From Staff Reports
As Haverhill Legion Post 4 begins its 2009 season this week, co-coach John Trask is looking forward to improved performance from his middle infield.
"Our middle defense will be a lot better, I'm very confident about that," said Trask, who shares coaching duties with Larry O'Brien.
Sharing the duties in the middle infield will be Haverhill High's Matt Pickles, Billy Lafferty from Whittier and Central Catholic's Dan Shields. Pickles and Shields played well at the end of last season and Lafferty was the starting shortstop this spring at Whittier.
The corners look set with either Haverhill's Chad Kimball or Whittier hit machine Steve Clark (100-plus career hits) at third with either Clark or Taylor Robinson likely at first.
The outfield defense looks strong with Haverhill's Josh Chasse and strong-armed Zach Cox along with Central Catholic's Patrick Noone. If he doesn't get drafted, Haverhill's Ronnie Rosario is one of the best catchers around.
The state of the defense is so important not only because of past failures but also because the pitching staff does not boast overpowering arms, although the team does have pitchers who can throw strikes.
"Our staff isn't expected to overpower hitters, but they will throw their outs," said O'Brien. "Our defense has to convert them."
Haverhill's Trevor Behrendt (6-4, 2.23 ERA), Whittier's Dillon Ryan (3.62 ERA, 70 strikeouts in 58 innings) and Central Catholic's Northeastern recruit Matt Novak (4-1, 1.11 ERA) all pitched well in the spring.
Robinson, Haverhill's Brendon Bretton, Noone and former Whittier standout A.J. DeRoche have rested, capable arms and are anxious to contribute.
Central's Joel Sullivan and Kimball also pitched well in limited appearances in the spring and former Whittier player Austin Brodie was an all-conference relief pitcher for Fisher College.
Sullivan just completed his sophomore year at Central Catholic.
Derek Dubois, a 16-year-old reserve at St. John's Prep, is the team's starting shortstop and has performed well offensively.
Post 4 is confident it can score runs. Chasse (.333 this spring) and Noone (.319) can get on base and Robinson, Rosario (.361), Kimball and Clark (.458) are proven RBI producers.
