ECC Division I

East Lyme

Coach: Jack Biggs (13th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P/IF Jared Hunt, Sr. C Matt Malcom, Sr. IF Jacob Diaz, Sr. P/IF Blake Bragaw, Jr. P/OF Tom Mason, Jr. P/OF Luke Leonard, So. IF Chris Malcom, So. P/OF Trystan Levesque, So. P Dan Allard.

Top newcomers: Sr. P Sean Demers, Jr. IF/P Eric Patterson, Jr. I/IF Andrew Menghi, So. P/OF Owen Robbins, So. P/IF Joey Grubb, So. P/OF Nolan Connolly.

Outlook: The Vikings went 21-4 a year ago, winning the ECC Division I title and reaching the ECC tournament final before losing to eventual Class L state champion Foran in the first round. Gone are all-state players Matt Abbey and Trevor Delesdernier and ECC all-star pitcher Ryan Kane. But East Lyme returns some quality hitters and a solid, deep pitching staff. "We will rely on pitching and defense early to help them compete as they tackle a very tough out of conference schedule," Biggs said.

Fitch

Coach: Brian McGugan (1st year)

Key returnees: Sr. IF Weston Jacey, Sr. IF Calvin Jacey Sr. OF Ryan Tuohy, Jr. C Tyler Nelli, Jr. OF/P Nick Helbig, Jr.P/IF Tom Taber.

Top newcomers: Jr. OF Tyler Cady, Jr. P Shamus McLean, So. OF Giovanni Valentine, Jr. OF Dan Mojica.

Outlook: McGugan, one of the best catchers in Fitch history, returns to lead the Falcons, who went 8-12 during the regular season a year ago before going on a remarkable postseason run to the Class L semifinals, where they lost to North Haven 1-0. Fitch suffered some key graduation losses, but McGugan has a solid mix of veterans and newcomers. Helbig and Taber provide the Falcons some experience on the mound, but McGugan expects close, low-scoring games so there has been a tremendous emphasis on defense in the preseason.

Ledyard

Coach: Scott Chiasson (4th year)

Key returnees: Sr. OF Max Ebdon, Sr. P Jacob Money, Sr. IF Ethan Jarry, Jr. P Ken Turner, Jr. P Cade Walters, Jr. OF James Laconico, Jr. P Pat Bora, Jr. C Weston Bruce (JR/C), Jr. DH Riley Gagnon.

Top newcomers: So. IF Robbie Petriel, So. IF Elijah Morton.

Outlook: The Colonels, who graduated only three seniors, expect to be in thick of the Division I race, in part because Chiasson returns his entire pitching staff: Turner, Walters, Money and Bora. Turner was an ECC Division I first team all-star. That depth should take Ledyard a long way, including its sixth consecutive trip to the state tournament. The Colonels were 13-10 in 2017, losing to eventual state champion Waterford in the Class M second round.

New London

Coach: Jonathan Mikula (2nd year)

Key returnees: Sr. OF Ethan Barnes, Sr. C/IF Aidan Brennan, Sr. OF Monolito Johnson, Sr. P-IF Elijah Martinez, Sr. P/OF Robert Parra, Sr. IF/OF Noah Smith, Sr. OF/C Osyrus Vazquez, Jr. P/IF Zane Mikula, Jr. P/IF Robert Otanez.

Top newcomers: Sr. P/IF Shaun Cambisaca, Jr. OF Connor Suprenant, So. IF Jesus Escarraman, Fr. P/OF Luiz Diaz, Fr. C/IF Kenny Miller.

Outlook: The Whalers just missed out on a trip to the state tournament in Mikula's first season, finishing 7-13 with a young team. New London will bring more experience to the table this spring with a veteran senior cast led by Martinez, an ECC Division I first team all-star in 2017. "The players have been working hard and having fun while doing so," said Mikula. "As we gain experience, I think we can become a good team."

NFA

Coach: Luke Gabordi (5th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P/OF Tyler Briggs, Sr. C Derek Cholewa, Sr. IF Jordan Lake, Sr. P Jack Graham, Jr. P/OF Vinny Gualtieri, Jr. P/OF Nick Gallivan, Jr. P-OF Grafton Angevine, Jr. C/UTL Jon Synott, Jr. IF/OF Kevin Pomroy, So. IF/P Brenton Trask.

Key newcomers: Sr. P Paul Simoncini, Jr. P Ian Small, Sr. P George Etzel, Sr. IF Logan Trask.

Outlook: The Wildcats were 9-14 a year ago, winning a game in the Class LL tournament, and return a solid nucleus of players heading into what should be another competitive Division I race. NFA also has good pitching depth, which should come in handy because the Wildcats also play a demanding non-conference schedule.

ECC Division II

Montville

Coach: Stephen Stonoha Jr. (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. P/IF Jacob Plikus, Sr. P/OF Doug Delacruz, Sr. OF Alex Quidgeon, Jr. OF/IF/C Ryan Champagne, Jr. IF Nick Calash, So. P/IF Rob Delacruz.

Top newcomer: Fr. P Griffen Pontbriant.

