East Catholic Baseball Going Strong at 14

The weatherman on Monday and Tuesday was able to figure out what no Connecticut high school baseball team had been able to do since April 6, and that’s to prevent East Catholic from winning. Games against Glastonbury and St. Bernard’s were rained out. Beating the Eagles on the field has become a pretty futile effort this season. 

A few bounces have gone their way, they’ll admit, but the primary sources for East Catholic’s 14-game winning streak after a season-opening loss has been the skill, ability and smart decisions of the Eagles. Throw in some hustle and the mix has been a complete package. This is a talented team whose strengths are brought out by the guidance of coach Jim Penders.

“The chemistry is the biggest plus,” said Penders, in his 42nd year. “They’re a bunch of unselfish kids who know their roles. They’ll do anything to help the team. They’ll hit to the right side to get the runner to third base. It can be an 0-for in the box score but it won’t be in their eyes. They know how to play the game.”

Their savvy translates into results on the field. Their pitching, hitting, fielding and base-running have supplied enough evidence that, baring any sudden and drastic turnabout in fate, East Catholic (14-1) ought to contend for the CIAC Class S state championship. They were eliminated in the second round of the 2010 Class M tournament to finish at 15-7.

The state tournament begins May 28. The Eagles are 4-3 in state championship games over the years, last appearing in the 2001 S final and losing to Immaculate of Danbury. Penders has 594 victories. Only Bob DeMayo of North Haven and John Fontana of Southington have more coaching wins.

In 2011, East Catholic has won pitching duels and won by pounding opposing pitchers. And through it all, the Eagles’ defense has given opponents’ few extra chances to cause damage. Coaches in the Central Connecticut Conference rate East Catholic (10-0 CCC North) as the team to beat, or place the Eagles as one of the elite teams. Monday’s postponement at Glastonbury (14-2, 9-1) would have been a showdown. The Tomahawks had a six-game winning streak and a seven-game run separated by a 10-9 loss to the Eagles in Manchester on April 27. The make-up is scheduled for Thursday at 3:45 p.m.

“We’re going to go into the tournament wanting to play like we have been this year – nice loose, clean baseball,” said senior Tucker Panciera, one of the captains along with Mike McMahon and John Brownell. “If it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be; if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be. We’re going to go in knowing every game could be our last. Every team’s a good team until you beat them.”

McMahon says East Catholic should not take any team for granted. “You’re never sure who they’re going to throw out there to pitch,” he said. “We’ve faced some of the best pitchers in the state and we haven’t gotten down. We’ve done a good job of keeping at it. Our attitude has been if they score two runs in the top of the first, then we’ll score three in the bottom of the first.”

East Catholic, which is not exactly a senior-laden team, has reached 10 runs or more in eight games. The Eagles have given up three runs or fewer in 12 games. They’ve put it together and done both in the same game (10-plus runs and 3 runs or fewer) seven times.

The team batting average is .356, the on-base percentage an alarming .449. Only four home runs have been launched – two in the 13-1 victory over East Hartford on May 13 – so the production has come from stringing together hits. Eagles batters have more walks (75) than strikeouts (68).

“You don’t have to worry about them getting up to the plate and wailing away,” Penders said.

Penders is more than satisfied with the pitching, fielding and hitting but he is most proud of the glove work, most skeptical of the pitching because one overwhelming pitcher is no guarantee for a tournament run, which would require five games and where one bad outing by a pitcher could spell the end of the season. Thus far, bad outings have been at a premium and the Eagles have been resourceful and resilient enough to overcome the few times their pitching hasn’t been dominant or next to dominant.

Penders was expecting a rebuilding year but knew he’d have to find answers to several questions on the mound for the season to be successful. He found two pitchers who have stepped up. Pitching went from questionable to reliable – and the team improved from one with potential to one with consistent results to one that opponents now fear. The emergence of sophomore Tyler Aprea and senior Jason Smith on the mound have been pivotal in East Catholic’s streak.

Many players have made significant and supportive contributions. The biggest might belong to Panciera, who is leading the Eagles in pitching (6-1 record, 1.32 ERA with 42 strikeouts and 18 walks in 37 innings) and ranks high in hitting (.404, 15 RBI, .484 OBP) as an outfielder or designated hitter.

Aprea (3-0) has been impressive with his surprising poise. He has pitched 36 1/3 innings with a 3.82 ERA, 31 strikeouts and seven walks. Smith (3-0) has two saves. In 14 innings, he has nine strikeouts, two walks and a 0.50 ERA. Senior Jack Molleur (1-0) has pitched 9 1/3 innings with three strikeouts, four walks and a 3.00 ERA.

The hitting stats are crazy. “There’s not a weakness one through nine in the lineup,” Penders said. Senior second baseman Kelvin Sims, who bats second in the order, leads in batting average at .424. His on-base percentage is .485. Second in batting average is the No. 9 hitter, Brownell, the shortstop, at. 422. His OBP is .524. Junior catcher Alex Fulco has a .500 on-base percentage. He is hitting .388 with 13 RBI.

Moreover, three-year starter McMahon, a left fielder who was the DH a year ago, is hitting .352 with 15 RBI. First baseman Neil Benoit, a junior, is batting .298 with a .340 OBP, five doubles and 12 RBI. Third baseman Garrett Richardello is batting .375 with nine RBI. Junior K.C. Carone has two homers, eight RBI and a .500 batting average in five games after gaining eligibility from transferring from Manchester High School.

“Defense has probably been our strength,” Penders said. “We’re solid up the middle.”

Brownell and Sims have been an effective double-play combination at short and second, Fulco has been reliable behind the plate and the center fielders, Panciera and Andrew Gordon, have more than done the job. Benoit has been dependable around the first-base bag.

The crown of the infield play has belonged to Richardello, at third base, who has made some Major League caliber plays, Penders said. Richardello can charge a slow roller, scoop it up barehanded and fire across his body to get the runner at first.

None of their remaining five opponents is a pushover. Windsor, on Wednesday, is 8-8, Glastonbury (Thursday) is 14-2, South Windsor (Friday) 6-8, Manchester (May 23) 8-8 and St. Bernards (TBA) 12-4.