After Final Four last year, Panthers hungry again

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The Johnston baseball team’s first season in Division I almost felt like two seasons. There was the 7-11 record in league play, the scratching and clawing just to make the playoffs, the struggles in adjusting to the top division’s smaller margin for error.

But there was also the postseason, where the Panthers knocked off one of the best teams in the state to win a spot in the semifinals then pushed eventual state champion Bishop Hendricken to the brink before bowing out.

As the Panthers get set to begin the 2014 season, they’re hoping last year’s second act can become the norm.

“We’ve talked a lot about last year,” said head coach Steve DeMeo. “Are we the team from the beginning of the year, that made some mistakes and let games get away? Or are we the team from the second half? We eliminated the mistakes and started to get hot. I think they know what it takes now, and they want to keep it going.”

It’ll still be a challenge. Division I isn’t getting any easier, and the Panthers lost three key contributors to graduation in All-State outfielder Mike Pennacchia, postseason hero Steve Perfetto and valuable pitcher Justin Simao.

But two more All-Staters return, along with a younger group that’s ready to take center stage. Best of all, the taste of success only increased Johnston’s appetite for more.

“The boys are chomping at the bit,” DeMeo said. “They’ve been working so hard. Probably 90 percent of them started going to batting cages right after Christmas. I think that’s what last year did for us.”

Seniors Joe Bongiovanni and Ryan McKeon are leading the big effort. Both were second-team All-State selections last year and have committed to play baseball at Division III powerhouse Wheaton College.

“It’s just so easy to pencil those two guys in the lineup,” DeMeo said. “We’ve been through so many battles the last few years. They’re great captains.”

Bongiovanni will anchor the pitching staff and will be among the most experienced pitchers in the state. As a freshman, Bongiovanni threw key playoff innings as Johnston won the Division II championship, and he’s been a steady force ever since. DeMeo believes the lefty is poised for his best year yet, thanks to off-season surgery to repair bone spurs.

“He’s throwing better than he’s ever thrown,” DeMeo said. “His poise – nothing’s going to rattle him.”

Bongiovanni will be joined in the rotation by a familiar face the Panthers are eager to welcome back. Senior James Picchi missed all of last season with an injury, which robbed him of the chance to build on a tremendous sophomore season. Picchi went undefeated on the mound that year in helping Johnston to the D-II championship.

“He seems like he’s healthy but we just have to see where he stands right now,” DeMeo said. “With James, it’s going to be one inning at a time.”

Behind the top two, the Panthers have some depth. Junior Korey Fijal was a valuable bullpen arm last season and could be ready for an even bigger role this season. Sophomore Jacob Podmaska is expected to see a lot of time, and Johnston can also look to McKeon, senior Jared Podmaska and senior Zach Coro to eat up innings.

“The good thing with all those guys is they throw strikes,” DeMeo said.

In the field, the Panthers have McKeon anchoring things at shortstop. He’ll be flanked by sophomore Nick Raposo at third base and sophomore Jake Coro at second. Picchi – who was a shortstop before his injury – will be kept on the right side of the infield at first base or second base to give his arm a break.

Zach Coro will man center field for Johnston, with returning starters Steve Pennacchia in left and Fijal in right. Junior Mike Caparco is back at catcher after grabbing the job last year.

Also in the mix for playing time are Jacob and Jared Podmaska, Aaron Perfetto, Nick Cabral, Justin Moretti, Anthony Hicks and Ryan Silva.

“We’re young again, but defensively, I think we’ll be fine,” DeMeo said.

The batting order is similar to last year’s, but it will have a hole in the middle thanks to the graduation of Mike Pennacchia and Steve Perfetto, who batted fourth and fifth.

“We’re really going to miss Mike’s bat,” DeMeo said. “He was our big bat, but we’ll scramble. We need to focus on putting the ball in play. We have to be more aggressive because we’ve been taking a lot of pitches in our scrimmages and that’s not our style. We’ve got to make contact, run, bunt people over.”

If the Panthers can hit their stride with that style and the pitching delivers, they’ll be in prime position to make another run.

They’re certainly aiming for it.

“I try to temper their enthusiasm a little bit, but sometimes you’ve got to dream big,” DeMeo said. “They expect to be in the finals. That’s tough. Division I is very good. There are a lot of good teams. When I look at the team, it’s possible, if we stay healthy and everything falls into place. We can play with anybody.”

Johnston opens league play on Friday with a 3:30 p.m. game against St. Raphael at Vets Park in Pawtucket. On Saturday, the Panthers will host an Injury Fund doubleheader at Johnston Memorial Park with Mount St. Charles playing Cumberland at 11 a.m., and Burrillville facing the Panthers after that.

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