BOSTON – The Suffolk baseball team opens the 71st season on Friday, March 9 versus Albion when it travels to Auburndale, Florida for the RussMatt Central Florida Invitational. As the first pitch of the 2018 campaign draws closer, GoSuffolkRams.com will take an in-depth look at each of the team's position groups. This third and final installment looks at the infield, catchers and designated hitter.
Suffolk's infield will feature a bevy of young players comprised primarily of freshmen and sophomores.
Trevor Lee (.950 FPCT) is the most experienced infielder with 36 games in the middle infield, predominately at second.
Sophomore transfer Rich Gilbride looks to take over the most demanding defensive position, which was held down the past three seasons by Sean Cameron '17 (48 H, 32 R, 13 SB). Gilbride makes his debut in Boston after a one-year stint at Siena.
Rookie Blase Cormier is a candidate to take over first with his classmates Rich Giandrea and Joe Rufo also looking to fill the infield voids.
Behind the plate, four student-athletes have large shoes to fill in the replacement of 2017 all-region selection Matthew Brenner '17 (.333, 53 H, 36 RBI, 39 R). Freshmen Andrew Ashworth, Shane Lake and Steven Shamnoski and junior Tommy Shimchak are all battling to become the Rams' starting backstop.
With multiple big bats from last year missing, the designated hitter may play a crucial component to Suffolk's offensive makeup. Greg Speliotis got the job done last year with a .479 on-base percentage, in the five-hole and looks to do so again for his senior season.