A’s general manager reflects on memorable summer

(Front row l-r) Andrew Vandini, Kevin O’Sullivan, Aiden Farrel, Alex Rossi, Tim Bonham, assistant coach Bob DeMarco, Adam Nazzaro, Matt Berry, Chuckie LaPaglia, Joe Belmosto, Cory Albanese; (back row l-r) assistant coach Bob Gibson, Steve Delanian, Zach Walker, Chris Nadeau, Sean O’Neill, Travis Ritchie, Jared Kuzio, David Roberto, Nick Radcliffe, head coach Kee Arguimbau, and general manager Cab Devoll

The Canton A’s semipro baseball team recently completed an outstanding summer season, and the amazing thing, according to general manager Cab Devoll of Canton, is that the coaching staff “didn’t know what [they] had when they started the season.”

Devoll helped draft the players on the current roster, which finished the regular season with a 15-9 record and a 1-1 mark in the playoffs. The team also advanced to the Stan Musial Tournament but was unable to make the trip to Connecticut due to logistical and scheduling problems.

But the season still had plenty of highlights, including an impressive winning record as well as individual league honors for pitchers Dave Roberto and Zach Walker, who were both named to the All-CBL first team and both were nominated for Cranberry League Pitcher of the Year honors. In addition, Canton A’s head coach Kee Arguimbau was named Cranberry League Manager of the Year.

Devoll said he thought he had a good pitching staff; however, with 13 new players who were new to the league, he didn’t know how the team would come together.

As it turned out, Devoll said this year was the “first time we came together in such a short period of time to make a most successful season.”

Walker, Roberto, and newcomer Jared Clement of Worecester State College along with Jared Kuzio of Franklin combined to give the A’s what Devoll said was the “best pitching staff in the league” and the best the team has ever had.

Offensively, the team was led by two newcomers — Andrew Vandini of Walpole and Sean O’Neill of Norwood — along with veterans Alex Rossi, Steve Delanian, and Joe Belmosto.

Devoll said the only disappointing part of the season was the lack of organization and information about the Connecticut tournament.

“It kept changing every day,” he said, “and finally we had to drop out because they wanted us down there on a Thursday night, and it was a problem for many players to get away from work on short notice and spend a weekend in Connecticut.”

Devoll said the team will be more prepared next season for the possibility of postseason play as there is a good chance most of the players will be returning and the team will again be successful. Devoll said Arguimbau is a terrific coach and a good recruiter and has relationships with many of the Hockomock League baseball teams as assistant coach for Sharon High School. “I give Kee all the credit for putting this team together,” he said.

Devoll also praised the A’s assistant coaches, including Bobby Gibson Jr., who helped provided valuable hitting instruction.

It is anticipated that Jake Fishman, one of the star players and top pitchers on the Canton American Legion team, will join the A’s next year. Arguimbau is also interested in reaching out to some of the senior Legion players who will be leaving the team after this season.

“I think what you can take from this season is we are a team to be heard from and we are a good team to play for,” said Devoll. “I think some of the players who are playing for college teams will go back and recruit some players for us.”

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