and third baseman Trent Rodgers.

Underclassmen are junior centerfielder Matt Potvin, junior rightfielder Dan Garde, junior catcher Donovan Cole, sophomore first baseman Jackson Potts and junior second baseman Nate Medeiros.

“I’m looking forward to getting the opportunity to start the season and see if we can compete,” said coach Murray.

This week’s schedule:

Thursday, at Ponaganset, 4 p.m.

Friday, at Mount St. Charles, 4 p.m.

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Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.