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2022 New England High School Team Previews

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2022 Spring Team Preview: Milton Academy

MILTON, Ma. - Milton Academy head baseball coach Matt Petherick points to the 2017 MLB Draft as a telling point in school history.

“We took a step forward on the local and regional map when Matt Tabor was drafted in 2017 as the 82nd overall pick,” Petherick reflected. “When people research Milton Academy it comes up. More importantly, Matt is still around the program and helps some of the guys in the offseason. He’s still a huge factor with the team.”

The influence of the Arizona Diamondback product on the Milton Academy program has been substantial and Petherick is confident things will not change anytime soon coming off a shortened season a year ago when the Mustangs won all 10 games played.

“It will be tough to replace four guys,” admitted the 14th-year head coach at Milton in reference to pitchers Jack Beauchesne (Northeastern) and Tanner Smith (Harvard), third baseman Sam McNulty (Boston College) and catcher Ethan Hillenberg (Colby College). “We’ll be young at certain places you don’t want to be, shortstop and catcher, but we have guys ready. It’s just a matter of running with it.

“We have a couple good starting pitchers to solidify the rotation,” Petherick continued. “The big thing is filling the other position needs to help pick the pitchers up.”

Senior Will Bordes, a Bowden two-way commit, and Ben Waterman, the 16th-rated 2023 RHP in New England who is also a football recruit as a place kicker, are penciled in at the top of the pitching staff.

“Neither pitched a ton last year,” noted Petherick.

Sophomore left-hander Dylan Murphy and 6-4 freshman Davis Kohn bring depth to the rotation.

Will Cannata, who hit .550 starting every game as a freshman, is a top-of-the-lineup batter being recruited by D-I schools in baseball and hockey (his dad is the Milton Academy hockey coach) and will start in left field with senior captain Jack Leitzes in center. Will Gallagher, the 12th-rated 2023 outfielder in New England, brings speed to right field.

Bordes and Waterman will be at shortstop when not on the mound with Jack Cromley at first base after seeing playing time a year ago before an injury. A junior, Crowley is a football recruit that will also get on the field at third or DH.

Sophomores Curth Heath, Wes Bidgewater and Andrew Millington are competing for second base with Heath and Crowley the potential third baseman.

Nolan Wanat, the seventh-ranked freshman catcher in New England, a 6-1 213-pounder, will be behind the plate backed up by sophomore Dylan Crowley, the younger brother of Jack.

“What I like about this group is they work hard,” Petherick said. “They want to get after it. It’s a tight-knit group of people pulling rope in the same direction in what we want to accomplish as a team.”

After a shortened season a year ago, Petherick looks forward to playing more games this season,

“It’s certainly exciting to get back to more normalcy,” Petherick noted. “We’re going to have league games on Wednesdays and Saturdays with non-league games mixed in.

“The key for us is we have to control what we can control. Get better every practice and take care of what we can take care of.”

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