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To view the full list of 2023 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

2023 Spring Team Preview: Milton Academy

MILTON, Ma. - Now in his 15th season of coaching at Milton Academy, Matt Petherick has seen his share of success.

There was a league championship in 2016 and a year later Matt Tabor was the 82nd MLB draft pick. The Mustangs were also 10-0 during the season shortened by Covid.

More accomplishments appear on the horizon with a strong group of returnees ready to hit the field for the 2023 campaign.

“We play hard,” Petherick said about what he feels the program is known for in his time at the helm. “We try to get kids to compete and be ready to play at the next level.”

This year’s team starts with pitching led by senior captain Ben Waterman, an all-league performer during an 8-9 season by the Mustangs a year ago. Waterman is the 27th-rated 2023 right-handed pitcher in New England and headed to Hamilton College to play both baseball and football at the next level.

Matt Higgins, who was second-team all-league last year, is one of 10 juniors on the roster and ranked 24th in the 2024 class among New England right-handed pitchers.

Two southpaws with experience are ready to contribute this season as well in Dylan Murphy, the 24th-ranked junior left-handed pitcher in New England, and 6-7 sophomore Davis Kahn, who will also see time at first base along with junior Sam Callahan.

Whoever is on the mound will have an impressive target behind the plate in last year’s starter Nolan Wanat, the third-ranked sophomore catcher in Massachusetts.

Harvard football commit Jack Crowley, a DH and first baseman a year ago, is set to move across the infield to third base for his senior campaign with junior Curt Heath a returnee at second base. Andrew Millington, the 53rd-rated junior in Massachusetts, and Waterman will be at shortstop depending on who pitches.

UMass Amherst commit William Gallagher, the 12th-ranked 2023 outfielder in New England, will be in center field with the captain and all-league performer from a year ago getting help in left from junior Will Cannata, a two-year starter who is a standout in hockey. Junior Dylan Crowley, Jack’s brother, and sophomore Sam Caulfield, a goalie in hockey, are battling for playing time in right.

“This team reacts well to adverse situations,” Petherick said about what he likes with the current squad. “They have an attitude. Whoever a team throws at them they’re gung-ho about it and will back each other up.

“The key is to stay healthy, there tends to be a dropoff if not. We lost our number one pitcher last year early in the season and that was a detriment to us,” explained Petherick, in reference to shortstop/pitcher Will Borders (now at Bowdoin). Center fielder Jack Leitzes was also lost to graduation.

“We just have to go out and perform, make sure we’re ready to attack,” Petherick concluded. “Obviously, our league is one of the better ones in New England. There are no weak opponents. Out of 15 teams we’ll see 10 or 11 Division I arms come at us.”

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