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By Dylan Hefflinger, Dennis Healy, Trevor Brown and PBR Staff
Editor in Chief / Co-Director of Scouting

With the 2016 spring season right around the corner, PBR New England is eagerly anticipating bringing the New England states the best high school coverage throughout the region.

Starting February 1st, we began releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into the Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2016 Team Preview, click here.

Interested in attending a PBR New England event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2016 Massachusetts Spring Team Preview: Mansfield HS

Team Name: Mansfield HS (MA)
Head Coach: Joe Breen
Division: 1
2015 Record: 17-6
Conference: Hockomock
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/0

Overall Thoughts:

• After a breakout season for the program in 2015, the loss of 9 seniors and a season-ending injury to the only returning starting rotational pitcher leaves the Hornets with a lot of open spots. The program has lots of young talent and solid senior leadership so it remains to be seen who can step up to the plate for the team in clutch situations.

2016 Team Strengths:

• Senior Captains
• Large/Talented Junior Class
• Overall Athleticism
• Eager/Young Talent in Soph & Frosh Classes
• Multi-Sport Athletes

2016 Team Weaknesses:

• Varsity Pitching Experience
• Unproven Positional Players

Top Returning Players:

• Mike Arnold, C, 2016, returning starter (all 23 games), team captain, 2015 Sun Chronicle All-Star & Hockomock League Honorable Mention (.380 BA, 27 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 16 R .592 SLG
• Tyrone Pascual, 1B, 2016, returning starter (all 23 games), team captain, 2015 Sun Chronicle All-Star (.264 BA, 19 H, 2 2B, 3 3B, 14 RBI, 13 R. .960 FPCT
• Charlie Demassi, CF, 2016, returning starter, team captain, (.281 BA, 7 RBI, 13 R. 50 PO, .927 FPCT)

Top 2016 Players:

• Mike Arnold, C, 2016, returning starter (all 23 games), team captain, 2015 Sun Chronicle All-Star & Hockomock League Honorable Mention (.380 BA, 27 H, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 RBI, 16 R .592 SLG).
• Tyrone Pascual, 1B, 2016, returning starter (all 23 games), team captain, 2015 Sun Chronicle All-Star (.264 BA, 19 H, 2 2B, 3 3B, 14 RBI, 13 R. .960 FPCT).
• Charlie Demassi, CF, 2016, returning starter, team captain, (.281 BA, 7 RBI, 13 R. 50 PO, .927 FPCT).

Top 2017 Players:

• Aidan Cahill (pictured right), INF (Can play 3 INF positions well, LH bat can spray ball to all fields with decent power, transfer from Xaverian Brothers HS).
• Max Boen, SS/RHP (Slick fielding MIF with range, athleticism and good arm/quick release, starting guard for League Champion MHS Basketball team, father is Stonehill College Head Coach Pat Boen).
• Matt Farragher, INF (Athletic MIF w/ + hands in field and at plate, Varsity hockey starter since frosh, sneaky power at the plate).
• Zach Peterson, OF (Athletic OF who can play all 3 OF pos's well, LH bat with sporadic power to the gaps, great baseball IQ and a spark on the base paths).
• Anthony DeGirolamo, OF (Athletic OF w/ good arm and power potential at the plate, starting QB of MHS football team).
• Nolan Dousa, RHP (*Currently on IR after July Tommy John Surgery, #2 Starter for Hornets in 2015, 50 IP, 4-0, 2.38 ERA, 27 K, 1 Playoff W vs Franklin in D1 South Sectional Semifinals). Will not be pitching in 2016.

Top 2018/2019 Players:

• Tyler Dalton, 2018, RHP/OF/INF (6'0 athletic w/ pitcher's build and still growing, 74-76 mph w/ solid curve for age, has good command of 3 pitches. Will look to be Varsity Rotational Starter in 2016).
• Kevin Dow (pictured right), 2018, OF/LHP, (5'11" Athletic Lefty/Lefty, has put on solid weight this off-season, will be contending for varsity innings in OF, hit .380 from leadoff spot in junior legion this past summer).
• Kyle Moran, 2019, RHP/UT, (6'0" Big/Strong Frosh, 77-79 mph w/ command and above average curve. Tough kid could see Varsity innings on mound by end of season, clean-up hitter type with power and minimal strikeouts).
• Dan Saraceno, 2019, OF, (6'1" Lefty bat hits for a TON of power, has hit balls out of MHS Varsity Field since he was 13, strong arm from RF, potential D1 prospect if continued improvement).
• Sam Nugent, 2019, OF (5'9" speedster can cover a ton of ground in CF, makes every routine play and rarely comes up empty on a gapper, leadoff RHH with plenty of room to fill for power).
• Connor Sheehan, 2019, LHP (has filled out a lot in the last 2 years and is fearless on the mound, 70-72 w/ above average curve and knows how to pitch and get outs, figures to be a JV starter in 2016, projectable 2017 Varsity innings as soph).

Notable Alumni:

• Jimmy "One Man Thrill Ride" Preston (Jim Abreau), Fitchburg State
• Zach Courier, UMass-Boston
• Will Kelleher, Stonehill College