Here are 18 surprise standout players for Seacoast high school baseball in 2024
The midway point of the high school baseball season has come and gone, and Seacoast teams are moving toward the home stretch and state tournaments in New Hampshire and Maine.
Twenty-five Seacoast players to watch were highlighted in the preseason. Here are 18 players who have taken advantage of their opportunities and perhaps performed even better than expected:
Quinn Alessi, Traip Academy, senior, second base/outfield
Alessi had a hot bat to start the season, hitting .300 from the leadoff spot, with nine hits, scoring eight runs and stealing six bases.
"(Alessi) can hit for power out of the leadoff spot and sets the tone for our offense when he's swinging the bat well," Traip Academy head coach Alex Foye said. "He's a good baserunner with speed."
Foye likes Alessi's versatility as he can play second base and any of the outfield spots.
Alessi's had three hits, two RBIs, scored two runs and stole a base in a 15-6 win over Old Orchard Beach.
Patrick Bancroft, Portsmouth High School, junior, infielder/outfielder/pitcher
Bancroft spent his first two years at St. John's Prep in Danvers, Massachusetts, and Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley didn't know what to expect from him at the outset of the season.
The first-year Clipper, who has played six positions, has delivered with a .324 batting average, 14 RBIs, nine runs scored and two stolen bases.
"(Bancroft) has proven to be a very important piece already," Hopley said.
On the mound, Bancroft has a 2-1 record with one save and a 0.60 ERA over 11 2/3 innings. He's allowed just eight hits and one earned run, striking out 15.
Bancroft's 14 RBIs is tied with Jake Carlisle for the team lead. He also earned the save in Portsmouth's 4-3 win over Goffstown. The next day at Windham, he went four scoreless innings in a 6-3 win.
Grant Davis, Dover High School, junior, outfielder
Davis has been a steady contributor this season for the Green Wave with a team-high .391 batting average.
The junior outfielder had three hits, two RBIs and scored runs in Dover's 7-2 win over Manchester Central/West. He also had a two-hit, four-RBI game in an 11-0 win over Nashua North.
For the season, Davis has on-base percentage of .431, 18 hits, including, one double and one triple, and eight RBIs.
"For the first half of the season, Grant has been our best offensive player," Dover head coach Scott Dubben said. "He has proven he can compete at the plate with anyone."
Davis' impact extends beyond his bat.
"He has played unbelievably in right field," Dubben said.
Andrew Earwood, Portsmouth Christian Academy, sophomore, second base
A year ago, Earwood wasn't a starter and appeared in just eight games for the Eagles. This year, Earwood has earned the starting spot at second base, and he's made the most of the opportunity.
Earwood had four hits and three RBI in PCA's 24-1 win over Farmington.
Earwood is second on the team in batting average (.367). He also has an on-base percentage of .500, has two doubles and has scored 10 runs. Defensively, he has shined, committing just one error.
"His performance as the plate has catapulted him to the leadoff spot in the lineup," Portsmouth Christian Academy head coach Derek Summers said. "His attitude and effort have been exemplary."
Jack Ferrelli, Newmarket High School, freshman, third base
Ferrelli has been one of the hottest hitters in Division IV to open the season. He's hitting .371, with six singles, three doubles, four home runs, 19 RBIs, 13 runs scored and has drawn six walks. His monster game came against Pittsfield where he had three home runs and five RBIs.
Ferrelli has also pitched two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. He also seen time at third base, first base and the outfield.
"He's doing a great job and hitting the ball really well," Newmarket head coach Stan Jurkoic said.
Tyler Hussey, Marshwood High School, junior, infielder/pitcher
Hussey's standout performance so far this season came in an 8-5 Class A South win over Cheverus. Not only did he have two hits and two RBIs in the win, he also struck out five and allowed just two earned runs over 6 2/3 innings.
Then in an 11-2 win over Westbrook, Hussey had two hits, and struck out six, allowing one run on four hits in three innings. He also had a hit and two RBIs in an 8-2 win over Windham.
Marshwood head coach Eric Wells said Hussey is a player who has stepped up this season and has been a leader offensively.
Shea LaFleur, Exeter High School, senior, first baseman
Exeter has what it takes to make a push for a Division I state championship next month, and LaFleur has been a big reason why the Blue Hawks should have those high hopes.
LaFleur is batting .324, while getting on-base at a high clip of .500. He's also scored 12 runs, and has multiple-hit games against Bishop Guertin, Nashua South, Dover and Bedford.
