10 Connecticut high school baseball teams to watch during the 2015 season

Better weather is making its way into daily life in New England and that gives prep sports fans a chance to get stoked about baseball. Teams have only played a handful of games, and this season's work combined with last year's resutls have given us enough info to create a list of 10 baseball teams fans should watch for this season.

1. Amity Regional (Woodbridge)
It hasn't been a good week for the Spartans (7-4), as they lost back-to-back games to perennially tough Shelton and CIAC Class M contender Sheehan of Wallingford. It would be foolish to write them off, however. Amity is one of the state's top baseball programs and has won three CIAC title since 2007, more than any other team. It finished 12-8 last regular season and was seeded 17th out of 28 teams in Class LL, and then went on to win its second-straight state title. No one will feel comfortable facing senior first baseman Chris Winkel (UConn) and the rest of the Spartans in the state tournament.

2. Bunnell (Stratford)
Senior Ron Rossomando is 3-0 and went 23 innings before giving up his first run of the season in Wednesday's 7-5 loss to Bunnell. He's also the reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year and headed to UConn. If that wasn't enough, the Bulldogs have Justin Lasko (UMass-Amherst). He's 4-0 with a 1.08 ERA and 28 Ks. So, yeah, pitching is a team strength and will make them a tough out in states. Senior catcher Brian Valeriano is also batting .382 with 11 runs.

3. East Catholic (Manchester)
The Eagles (8-0) have college-bound players at nearly every position, as six have committed to play college baseball and a seventh will walk-on. Seniors Brandon Fox (pitcher, Central Connecticut), Logan Greene (pitcher-outfielder, UMass-Amherst), and Clay Felice (third baseman, Iona) are among East Catholic's top college prospects. The offense has mashed the ball and averages 11.6 runs. The Eagles were eliminated in the Class M quarterfinals last season. They should make a deeper run this year.

4. Fairfield Prep
The Jesuits (11-0) have thrashed opponents by a combined score of 108-22 in the Southern Connecticut Conference, the state's top baseball league. Their closest game was a 4-1 win over Amity (April 17). The offense has been paced by the likes of seniors Jimmy Colihan (.465, 18 runs, 10 RBIs), Brett Stevenson (.441, 11 RBIs, 10 runs), Kevin Stone (.395, 18 RBIs, 11 runs), Simon Whiteman (.500, 15 runs, 6 RBIs) and Joe Ganim (.394, 10 runs, 10 RBIs), and junior J.R. Lopez (.459, 12 runs, 10 RBIs). The pitching has been just as good and led by Harvard-bound senior Kevin Stone (3-0, 0.37 ERA, 20 strikeouts) and junior Grant Stone (4-0, 1.17 ERA, 22 strikeouts). The Jesuits are going to be a tough out in Class LL.

5. Montville (Oakdale)
High school baseball is tough enough to forecast because of pitching. It's even tougher when a very good league has an abundance of teams knocking one another off. Such is the case with the Eastern Connecticut Conference, which can boast to having five players in the Majors — Detroit's Rajai Davis, Oakland's Jesse Hahn, Seattle's Dominic Leone, and New York Mets Eric Campbell and Matt Harvey. Montville (8-2) is a perennial small-school power, and it gets a slight nod over the rest of the league's top teams having defeated fellow conference heavyweights Norwich Free Academy (16-1) and Waterford (1-0). Seniors Buddy Dewaine (pitcher-third baseman) and Jordan Zeppeiri (catcher) are among the Indians' top players.

6. Sheehan (Wallingford)
What was written about Amity also applies to the Titans (8-3). They take their lumps during the regular season and head into states better (and tougher) for it. Example —they were 8-12 last regular season, and then went on to knock off fourth-seeded Weston and No. 13 Lewis Mills of Burlington in the Class M tournament and got as far as the quarterfinals. Sheehan is poised for a deeper run this spring. Pitching is one of its strengths thanks to seniors Turner French (St. John's) and Zach Hart (Franklin Pierce). Junior outfielder Nolan Cloutier is an offensive threat and already has the likes of UConn taking a look at him. The Titans are also responsible for two of Amity's losses.

7. Southington
The Blue Knights (6-1) must be mentioned whenever discussing state high school baseball. They've played in three of the last four LL finals and advanced to the semis in 2012. This year's team has shown that same kind of promise. Seniors Liam Scafariello (outfield-infield) and Zachary Susi (catcher) have both committed to UConn, and junior Garrett Gugliotti (pitcher-outfield) has pitched two wins and hit well at the plate. Mark Wednesday, May 27 on your calendar because Southington plays at East Catholic in the regular season finale for both teams.

8. Thomaston
The Golden Bears won their first Berkshire league title in 29 years last season and played in the Class S final. They're rolling again this spring, as they're 10-0 and have held seven opponents to three runs or less. Senior pitcher Frank Romanelli has been a horse, and classmate Michael Milius (shortstop) was a Connecticut High School Coaches Association all-state pick last year. The Golden Bears have an intriguing nonleague game this Saturday when they travel across Litchfield County to play Torrington (8-2).

9. Valley Regional (Deep River)
Valley Regional boys teams have been on a roll this school year. The Warriors won their first CIAC football championship in the fall, and the basketball team played in its fourth state final in five seasons this winter. Valley baseball has upheld those standards with a 9-1 start. Senior catcher Eric Jaillet was batting .710 headed into the week, and juniors Nash Eppard and Arik Sypher have been tough on the mound.

10. Wilton
The FCIAC, much like the ECC, is just as wide open due to a number of quality teams. Darien (8-2), New Canaan (7-2) and defending champion Fairfield Warde (8-2) are among the conference contenders. Add Wilton (8-1) to the list. It's played four winning teams and outscored them, 33-6, and its pitching has been terrific. J.T. Morin pitched a three-hitter in last Friday's 9-1 win over Staples (6-3). Trevor Blond topped that with a one-hitter in last Saturday's 2-1 win over Trinity Catholic (6-4). And Jackson Ward pitched a two-hitter in Monday's 4-2 win over Stamford (6-4). Ward also pitched a no-hitter in an 8-0 win over Brookfield on opening day (April 8).