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Jean DePlacido
Pat Holleran is looking forward to seeing action behind the plate at Division 2 Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tenn. The former Bishop Fenwick baseball and football star from Peabody was redshirted as a freshman. For each of the past eight years head coach Doug Jones has enjoyed 30-plus wins, and he posted 10 consecutive winning seasons in his 14 years at the helm.
The Pioneers rank at the top of the South Atlantic Conference in team GPA every year, and as a freshman Holleran made the SAC Presidents' Honor Roll.
"Even though I was redshirted I dressed for all the home games and caught in the bullpen," said Holleran. "I traveled to the conference tournament and warmed up the pitchers. We were 30-18, which is kind of a down year for us, but we have a lot of guys back this year, and I'm looking forward to getting a chance to play. I gained valuable experience last year, and picked up my game over the summer.
"My coach told me I would get my fair share of opportunities to catch in fall ball, and a lot will depend on how I do. We started in August and will go straight through to Christmas break doing a lot of individual stuff with our position coaches. Once we go back to school at the beginning of January we only have three or four weeks until our first game. It all happens quickly, and once we start it's a hectic schedule."
Holleran planned to play for Peabody Legion and for the Andover Shockers in the North Shore League over the summer, but that was before the opportunity to sign with the Navigators midway through the summer. It was a step up for the catcher, who wound up playing a role in the Nav's championship season.
"I was working with Steve Lomasney, and he knows their GM," said Holleran, who is a sports management major with plans to someday be an agent. "Steve heard they needed another catcher, but before I called he had heard from somebody else so I had to wait for a spot. I traveled with the team until a place opened up and signed in mid-July. I played in eight games, and the experience of being with the guys and competing at that level was good for my game. That league has really got a lot stronger.
"My goal for this season is to start at least 20 games. I still have four years eligibility left, and I really like the baseball competition here. The D-2 schools down this way could play with a lot of Division 1 teams and do very well."
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Joe Casey welcomed 85 girls out for the Masconomet cross country team last week. Hard to believe that's 12 less than last year, but the veteran coach, who has been at the helm for 36 years, figures more are coming.
"We'll have others join us once they all get back from vacation, and we always get some when cuts are made from other teams," said Casey, whose girls were 10-2 a year ago. "We don't make cuts; it's a good experience for them to be part of a team."
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Jean DePlacido is a longtime correspondent for The Salem News. You can contact her at Jmdeplacido@aol.com.
