Season Preview

With the summer  and opening day upon us, the Chelmsford Merchants await to what looks to be a promising season. The roster is set as a good amount of returners arrive to Chelmsford with a nice group of talented newcomers.

The pitching staff with be deadly with what looks to be the most talented staff the Merchants have ever seen. Leading the Merchants will be Vince Lehman, (Groton, MA) the senior righty from the University of New Haven. Lehman had a dominant year for the Chargers going 4 – 0 with a 1.27 ERA, 42 IP, 6 ER, 29 K, .201 B/AVG. Behind Lehman will be Isaac Burkett (Hudson, NH) who last summer pitched for the New Hampshire American Defenders of the CAN-AM League of Professional Baseball. The former two-time GNAC Pitcher of the Year at Rivier College also played for the Nashua Pride. Derek Cotoni will also re-join the staff after last summer playing in the NYSL, America’s Pro Development League. The big 6-5 lefty had a stellar senior year at D2 Bridgeport University going 3 – 2 with a 2.54 ERA, 39 IP, 13 R, 41 K, .219 B/AVG.  Also returning this summer on the mound will be Joe Johnson (Pelham, NH) from Southern New Hampshire University, Cory Joliceour (Manchester, NH) from Merrimack College, and Reid Willett (Nashua, NH) who played at D1 University of Rhode Island and was drafted by the Chicago Cubs.

Newcomers to the Merchants pitching staff include Sam Cummings (Burlington, MA) who red-shirted this past year at Bentley University; Adam Keenan (Lowell, MA) from Franklin Pierce University; Korey LeLievre (Hudson, NH) a Keene State recruit. Ronnie Wallace (Tewksbury, MA) also looks to make an impact after finishing up his freshman year playing at the University of Mass-Amherst.

Behind the dish will also be a formidable trio with the return of Mike DeCoste (Chelmsford, MA) who just finished his collegiate playing career with Bentley University.  Luke Deary (Carlisle, MA) returns after wrapping up his freshman year at Washington and Lee University. New to the Merchants this summer is Ramcy Lora (Lawrence, MA) who also just finished his freshman year at Darton College, a Divison 1 Junior College.

In the infield will be returners, Raul Alvarez (Lowell, MA) from Bunker Hill CC, Jose Alejandro (Lowell, MA) from Suffolk University, Robert Stump (Ft Lauderdale, FL) from Rivier College, Matt Wickens (Tyngsboro, MA) and Dan DeCoste (Chelmsford, MA) the sophomore from St. Anselm College who finished the year starting 34 games with 21 hits, 2 doubles, and 15 RBI’s for the St. Anselm Hawks.

Newcomers to the infield include Devin Lert (Chapel Hill, N.C.) from the University of Mary Washington and Jason Cusumano (Port Chester, N.Y.) who just wrapped up his career at Bentley University.

The outfield includes returners Mark Lane (Tyngsboro, MA) from Bentley University, Ricky Sarmento (Lowell, MA) who played at St. Joe’s of Maine, Roger Larochelle (Pelham, NH) from Rivier College, and Waldis Garcia(Lowell, MA) who just wrapped up a tremendous senior season at Johnson and Wales earning a spot on the All-GNAC  2^nd Team.

Newcomers that will roam the outfield include Korey LeLievre (Hudson, NH) and Zac Roy (Lowell, MA) who just finished his freshman campaign at hometown UMass Lowell.