John Zizzo. Photo Courtesy of North Shore Navigators
LYNN — John Zizzo has agreed to return to Fraser Field as the Field Manager of the North Shore Navigators for the 2017 season. The announcement came from Navigators General Manager Bill Terlecky on Friday afternoon. Zizzo is coming off a season in which the Navigators overcame a 1-12 start to make the playoffs with a 29-27 record.
“To bring John back was a no-brainer,” said Terlecky. “Ziz has consistently shown that he has the experience and energy to put our ball club in a position where we can compete for the FCBL Championship. He is an asset to our organization and we are glad to have him back.”
Zizzo has had a great start to his career in a Navigators uniform as he has led the Navs to a 62-49 (.558) record over two seasons. After setting a franchise record in wins (33) in 2015, Zizzo’s second season did not start off as well. The Navigators lost 12 of their first 13 games, including the first eight. Zizzo was able to rally the Navs to win 28 of the next 43 games to finish in fourth place. The Navigators eventually fell in the semi-finals after defeating league rival, the Brockton Rox, in the first round of the playoffs.
“This season started out rough for us,” said Zizzo. “My main philosophy was to take one game at a time and that is exactly what we did. I have to give credit to the group of guys I had this year. They never quit – even when their backs were against the wall.”
Although the roster for 2017 has not been released, the Navigators have announced they have signed players from Wofford, Siena, UMass Lowell, Nichols College, UMass Boston, Rhode Island College and Framingham State. The Navigators are searching for their first league title since 2010, but Zizzo seems cautiously optimistic that 2017 might be the year.
“The 2017 roster will bring back some familiar faces but will also have some new players that we believe will help us win in 2017,” said Zizzo. “I am excited to get back on the field and to compete to bring home a FCBL Championship to the City of Lynn.”