noticeable pg 7 9-21-23
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What a difference a year makes.
At this time last year, everyone and everything surrounding Putnam Science Academy baseball was a complete unknown. It was a program in its first year with aspirations of making a name for itself in the New England prep baseball landscape.
But now, after going 14-11 against one of the most challenging schedules in New England this past spring, the feel around the diamond is noticeably different.
“It feels like we already have a reputation of already being a solid team,” said Jacob Hines, one of nine returning players. “We have something to build off with that. Last year, we didn’t really know what we were getting into as a team, we didn’t really know what we had. This year, we have a lot of guys coming back who did well last year and give us a really good foundation.”
Or as coach Bob Hetu put it: “I always talk about what is. I talk about fact rather than a goal. There’s truth to the fact that now they know. They’re not talking about what they think they’re going to do. They’re talking about what they are going to do.”
PSA opens its fall schedule the last weekend of the month and figures to play somewhere between 10 and 15 games before moving its training indoors for the winter. Of the nine returning players, seven saw regular time last year, and an eighth – pitcher Ian Mihalopoulos – was with the team last year as he recovered and rehabbed from Tommy John surgery. While a lot can change between now and the first pitch of spring, PSA figures to have its strength on the mound.
Harry Roy returns after developing into the staff ace. Hines, whom Hetu said contributed more one mound than he thought, should slot in behind him. Mihalopoulos had a phenomenal summer that colleges loved, and he turned that into a commitment to Central Connecticut. New teammate Ryan Ponte has also committed to Central, and Cody Heselton has committed to Marist.
“I think we’ll have more arms, and we’ll have more equality of depth in our arms,” Hetu said. “So that will probably be our strength, especially when you think that we have to replace four guys in the lineup who hit .400.
“But man, the first couple days, I just kind of sat back and watched the guys. You can see real quick that they can play. The skill sets are there. We’re excited about what we have and where we are.”
Hines said the talent is evident but what goes on behind the scenes has been a bigger tell.
“The one thing I see in the new guys is that it really seems like they’re striving for more than just playing games,” he said. “They want to pursue their dreams of a college career, which is what you want on your team. You want guys who want to be better. Compared to last year, there are a lot more guys getting in the gym, working out, and just working hard.”
PSA opened last spring by winning four straight games in Myrtle Beach. It instilled a confidence – a feeling of “we belong” – that carried throughout the season and has now spilled over into Year 2.
“We had a good season last year,” Hines said, “and we know what we need to do to win. If we just keep in mind that we’re up there too and just as good as these other teams that are more established than we are, then this shouldn’t be a big deal.”
Stephen Nalbandian
Sports Information Director
Putnam Science Academy
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