Outlook: Stonoha is thrilled to have Doug Delacruz healthy again. The senior will lead the offense and anchor a solid pitching staff that will likely include freshman Pontbriant in the starting rotation. Plikus and Quidgeon are coming off solid junior seasons while Champagne has been starting since his freshman year and will be one the ECC's top hitters. The Indians were 11-11 a year ago.

Stonington

Coach: Bob Cahoone (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. OF Kevin Ferrer, Sr. P Adam Gibbs, Sr. IF/P Josh Georgetti, Jr. SS R.J. Parrilla.

Top newcomers: So. C Peter Fernholz, So. IF Jake Verbridge, Sr. P Jaden Stefanski.

Outlook: The Bears went 11-9 during the regular season, then slugged their way to the ECC tournament title, scoring 41 runs in four games, including 11 in an eight-inning win over East Lyme in the final. Stonington lost some key hitters from the that team, but return one of the ECC's best in Ferrer, who made The Day's All-Area team. Cahoone believes the Bears can hold their own in a difficult division, and if they are able to develop some pitching depth could become dangerous in the postseason.

Waterford

Coach: Art Peluso (8th year)

Key returnees: Sr. P/OF Mike Burrows, Sr. P/OF Walker Sutman, Sr. OF Nick Porazzi, Sr. IF/P Matt Driscoll, Sr. C Joe Scotti, Sr. IF Trevor Yeomans, Sr. P/OF Bobby Silva, Jr. IF Sonny Pezzello, So. IF/P Jared Burrows.

Top newcomers: Sr. P Kyle Kobyluck, Sr. P John Pellegrino, Jr. OF/P Liam Spellman, Jr. IF Peter Kiefer.

Outlook: The Lancers captured their 10th state title in dominating fashion a year ago, allowing only five runs in five postseason games en route to winning the Class M title and finishing 22-4 overall. Waterford did suffer some key graduation losses, but Peluso has a team capable of making noise in the ECC and state level again, despite moving up to Class L. It all starts with pitching and the Lancers have two of the best in future Division I players Mike Burrows (UConn) and Sutman (Fairfield). Burrows was The Day's 2017 Player of the year. "We look for senior leadership within the program as roles get defined throughout the season," Peluso said. "We will need players new to the varsity level to have an impact as the season progresses."

ECC Division III

St. Bernard

Coach: George Rivera (5th year)

Key returnees: Sr. SS Connor Svab, Sr. OF Brian Bergeron, Sr. OF Hunter Baillargeon, Sr. P Adam Kirsch, Jr. 3B/P Cole Potts, Jr. IF/OF Sam Davis, Sr. P/IF Brandon Beck, Jr. OF Kyle Clement, Jr. C Kevin Fay.

Top newcomers: So. C William Kane, So. OF Jakob Morell, Sr. 1B/P Antonio Pisani, So. C Chris Watrous, Sr. Guthrie Belfiglio.

Outlook: The Saints expect to challenge for a division title this spring, returning starters at key defensive positions as well as some of their top hitters. Svab is a returning ECC all-star for St. Bernard, which went 9-14 a year ago and qualified for the ECC and Class S state tournament. Rivera said the Saints have a young pitching staff, but there is plenty of talent and he expects tremendous growth as the season progresses.

Wheeler

Coach: Eric Collins (3rd year)

Key returnees: Sr. SS Chris Caisse, So. P/IF/OF Bowen Baker, So. C Aiden Cameron, Jr. IF/OF Seth Jones.

Top newcomers: Fr. IF Lucas Jones, So. IF Justin Veal, Sr. P/1B Chris Haines.

Outlook: The Lions, who went 10-11 a year ago and won their first game in the ECC tournament, were hit hard by graduation and will be young this spring. "I expect some growing pains," Collins said. "But I feel we have a good foundation of talent that will improve every time we take the field." He also expects Wheeler to challenge for division and state tournament berths again.

Others

Grasso Tech

Coach: Carlos Flores (8th year)

Key returnees: Sr. CF/P Michael Patti.

Top newcomers: So. SS/P Robert Holland, So. Brendan DeCora.

Outlook: The Eagles are coming off a winless season (0-16) and remain a work in progress, but Flores says there is some young talent to build around and his team is excited to compete in a new league this season, the Connecticut Technical Conference.

Old Lyme

Coach: Randy St. Germain (15th year)

Key returnees: Sr. 2B Jace Funaro, Sr. SS Ron Losacano, Sr. P/1B Hunter Thornton, Sr. C/P Griffin Powers, Sr. P/3B Jon Balocca, Sr. OF Ryan Ramella, Sr. OF Liam Johnston, Sr. 1B/P Robby Fusarium, Jr. OF Eli St. Germain, Jr. OF Liam Holloway.

Top newcomers: Sr. IF Mason Swaney, Jr. OF Vaughn Allard, So. P Jared Ritchie, So. P Jack Carney, So. IF Liam Flanagan, So. P/IF Dan Kendall.

Outlook: The Wildcats are coming off a strong season in 2017 when they finished 18-8, reached the Shoreline Conference title game and the Class S quarterfinals. St. Germain believes Old Lyme can have similar success this season with the return of his top six hitters, including All-Area second baseman Funaro, and a solid defense. He is concerned about the Wildcats' pitching depth, but if some of his young arms are up to the task expect Old Lyme to be a factor at the conference and state levels again.