Florence, Stonehill Both Have Something To Prove

HAVERHILL, Ma. - Stonehill is just what Josh Florence was looking for in a college baseball program.

“It fits my mentality,” the Central Catholic High School junior said about the university in Easton, Ma., that became Division I this season. “They have something to prove and I feel like I have something to prove. They’re new kids on the block, but this is just the beginning.”

The 18th-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in New England credited a travel team mentor with hooking him up with Stonehill.

“The pitching coach at Stonehill (Zack Sultar) has a good relationship with the pitching coach at Nor’easters,” Florence said in reference to pitching coordinator Matt Trotta. “We had a showcase night and (Stonehill) head coach (Pat) Boen was in attendance. He liked how I threw and asked me to come on a visit.”

The 90-minute drive to Stonehill turned out just fine for Florence.

“The campus was awesome and the players were super nice,” Florence related. “I met with the pitching coach and got an offer a couple nights later. I thought it over with my family for a couple of weeks and then decided.”

Florence also took visits to Merrimack and UMass Lowell, with an offer received from the former, but Stonehill became the school of choice.

“I knew a couple of guys that are committed there from the 2023 class and they have the same goals as me,” Florence pointed out.

Stonehill saw qualities in the 10th-ranked junior RHP from Massachusetts that fit the program.

“They like my composure and how I work,” Florence explained. “They have a lot of numbers and data on me from the winter and summer that they like.”

The recently-turned 17-year-old pointed to his grandfather, Jim Shaughnessy, with helping in his development from day one while also acknowledging the benefits of Nor’easters’ coach Matt Feld with enhancing his game more recently during a recruiting process highlighted by participating in the Future Games.

“PBR definitely helped a lot,” Florence noted. “The experience at the Future Games in front of all those schools really helped me when I performed in big situations at Stonehill and Merrimack.

“The process was stressful,” Florence added. “But once I called and told Stonehill I wanted to commit, I took a deep breath and sigh that it was over. My family was super happy for me and excited that they would be able to watch me play. It was all unexpected. Stonehill was not my number one choice the whole process but that changed.”

One thing that has been persistent is the desire to play at the next level.

“I pretty much have wanted to play college baseball my whole life,” the 60th-ranked 2024 in New England related. “I became more serious with it when I went to the Junior Future Games (in 2019). I started sending out emails and then two years ago coaches started coming to see me and playing college baseball became more of a reality than a dream.”

An improved game was a big part of making an impression on the coaches that came to watch.

“It was mainly just getting in the weight room, and adding 15 to 20 pounds in the last year,” the 6-1 165-pounder said about what helped him become a better player. “That translated to the field. I feel a lot stronger and can use my whole body now instead of just my arm. I can use my lower core.”

Florence, who carries a 3.7 GPA at Central Catholic, believes he has a lot to bring to the program at Stonehill where he plans to major in business.

“I think I’m a winner,” Florence related. “I’ve won a lot even without my best stuff. I just go out and compete. My number one goal is to bring Stonehill a lot of wins.”

Success is not all that Florence anticipates happening when he gets to the Northeast Conference school.

“I’m looking forward to creating lifelong relationships,” Florence concluded. “I’m definitely looking forward to competing with those guys in games and practicing with them every day.”