His stellar play also extends onto the defensive side of the ball as he's only committed one error in 92 total chances.
"Shea has had a very strong season so far," Exeter head coach Bruce Joyce said. "Playing very well, excellent defense at first base and has been very good at the plate this year... much improved offensively since last year. Has had very good at-bats and has made very solid contact all year so far."
Aiden Locke, Spaulding High School, junior, center field
Coming into the season, Locke was supposed to be the Spaulding catcher, but quickly found another position.
"He crash-landed onto the scene on opening day when I tried an experiment with Aiden playing center field, and he played spectacular defense," Spaulding first-year head coach Brad Taylor said.
Taylor said Locke has a high baseball IQ.
"He's stepped up to fill multiple roles this year," Taylor said. "Aiden knows the game and eats, sleeps, and breaths baseball."
Locke has a .270 batting average, leads the team with five steals and is second on the team with six RBIs.
Locke recorded his first varsity hit in Spaulding's season-opening 9-5 win over Manchester Memorial. He also had two hits and an RBI in an 8-4 loss to Merrimack.
Cade Murphy, St. Thomas Aquinas, senior, first baseman
Murphy's first nine at-bats? He reached base every single time and was batting 1.000 - literally can't start better than that.
The Saints boast a deep lineup and Murphy is an integral part to why STA, at 11-3, is near the top of Division II.
On the season, Murphy is batting .591 with one home run and 15 RBIs with 26 hits, including seven doubles.
"Cade has been a leader for us in many facets so far this season," St. Thomas Aquinas head coach Carson Cross said. "He's swinging a hot bat and making quality decisions in the box. The rest of the guys have bought into the approach he has set for the team and everyone is grinding out quality at-bats."
Riley Parnham, Marshwood High School, senior, first baseman
Parnham delivered a two-hit, three-RBI game in Marshwood's 11-2 win over Westbrook, and had two hits in a 10-0 win over Deering.
Marshwood head coach Eric Wells says Parnham is a player who sets the tone offensively with his at-bats every game.
Parnham is batting .458, with a .629 on-base percentage, has nine RBIs, has scored four runs and walked seven times, which is second on the team.
Logan Perreault, Somersworth High School, senior, center field/pitcher
Perreault has loads of varsity experience which he has shown this season for the Hilltoppers.
He has team-highs in several categories including batting average (.313), on-base percentage (.389), hits (10), doubles (four) and stolen bases (10). He also is second on the team in RBIs (six).
Perreault had a hit, two RBIs and a stolen base against Gilford, and two hits, including a double, and an RBI against Campbell.
"(Perreault) may not always get the credit he deserves in the division, but he consistently produces," Somersworth head coach Brian Bussiere said. "He's a very streaky hitter and once he gets hot, he doesn’t slow down. We have been fortunate he has come out of the gates strong this year, and I would expect this to get even better."
Bussiere said Perrault is an aggressive base-runner who is always looking to take that extra base.
"He'll tell you he’s a gamer," Bussiere said. "He wants to go out there and produce every time he steps on the field. He will be a tough hole for us to fill next year. We're looking forward to him finishing his senior year strong."
Jack Rossiter, Somersworth High School, sophomore, first baseman/pitcher
Somersworth head coach Brian Bussiere said Rossiter has handled the jump to varsity in stride this season.
Rossiter has pitched 13 1/3 innings, allowed six earned runs on 13 hits, 14 strikeouts and has a 3.15 ERA; the second lowest on the team. He also has a team-best WHIP (1.35), and second-lowest batting average against (.232).
He went six innings, and allowed three earned runs and struck out six against Raymond. He allowed two runs and struck out seven in five innings against Gilford.
"(Rossiter) constantly wants to learn and improve his game," Bussiere said. "He’s always working to get better - in and out of practice. Jack has thrown the ball very well for us this year. He pounds the zone and gives us a chance to win every time out there. For a young guy, not too much rattles him. He’s got high expectations for himself, and the results will start to come because he puts in the work. We look forward to seeing what else he does this season."
Evan Sheehan, Newmarket High School, freshman, pitcher/infielder
Sheehan is another Newmarket freshman who is making noise throughout the first half of the season.
He sports a .300 average, with a home run, four RBIs, and has reached base an additional 16 times via 10 walks and six hit by pitch. He's scored 15 runs, and has a 2-0 record on the mound with 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings.
