Mtn. Valley 2017 baseball preview

Coach: Steve LaPointe (38th year)

Class: B; Conference: MVC

Last year’s record: 5-11

Returning athletes: Seniors — Jacob Beauchesne (P), John Pepin (C), Jon Adley (2B), Andrew Arsenault (SS); Sophomores — Cam Godbois (1B/P), Garrett Garbarini (3B), Jacob Blanchard (OF), Ethan Laubauskas (P).

Key losses: Tim Fitzgerald, Curtis Steele, JT Greene, Alex Ridley.

Promising newcomers: Juniors — Hunter Aames (P), Curtis Golden (C) ; Freshman — Fisher Cormier (C/P).

Season outlook: Getting a bit of a head start on rebuilding last year should start paying off for the Falcons in 2017. A talented sophomore class saw plenty of varsity action as freshmen and are anxious to make the playoffs. LaPointe still has veterans to lead the pitching staff in Beauchesne and the offense in Adley, who batted .450 last year. They have good pitching depth that should get better with more experience, and should benefit from more consistent defense.