“We have a good mix,” he said. “We are going to have to count that our players are going to be willing to help the team in different ways this season.” 

Players to watch include senior captain Henry Rice, who will also play some shortstop. 

“He is one of those guys you look at and know that baseball comes easy to him, but he doesn’t rest on his talent, he works very hard,” said the coach.

McGrath said he expects big things from Charlie Goetz, a junior lefty pitcher, who has put on some muscle in the off-season. 

Senior Johnny Kwan has been catcher for the team since his sophomore year. McGrath praised his baseball knowledge. 

“He’s not much of a talker, but when he talks, people listen.”

Centerfield Kyle Maer is the team’s senior centerfielder and leadoff hitter “and kind of the catalyst of our team,” said McGrath. 

3/28 Grace Dodge 4 p.m.

3/30 Grace Dodge 4 p.m.

4/3 Roosevelt Ed. Campus 4 p.m.

4/5 Roosevelt Ed. Campus 4 p.m.

4/16 HS of American Studies 4 p.m.

4/18 HS of American Studies 4 p.m.

4/20 Morrisania Ed. Campus 4 p.m.

4/24 Leadership Institute 4 p.m.

4/26 Leadership Institute 4 p.m.

4/30 South Bronx 4 p.m.

5/2 South Bronx 4 p.m.

5/4 Jane Addams 4 p.m.

5/8 IN-Tech Academy 4 p.m.

5/10 IN-Tech Academy 4 p.m.

5/15 Adlai Stevenson Campus 4 p.m.

5/17 Bronx High School

of Science 4 p.m.

DeWitt Clinton Governors

Coach: Dennis D’Alessandro, 

third year varsity

Last season’s record: 9-7

Team chemistry. It’s the reason that Clinton coach Dennis D’Alessandro is so optimistic about the 2012 season. It’s not that he doesn’t like his lineup or doesn’t see some good arms on his pitching staff. 

D’Alessandro just believes that, in the case of this team, the whole might be greater than the sum of its parts. 

“I am really excited about this team,” the coach said. “These guys love each other. Even if they are competing for the same position, they help each other out.”

Two major losses from last year’s team are Melvin Mercedez, who was the team’s starting shortstop for four years, and Angel Hernandez, a leftie, “with amazing stuff,” according to his coach. 

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