By Russ Waterman
MaxPreps.com
There are few teams south of Boston listed in the top 20 baseball polls for eastern Massachusetts, but it may be time to rethink the elite with the way several area squads are playing.
Dighton-Rehoboth, following a 15-2 win over Case on Wednesday, has won or had a share (2007) of the South Coast Conference title 10 of the past 13 years, and at 4-1 is primed to be at the top again of the standings again.
The Falcons' chances for a title run hinge on two of the Bay State’s finest players – shortstop George Agostini and pitcher Nate Koneski. Both will play Division I college baseball next spring.
Agostini, who has signed with Marist College, is one of the most feared hitters in the state.
"He is a very tough hitter with power," Dighton-Rehoboth head coach Bill Cuthbertson said of his four-year starter.
Agostini is averaging over .400 for his career, including a 2007 average of .402 with 33 hits, 35 RBI and .768 slugging percentage. He had five RBI on three hits – a double, single and a home run – in the win over Case.
In that same win, lefthander Nate Koneski – a Holy Cross signee – remained undefeated (3-0) by pitching four innings of shutout ball with two hits, seven strikeouts and one walk Koneski aided his cause with two hits of his own, including a home run to right field. The southpaw is well on his way toward matching or exceeding last year's 8-2 mark, which included a 1.34 ERA and 68 strikeouts.
With the graduation of two .400-plus hitters – Colby Torres and Greg Steele – Falcon rivals might have expected less offensive power. But first baseman Jacob Capello, who walloped a 410-foot homer high into the trees over the 380-foot fence in center in the win at home over Case, is commanding some respect.
"That's important because we need people hitting behind Greg," Cuilbertson said.
The biggest surprises, according to Cutbertson, have been leadoff hitter John Simmons and third baseman Karney Boff.
Bourne, Apponequet, Seekonk and Old Rochester could all contend for the league title in addition to the Falcons. He names Oliver Ames (defending Division II state champs) along with Hopkinton and Norton among the best teams in the southeastern part of the state.
If there's any doubt about how area players stack up against other regions statewide in developing star talent, consider a few of his examples; hurlers Ken Ryan of Seekonk and Brian Rose of Dartmouth, both of whom played for the Boston Red Sox; Greg Gagne, Somerset, Minnesota Twins and current Bishop Feehan head coach and former protege, Rod Correia, who also reached the Major League level.
"We've always had a lot of good players in this area," Cuthbertson said.
Diamond Notes
* South Coast Conference leader Bourne is off to a 4-0 start, having outscored the opposition 19-1 overall with three shutouts. University of Maine signee Keith Bilodeau, a righthanded pitcher, has had two shutout performances, surrendering just four hits so far and striking out 30 batters. In a 9-0 win over Wareham, Bilodeau pitched six innings of two-hit ball and was 4-for-4 at the plate. Steve Tkowski, Tom Drolette and Dalton Baxter each added two hits for the Canalmen, who travel to North Dighton to play the Falcons April 25.
* Oliver Ames hurler Dallas Nunes, who finished off last year in dominant fashion by posting eight-straight wins in what turned out to be a Division II championship year, was in control for the Easton-based squad in a recent 4-2 win over Franklin. He scattered seven hits, recorded eight strikeouts and permitted just one walk in the Hockomock League win. Nunes also collected three hits, including a solo home run, and two RBI for the Tigers (4-0).
* Acton-Boxboro pitcher Scott Weisemann is certainly living up to his reputation as one of the best all-around players in the Bay State. The senior righthander and Clemson signee won his second game against no losses in a 9-0, complete-game triumph over Wayland last week. He allowed two hits, struck out nine and issued no walks while also going 3-for-3 with two runs batted in.
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* The Catholic Conference, perhaps the strongest Division I conference in the state, has already seen some jockeying for the top spot. One of of the state's early-season DI favorites, Boston College High, has tumbled to the bottom of the league standings with two straight losses to Xaverian and Malden Catholic.
* Malden Catholic senior left-hander Chris Labriola went all the way in pitching a five-hitter as the Lancers defeated Boston College High, 3-1, in a Catholic Conference baseball matchup, the first time they ever beat the Eagles on the road. The Lancers (4-1), 2-0) have given up seven runs in the last four games, equaling the amount given up in their season debut, a 7-4 loss to Lowell.
* St. John's Prep is a co-leader in the rough-and-tumble Catholic Conference. Greg Donahue's two-run single in the seventh inning gave the Eagles (5-1) a 5-4 victory over Xaverian (5-1), which had beaten Boston College High the day before. St. John's has proved it can seal the deal thus far with wins in four games decided by two runs or less.
* With 11 senior returnees and eight returning starters, it's not shocking to see Hopkinton undefeated (6-0) with a share of first place in the Tri-Valley League with Norton. In its six-game unbeaten streak to begin the season, the Hillers have averaged exactly 10 runs per game. What a slugfest it should be when Norton hosts Hopkinton April 28. The Lancers are actually averaging even more runs (11.4) than the Hillers.
* Finally, Whittier Tech got all the offense it needed from one player in its 20-7 win over Greater Lowell. Austin Brodie had three homers, including two grand slams, drove in 10 runs and scored four times in a massive display of power.