Sheehan's highlight game came against Pittsfield where he hit a three-run homer and got the win.
"Evan is a great kid, and versatile," Newmarket head coach Stan Jurkoic said. "He's always a kid who comes in and throws strikes. He's hitting the ball, and he's got some power ... just doing a great job helping us out where we need him."
Jones Vicinus, Winnacunnet High School, senior, pitcher
Vicinus pitched just one inning last season for the Warriors, walking four, allowing one hit and two earned runs.
What a difference a year has made for the hard-throwing right-hander who opened the season with a complete-game, 3-1 win over Londonderry, the defending Division I state champions.
That game wasn’t a fluke as he is 5-2 on the season with a 0.79 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, and striking out 55 in 35 2/3 innings.
"It's hard to project what I thought his numbers were going to be this year, but I knew he was working really hard at it,” Winnacunnet head coach Aaron Abood said. “He didn’t get much an opportunity last year with the guys we had, but we knew he was better than what we were able to give him. He worked hard over the summer, all fall and winter. Was I projecting this? I don’t know, but we knew going into the season he was going to be one of our top guys to pitch.”
Abood said Vicinus has put himself into one of the top pitchers in all of Division I.
“For sure,” Abood said. “Exeter has a couple, and then you have Pinkerton and Londonderry. But in terms of (velocity) and command, and he has a good slider, I think he’s one of the top guys.”
Sean Webster, Traip Academy, freshman, shortstop
Traip Academy head coach Alex Foye said Webster has stepped into a starting role in the infield and found his footing quickly.
Webster has a batting average of .300 with seven RBIs. On the mound, Webster has 16 strikeouts over 13 innings, an ERA of 3.60 and a record of 2-1.
"After starting in the lower half of our lineup, (Webster) has quickly been slotted toward the top," Foye said. "He gets better every game swinging the bat, and has gotten more comfortable in the field as well."
In a game against Old Orchard Beach, Webster went 3-for-4 with four RBIs, and went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a run against Waynflete.
Graham Willerer, St. Thomas Aquinas, junior, shortstop/pitcher
Willerer helped Newmarket to a Division IV state championship last season. Now, he hopes to lead St. Thomas Aquinas to a Division II state crown this season.
"(Willerer) has been a spark plug in our offense with his speed and ability to apply pressure on the base paths," St. Thomas head coach Carson Cross said. "He's played great shortstop and continues to compete on the mound. Excited to see what he can do for the team the rest of the way."
The versatile junior is hitting .438 with 16 RBIs, and 21 hits, including six doubles and a triple. On the mound, he has struck out 32 over 21 2/3 innings, and is 3-1.
Landon Wolusky, Oyster River High School, junior, pitcher/first baseman
Wolusky had two hits and an RBI in a 9-1 win over Coe-Brown. And in a start over a Hollis-Brookline, a 10-0 win, Wolusky went 4 2/3 innings, allowed four hits and two strikeouts to earn the win.
Wolusky threw three shutout innings in relief, striking out four in a 6-2 win over Coe-Brown, and also had two hits and scored a run.
"Landon has been very consistent for us this season," Oyster River head coach Cam Calato said.
Wolusky has allowed five earned runs across 21-2/3 innings, striking out 13. He also has six hits, scored six runs, and has driven in three.
"Landon has been the rock on our pitching staff for the last two years," Calato said. "Every time Landon is on the mound we know we have a chance to win. He's a great competitor and thrives on the mound in pressure situations ... he also plays a great first base and has contributed offensively for us."
Joe Zingariello, Portsmouth High School, junior, outfield/pitcher
Zingariello has had a strong first half of the season for Portsmouth, batting .452, with eight RBIs, 13 runs scored, and stealing two bases.
"Joe has been a steady offensive contributor all season and has done a nice job on the mound," Portsmouth head coach Tim Hopley said. "He's kept us in all four of his starts this season."
Zingariello has a record of 1-2 with an ERA of 3.71 across 22 2/3 innings. He has allowed 12 earned runs on 16 hits and has 14 strikeouts.
The junior hurler struck out eight over 5 2/3 innings in an 8-0 win over Alvirne. He also has seven multi-hit games this season.
"The biggest difference for Joe this year compared to last is probably his belief in himself," Hopley said. "As you can see each time he goes out his confidence continues to grow."
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: High school baseball: 18 surprise Seacoast NH ME players in 2024
