2014 Mystic Schooners Preview

NECBL.com has released the first of their team previews for the upcoming season, so I've decided to breakdown the lineups, rotation and bullpens of every teams to accompany their players to watch. Every team will be previewed by the season opener on June 5th.

Last season, Mystic surprised everyone with a first-round upset of second-seeded Ocean State before falling to Newport in the championship. The Schooners finished .500, at 22-22, with weak hitting (.237) and mediocre pitching (3.53 ERA). They did finish near the top in defensive stats, but they weren't a team that overwhelmed anyone.

This season, the Schooners bring in a trio of strikeout starting pitchers and return one of the best hitters in the NECBL last year, Tyler Boyd. The addition of Steve Laurino (right) and other strong hitters will help the Schooners attempt to get over .500.

Rotation:
Last season, Mystic had a decent rotation but no clear "ace". Kurt Sowa had a solid year, as did Jeffery Stoddard- but they didn't have the clear No. 1 that teams like Keene and Newport had. That could change this year, as the Schooners have assembled a trio of starters that have all had solid collegiate campaigns. The list is headlined by 2013 returnee Patrick Egan, a 6-4 lefty from Southern Connecticut. Egan had a 1.14 WHIP and 12 K/9 over 64 innings. After Egan, Heartland's Jacob Hendren (5-0, 3.73 ERA, 11.7 K/9) and another returnee, ASA's Michael Eckerle (6-1, 1.99 ERA, 10.4 K/9) are both potent strikeout pitchers. They're also bringing in Southern Connecticut's Cole Bryant, who was sidelined this year. As a sophomore he had a 3.48 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP over 62 innings. Southern Connecticut's AJ Turnier and Monroe's Alex Vargas could also see starts.

Bullpen:
In 2013, the Schooners had one of the best relievers in the league in Alex Gouin, and Joel Rosencrance was lights out as well. This year, Mystic brings in another elite arm- Hartford's Jeremy Charles. Charles has a 1.08 ERA over nine appearances for the Hawks and a 0.99 WHIP. He's joined in the bullpen by Wheaton's Miles Veth (2-0, 1.60 WHIP in 5 appearances) and Monmouth's Frank Trimarco (3.90 ERA in 14 appearances). None of the pitchers on the roster are closers for there college teams, but Charles could easily become one for Mystic.

Offense:
Led by the dangerous combination of Tyler Boyd and Jared Hendren, the Schooners have assembled a solid lineup with plenty of speed- six guys swiped more then seven stolen bases this spring. Hendren and Boyd are both candidates for the All-NECBL first team.

Lineup
C          Tyler Boyd (L)
Boyd returning is great news for the Schooners- all-NECBL second teamer (7 HRs)
1B        Steve Laurino (R)
Marist first basemen hit .301 with 20 walks and 10 doubles, 24 RBIs
2B        Dan Hoy (R)
Princeton second basemen hit .285/.361/.417 with seven stolen bases
SS        Chris Chiaradio (L)
Seton Hall junior had 17 walks and 10 stolen bases along with 24 runs
3B        Jared Hendren (R)
All around baseball player- .408/.493/.586, 37 stolen bases, 42 RBIs
LF        Zachary Weigel (L)
Another Seton Hall junior, hit .289 with 44 runs, 27:23 K/BB ratio
CF        Nick Ruppert (R)
Dartmouth junior hit .250 with 24 runs, five doubles and 10 walks
RF        Toby Handley (R)
Stony Brook sophomore hit .250 with 11 stolen bases and 12 walks
DH        Aaron Hill (R)
Connecticut sophomore (middle infielder), hit .214 with 16 runs and six stolen bases

Rotation
LH       Patrick Egan 
Egan can start and serve as a reliever- 3.38 ERA and 1.14 WHIP in 64 innings
LH       Jacob Hendren
5-0 over 10 starts, 11.7 K/9 and 7:1 K/BB ratio
LH       Michael Eckerle
Impressive 1.99 ERA over eight starts, 45.1 innings, 10.4 K/9
RH       Cole Bryant
Missed this season but had a 3.48 ERA over nine starts and 62 innings, 1.29 WHIP
RH       A.J Turnier
Returning to Mystic, had a 2.81 ERA in 11 appearances out of the bullpen last season

Bullpen
RH        Jermey Charles
Hartford junior had a 1.08 ERA over 16 innings of work, 0.99 WHIP
LH         Miles Veth
Wheaton senior struggled in 13 innings of work, 8.10 ERA
LH          Frank Trimarco
Monmouth junior had a 3.90 ERA over 14 appearances and 32 innings
RH         Josh Pape 
Georgia Col&St senior had a 6.26 ERA over 27 innings
RH         Nolan Long
Wagner sophomore, drafted in 38th round by SF in 2012

Player to Watch:
The Hendren brothers. Both from Heartland Community College, they're good at what they do. Jacob Hendren is a solid pitcher with impressive control, as is evidence by his 11.7 K/9 and his 7:1 strikeout to walk ratio. Jared Hendren, on the other hand, is a very talented hitter and dangerous on the basepaths. He hit .408 with 42 RBIs, 56 runs and 37 stolen bases.