CHS baseball begins new season with new coaches

Canton High School baseball was scheduled to get underway this week, as new head baseball coach Junior Medina embarks on the new season. Aiming to improve on last season’s 1-19 record, Medina is hoping that the team’s veteran players will lead the Bulldogs to a winning season.

New CHS head baseball coach Junior Medina, owner of JM Sports Academy in Walpole (Photo courtesy of www.jmsportsacademy.com)

The team was scheduled to host Dedham on Tuesday, April 5, and will travel to Sharon today (Thursday) at 3:30 p.m. The next two games are Monday, April 11, at CHS at 3:30 p.m., and Wednesday, April 13, at 3:30 p.m. at Mansfield.

The Bulldogs have an 18-game season with four non-league contests, including two games against Dedham, one against Dover-Sherborn, and the last game of the season (May 26 at CHS) with the opponent to be determined.

Hockomock League opponents include Sharon, Foxboro, Mansfield, North Attleboro, King Philip, Oliver Ames, Stoughton, Franklin and Attleboro.

“This is a great chance to really help turn a baseball program around,” Medina said of his team’s prospects. “I am excited to get the young players in Canton to want to become a Bulldog.”

Medina, who coached the Canton American Legion team and owns JM Sports Academy in Walpole, outlined his goals for the season: “I want to establish the best possible understanding between players and coaches about team goals, responsibilities and commitments. To achieve the success we want, players will need to understand the discipline it will take in areas of academics and athletics.”

Medina said he has a positive coaching style. “I focus more on getting players ready to play baseball and give them every chance to succeed,” he said. “I will give 100 percent, so I expect 100 percent from players and other coaches on my staff.”

Medina has coached several CHS players on the Legion team, including seniors Matt Nichols and Matt Bernstein, and junior Andrew Vinciguerra.

Bernstein, a co-captain, will be the team’s top pitcher and will play second base when he is not pitching. The other co-captain is Nichols, who will be the team’s starting catcher.

Pitchers looking to win a spot in the rotation include junior TJ Duggan, sophomore Ian Flavin, senior Michael Hallet, senior Justin Pellegrine, senior Tom Nickel and sophomore Jimmy Fitzgerald. As of late last week, Medina said his top three pitchers are Bernstein, Nickel and Duggan.

Players vying for a starting position include sophomore Drew Blake at shortstop, junior Matt Potts at third, Nickel at first base, senior AJ Waterman in center field, Vinciguerra in left field, and Duggan in right field.

Other players on the roster are: senior Zakhar Abugov, senior Mike Oldenburg, junior Matt Piana, junior Chris Camarrata, and sophomores Justin Rudy and Elias Camacho.

“We have some speed in the outfield with Waterman, Vinciguerra, Duggan and Flavin,” Medina said, adding that infielders Potts, Blake, Bernstein, Camarrata, Nickel and Pellegrine have been working hard and are improving with every practice.

Assistant coaches for the team are Jose Diaz (working with pitchers and catchers), J.P Scott (JV team) and Corey Johnston (freshmen).

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Posted by Mike Berger on Apr 7 2011. Filed under High School, Sports. Both comments and pings are currently closed.