LYNN — Lexington High School baseball star Sal Frelick didn’t know what to expect when he joined the Futures Collegiate Baseball League’s North Shore Navigators. Frelick came into the FCBL season looking for a taste of what he’ll compete against when he arrives at Boston College in the fall, but he foresaw challenges along the way in making the jump from the high school diamond.
So far, so good for the recent Lexington High graduate.
Through his first 15 games with the Navigators, Frelick has flourished on the diamond while making the most of his opportunity in the FCBL. Entering Wednesday’s game at Bristol, Frelick carried a .404 batting average with six home runs, 26 RBI, 10 stolen bases and 15 runs scored.
Frelick, who leads the league in home runs and RBI, was fanned just three times through his first 57 at-bats.
“I think one of the big things is the speed of the game changes,” Frelick said of his transition from high school to the FCBL. “I’m trying to balance the speed of the game with the pace I’m trying to play at. I’m trying to jump on fastballs, stay ahead in the counts against pitchers. The pitching is much better. I’m starting to heat up and catch up a little bit now.
“I think pitching is a big difference,” Frelick added. “The difference from high school to FCBL baseball is unparalleled. The pitching is a lot better and the games are a lot faster. The game speeds up a lot. I’m still adapting to that but it’s a great jump start heading into college.”
While hitting a home run at Fraser Field is no easy feat, Frelick has embraced the challenge of showcasing his power on North Shore’s home field. Frelick played two games at Fraser Field during his high school career. Four of his six round trippers this summer have come on the Navigators home diamond.
“I’m not trying to hit home runs as much,” Frelick said. “I think the ball is carrying off my bat a little more. Playing at Fraser Field is awesome. Honestly, I think we’re spoiled a little bit. Putting a couple out of there is pretty cool.”
A three-sport athlete at Lexington, Frelick was a four-year varsity baseball player for the Minutemen. Frelick, who manned the shortstop position for the majority of his high school career, was named the MVP of the Middlesex League this past spring as a senior. He compiled a .488 batting average, four home runs and 28 RBI for the Minutemen in 2018. His stellar season helped lead Lexington to its first appearance in the MIAA Division 1A “Super 8” tournament in program history.
“It went super well,” Frelick, who also played football and hockey at Lexington, said of his senior baseball season. “I met the expectations of myself and my coaches. We came up short in the ‘Super 8’ but I thought we played super well from the start of the season all the way until the end. I’m extremely proud of the way we played.”
Bound for Boston College this upcoming fall, Frelick’s decision to continue his baseball career with the Eagles was an easy one. Frelick grew up following Boston College’s athletics teams and made his decision official soon after the Eagles expressed their interest.
“I wanted to stay local,” Frelick said. “I’m a big supporter of New England talent staying in New England. Boston College is a perfect school for me. I was a big Boston College fan as a kid. When they showed interest, it was an automatic decision. That’s where I wanted to play.”
Since joining the Navigators midway through their season, Frelick has helped North Shore pick things up. The Navigators went 2-8 through their first 10 tilts of the season but currently stand at 11-18.
“We’re starting to play better baseball,” Frelick said. “The guys have formed bonds. Team chemistry has picked up. We’re starting to play baseball as a unit and not so much individually.
“I think it starts with attitude,” Frelick added. “The attitude in the locker room has picked up. Our pitchers are throwing strikes, the guys at-bat want to get hits. The attitude is changing as we’re winning games. If the positive attitude continues, we’ll keep winning baseball games.”
Frelick and the Navigators are on the road this weekend with tilts at Martha’s Vineyard Friday
(7) and Worcester Saturday (7:05). North Shore hosts four home games next week at Fraser Field, starting with a Sunday evening (5) contest against Martha’s Vineyard.