Marblehead infielder Tim Kalinowski said that anyone who underestimates the Magicians baseball team this spring will do so at their own peril. The junior second baseman said his team will be in the mix for the top of the league, intent on surprising a lot of people.
?We?re hoping that coming in as underdogs, we shock a few people, like the hockey team did,” Kalinowski said. “No one really picked us for the top of the league last winter and we went 15-5. We lost some great talent to graduation and to prep school. (But) we still feel, as a team, we can do it this year.”
The Magicians open up at Seaside Park on April 6, against Salem. Coach Jason Tarasuik said he can?t wait the see green grass and baseball games at Seaside, after the past winter that was not at all baseball friendly.
?We?re going to do everything we can do to get ready,” he said. “And we?ll be working to put our best team on the field for the opener.”
?We have three starters returning from last year. (Pitcher/shortstop) Garret Keough played every game last year. Tim Kalinowski played every game and (pitcher/catcher) Harrison Engstrom. We also have a few guys back that saw varsity action: Josh Tassinari, Teddy Camp and Pete Morrison. We want to limit mistakes this season, play within ourselves, control what we can control and be consistent. We need to go out there and win every inning, play the game hard and play the game smart.”Two years without a playoff appearances has the players motivated.
?We have a really good team coming in,” Keough said. “A lot of good players at just about all the positions. Coach said that everyone has to work as hard as they can every single day, and I think we?re ready to do that. Everyone wants to be back in the tournament after missing it for two years.”
?They key for us this season is to control what we can control on the field and keep it simple,” Tarasuik said. “Stay in control. Once we try to do more than we?re capable of we don’t succeed. When we control what we?re capable of, we are very successful.?We?ll need pitching and defense, along with some timely hitting. Play small ball if we have to. Throw strikes and keep the game moving.”