Palmer Club Outlook for 2020
(Phote: Palmer Club pitcher Nick Cordopatri looks to build on his strong performance in 2019.)
After missing out on the Boston Park League playoffs in 2019 by just 3 games at 12-17, Palmer Club is looking to build on last years improvement and make the 4 team playoff for the first time since 2015. The team saw major turnover at the beginning of the 2016 season but has since built a strong core of veterans and young players. Along with the returners Palmer Club has also added multiple rookies to bolster the lineup and pitching staff.
Pitching was an area of strength for the team in 2019 and will continue to be in 2020. Last year the staff finished third in the league with a 3.19 ERA. Veterans Tony Trafecanty (3-1, 1.25 ERA, 33 2/3 Innings, 36 K’s, .832 WHIP) Chris Anderson (2-0, 3 Saves, 0.71 ERA, 20 Innings, 22 K’s, 2 BB) Ray Gomez (1-2, 3.50 ERA,14 Innings, 11 K’s) and Nick Cordopatri (2-3, 3.19 ERA, 26.1 Innings,12 K’s) all return and hope to build on the success of prior year. The staff will add Sean Russell, who almost exclusively hit for the team last year, after he completes his freshman year pitching for Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. Also joining the staff is Matt Donato, a Walpole High graduate beginning his freshman season at Tufts University this spring. Gabe Sanders, Zach Sylvia and knuckle ball specialist JP Songin are all expected to contribute on the mound as well.
Palmer Club’s line up will be anchored by a mix of veterans and young players. Returning veterans include Palmer Club manager and future Park League Hall of Famer JP Songin (.390 BA, .471 OBP) Jose Toledano (.379 BA, .423 OBP) and Tony Trafecanty (.360 BA, .407 OBP.) Second year players Gabe Sanders (.362 BA, .444 OBP, .934 OPS) Zach Sylvia (.346 BA, .397 OBP) and Andrew Brooks (.339 BA, .471 OBP) look to build upon their strong first year. Palmer Club looks forward to the contributions newcomer Matt Falvey, Walpole High ’19, Roger Williams University ’23 will make at the plate. Despite quality individual performances the team will need to find a way to score more runs in 2020 as Palmer finished 7th of 8 teams in runs scored in 2019.
In the field, the outfield will be manned in Left by Rob Zarther, Center by Matt Falvey and Right by Sean Russell. JP Songin and Mike Comeau will also play the outfield. Comeau who missed in the 2019 season with injuries, will be back on the field for Palmer after finishing his Junior season at UMass Boston. In the infield Gabe Sanders will play 3rd, Zach Sylvia will play Short, Andrew Brooks will play second, and First will be a platoon of Jose Toledano and Mike Comeau. Catching for Palmer Club will be Cam Plank and Frank Aten.
Palmer Club looks forward to taking the field once again at Kelly Field where they won Park League Championships as recently as 2014 and 15.