2024 Baseball Preview
Jose Rodriguez '24, Staff Writer | Media & Communications
SALEM, Mass. -- Salem State is looking to turn the tables this upcoming season after falling short of making the playoffs going 11-26, 8-13 last season. The Vikings are led by their second-year head coach, Andrew Gummow, and captains Connor Dolan (Rockland, Mass.), James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.), Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.), and Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.).
Coach Gummow talked about the team's expectations that he has for this season. "Regardless of what the results are. I do expect us to get better. I don't know what that is going to lead to necessarily, but physical ability I think we got a lot better. The guys worked really hard. We got some good new faces and some of our better returners are back. In terms of the ability and the potential, there is a lot of potential. If the potential works out, we have the ability to have a good year."
He expanded on some of those new faces. "The first one, outfielder Mark Smith (East Heaven, Conn.) transferred from Sacred Heart, a division one player who actually played a lot there. He is getting his graduate degree right now. High character guy, walked in almost as a captain, great leader, does things the right way, helps everyone, so that is a new face that you will be hearing a lot of. There are some really good freshmen, a couple starters right now, but there are definitely some good ones. Yabdriel Gonzalez (New Heaven, Conn.), Antonio Belgrove (Stamford, Conn.) is really good, Dylan Adamson (Lunenburg, Mass.), Nolan Currier (Maynard, Mass.) and Anthony Butkevicius (Prospect, Conn.). They all have a chance to be really good. Jack Doyle (Salem, Mass.) is a kid that can be really good at some point. They have the potential to be playing stars, you don't know if it is going to happen or when it is going to happen, but great character guys, just good people to have."
Coach Gummow talked about some key returners that we should keep a close eye on during the course of the season. "Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.), he is our number two hitter and our closer. Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) will have a great year. I am sure he is our number one pitcher. Owen Duggan (Billerica, Mass.) there are probably three or four guys that I look forward to this year.
He talked about the team that is going to be the most challenging in the MASCAC. "It is interesting because Framingham [State] and Westfield [State] both lost their coaches so you never know, depending on what guys come in. I know Framingham [State] was very good last year and Westfield [State] I thought was very good. They were better than their record and I thought they were a tough team and [Nathan Bashaw] was a great coach, but I have to assume Bridgewater [State] will be the best as they did lose a couple of their starters… but once again, you never know. One or two injury's in this conference can get you, especially if they are big name guys, so I think it will be interesting. If I have to pick one team at the top for sure it will be Bridgewater [State] as of right now."
He also added, "I think I am excited for the year, I think we have some really good kids. I think the guys have bought in and they are absolutely working their tails off, so I am excited having the kids that we have and I have some great captains. The Dolan brothers are great captains and really keep an eye on Jake [Boucher], great captain. Brock [Pare] really handles the pitching staff with a bunch of new coaches this year too, which is paying off. We have a whole new staff this year, which is nice, so it is just a complete effort. It is early on in the season, but I am already proud of these guys, the work they put in this offseason."
Captains Connor Dolan (Rockland, Mass.), James Dolan (Rockland, Mass.), Brock Pare (Lowell, Mass.) and Jake Boucher (Wallingford, Conn.) each talked about something different and what to expect from Salem State this season.
Connor Dolan and James Dolan combined for 56 starts a year ago. The Dolan's talked about the chemistry the team has built during preseason. "The team has built great chemistry through competing on the field and in the weight room, which has translated to great off the field friendships. We have a great dynamic of younger guys who are eager to learn and older guys who are willing to pass down any knowledge they have. I am excited to attack this season with a motivated group."
Pare made eleven appearances for the Vikings and started eight games last season going 2-4 during the season striking out 40 batters in just 43.1 innings of work. The right-hander pitcher spoke about which games he is most looking forward to during the 2024 campaign. "I'm most looking forward to our game's vs Endicott and Babson because they're great programs who play good baseball. I plan to compete against their lineup and give our team a chance to win."
Boucher played 37 games for the Vikings and batted .336 with a pair of home runs and 19 RBI. The Wallingford native spoke about what he is most looking forward to during the season. "We're looking forward to having a bounce back year and win as many games as possible. We have great chemistry on the team and we're looking forward to having fun and winning games." The graduate student spoke about his goal during the season. "Our goal each year remains the same, to win the MASCAC. However, we need to play one game at a time and not look too far ahead. We have to win every pitch this year and we can achieve that goal."
Salem State will begin the 2024 campaign this upcoming Monday, February 26 when they will face the Gordon Fighting Scots at the Central Campus baseball field. First pitch is scheduled at 2 p.m.