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By KYLE LUTZ
MADONNA -- When you have a young team, the way to look at it is to get the younger players the experience to rebuild for the future. The Madonna baseball team was going through that last year as Tim Provenzano's squad sported no seniors and six freshmen started. The kids learned rather quickly as the Blue Dons garnered a seven-win season and appeared in an OVAC semifinal in Class 1A.
The Blue Dons will have three seniors this year as Simon Nero and Ryan Austin return from last year's squad. Nero will see time behind the plate as last year he was transformed into a catcher. Austin will see time on the mound as a left-handed pitcher. Nero also was mentioned with the OVAC at the catcher's position.
"He worked hard in the offseason. I expect big things out of him this year at the catcher's role and at the plate," Provenzano said about Nero. "These kids have been dedicated in the off season. I have to give it to them. (Ryan) is going to have a huge role in our pitching rotation this year. He's come a long way in the past couple of years and he's going to be one of our go to guys."
Jacob Shubert is the other senior on the team who is coming out for the first time since his freshman campaign. He will see some time at the plate, which is huge, according to Provenzano, especially with the new pitch count rule that was implemented this year.
Provenzano said he knew it was coming a few years prior.
"I've known for a couple of years now in the back of my head that this SSAC rule with the pitch count is going to be coming sooner or late," Provenzano said. "I think all of us coaches kind of knew that. It was just when it was going to happen. I've kind of game-planned for it. I have eight pitchers that I can throw on that mound at any time. That to me coming into this season with this new pitch count is probably steps ahead of where I even wanted to be at any point."
The Blue Dons have a strong junior and sophomore class that Provenzano is excited about. The juniors include Mac Raymond, Jimmy Demarco, Tyler Wright, Chayce Lemley, Giovanni Lenhart and Vince Pulice. The talented sophomore class includes Gavin Dietrich, Nick Paul, Dom Mazur and Christian Ridgway.
The two freshmen are Evan Boniti and Seth Arnold.
Provenzano is assisted by Eric Sperlazza, Luke Myers, Jeff Silvestri and Chad Simpson.
March 15: Oak Glen 5 p.m.
March 20: at Oak Glen 5 p.m.
March 21: Bishop Donahue 5 p.m.
March 23: at WhgCentral 5:30 p.m.
March 25: Tusky Catholic (2) 11 a.m.
March 29: WhegCentral 5:30 p.m.
March 30: at Tennessee TBA
March 31: at Tennessee TBA
April 1: at Tennessee TBA
April 4: Morgantown Trinity 6 p.m.
April 5: Toronto 5 p.m.
April 6: Steub Catholic 5:30 p.m.
*April 7-8: Catholic Tournament TBA
April 10: at Clay-Battelle 5:30 p.m.
April 11: Linsly 5 p.m.
April 17: Weir 6 p.m.
April 18: at Bishop Donahue 5 p.m.
April 19: at Beaver Local 5 p.m.
April 24: at Linsly 5 p.m.
April 28: OVAC TBA
May 1: Conotten Valley 5:30 p.m.
May 3: at Steub Catholic 5 p.m.
May 4: Toronto 5 p.m.
May 5: at Weir 7 p.m.
*at Clarksburg