With bar raised last summer, Schooners look to keep climbing in 2014

In the next two-plus weeks leading up to Opening Day, the NECBL will unveil team-by-team previews for the 2014 campaign, one per weekday leading up to June 5.

Recapping 2013
The odyssey of the Mystic Schooners certainly features its share of ups and downs, but since the league’s last remaining charter franchise – which has seen stints in Willimantic (Conn.), Pittsifeld (Mass.), then back to Bristol (Conn.) and finally to Mystic – made the move to Fitch High School in 2011, there have mostly been downs… until last summer.

Mystic, which was entering its third season as its current entity a year ago, was coming off a league-worst nine-win campaign in 2012, meaning there really wasn’t anywhere else to go but up.

That was precisely what happened for the Schooners, who roared out of the gate to a 4-0 start; then, an 8-3 mark; and then, by the end of June, Mystic was still above water at a respectable 10-7 record.

But like all teams, July would bring plenty of adversity with nearly two-thirds of Mystic’s schedule still to be played due to the remarkable amount of rainouts in June. Still, the Schooners – who had never won more than 18 games in each of the previous two years – hit that mark with 10 games to play and never were below .500 over the course of the year.

While things got interesting down the stretch, Mystic survived a three-game losing streak with four games to play and won its final game of the regular season to earn the franchise’s first postseason berth in Mystic and only sixth overall since winning the league crown in the NECBL’s first season in 1994.

There, the Schooners would make sure their playoff appearance wasn’t short-lived; Mystic upended the No. 2 seed in the East, Ocean State, in a two-game sweep to return to the Division Finals for the first time since 2008; there, they would fight valiantly before falling to Newport. Despite the loss, the Schooners had plenty to be proud of in easily their most successful season in the franchise’s last five years.

The Schooners boasted three NECBL All-Stars last summer, including catcher-third baseman combo Tyler Boyd who finished with 40 hits, a .270 batting average and a .473 slugging percentage while committing only five errors. Right-handed reliever Kurt Sowa finished with three wins in seven starts and was named to the All-NECBL Second Team with Boyd, as well.

Who To Watch
Tyler Boyd, Senior, Catcher/IF, Seton Hall – An All-NECBL selection last season, the aforementioned Boyd was tied for the league lead with seven homers in 2013. Boyd has been a regular contributor to a nationally ranked Seton Hall team since his freshman year, and this season finished second on his team in doubles, walks and homers, and ranked third in RBI and slugging percentage.

Cole Bryant, Pat Egan, A.J. Turnier – Southern Connecticut State - Trio of Southern Connecticut State pitchers return for another season in Mystic after contributing last summer. A year ago, Bryant averaged more than a strikeout per inning as a starter for the Schooners, tossing quality starts in over 75 percent of his appearances. Egan and Turnier were two of the most-used relievers on the team a year ago, combining for 26 appearances and 38 innings pitched. This season, both transitioned to roles in the SCSU starting rotation – Egan led the team with 86 strikeouts in 56 innings on his way to three wins and a 3.38 ERA, and Turnier posted a 3.04 ERA alongside four wins and two shutouts.

Familiar Faces
Aaron Hill, Sophomore, Infielder, Connecticut - The Mystic native returns to Fitch High School in a new uniform this summer. A starter as a freshman at UConn this season, prior to that Hill he was named the 2011 and 2013 Fitch High School Most Valuable Player, and was a two-time New Haven Register All-State and All-Area selection. He finished with 17 runs, six stolen bases and 10 RBI as a rookie.

Nolan Long, Sophomore, RHP, Wagner - Former Waterford Lancer and two-sport athlete at Wagner College, the 6-foot-10 righty led all Seahawk starters with a 2.98 ERA and .180 batting average against this season. He was named the NEC Rookie of the Week during the final weekend of the regular season after shutting down the league’s most potent offense (Bryant) to propel the Seahawks into the NEC Tournament.

Coaching Staff
Phil Orbe returns for a third season as the Schooners' manager. He has coached the team to an improved record every year since becoming head coach in 2012. Orbe has served as head coach at his alma mater, Montville High School, since 1994, and in that time, the Indians have won 10 regular season conference championships, five postseason conference titles and three state championships. New to the coaching staff is pitching coach Dennis Long, the team's GM and former player in the New York Mets and Texas Rangers organizations.

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