The members of the Daily News Baseball All-Star team for spring of 2024
By Tim Whelan Jr., The MetroWest Daily News,
2024-07-23After combing over statistics and results, and with the guidance of local athletic directors and coaches, we at the Daily News selected All-Stars for baseball, softball, boys and girls lacrosse, boys volleyball, boys and girls tennis, boys and girls track and field and rugby.
Although the sports and skill sets may vary, there’s no denying that this group put up otherworldly numbers this spring while helping their respective teams find success – whether that be on the diamond, field, court or track.
Without further ado, the Daily News presents its 2024 All-Stars for baseball:
Tate Bannish, Wellesley
The senior outfielder and three-time captain took home Bay State Conference Carey MVP honors after batting .397 (.513 on-base %, 1.116 OPS) with three home runs, 20 RBIs and 16 stolen bases while propelling Wellesley into the Division 1 Round of 16. "Tate is one of the greatest leaders I've coached in my 30-plus years,” said Raiders coach Ted Novio, who was in his first year at the helm in Wellesley. “He's a tremendous athlete who steps up in big situations." Bannish will start a post-graduate year at Deerfield Academy in the fall.
Damien Carter, Milford
This senior makes his return as a Daily News All-Star after a spring in which he went 7-1, striking out 73 batters and posting a 1.93 earned run average in 50 2/3 innings pitched. The four-year varsity player also had 20 hits, including seven doubles and a triple, to go with 16 runs, 13 walks and seven RBIs as the Scarlet Hawks (17-8) reached the Division 2 state semifinals.
Rex Cinelli, Franklin
A two-year starter and “elite defender in center field,” according to Panthers coach Zach Brown, Cinelli saved his best on the diamond for his senior season. One of four Hockomock League all-stars for a Panthers team that reached the Division 1 Round of 16, Cinelli batted .342 with 26 hits, 12 runs, 11 steals, 10 RBIs and seven walks. In the fall, Cinelli was the Hock MVP and a Daily News All-Star in soccer. “A tireless worker and a great leader,” said Brown. Cinelli is attending the Air Force Academy, and is already on the Colorado Springs campus.
Ryan Dillon, Marlborough
This senior catcher and three-year captain left a sizable impact on the Panthers’ program, batting .475 (28-for-59) with a home run and 19 RBIs to go with 11 extra-base hits, 16 runs, 11 walks and 10 steals. Behind the plate was where Dillon separated himself from the pack as the Mid-Wach B MVP. Dillon is headed to Cornell University, where he will major in business hospitality and play baseball for the Big Red.
Jake Haarde, Lincoln-Sudbury
The senior shortstop returns as a Daily News All-Star after hitting .314 with three home runs, four doubles, 25 runs, 17 RBIs and 17 stolen bases. The two-time Dual County All-League selection (top 13 players in DCL) and three-time DCL all-star finished his Warrior career with a .380 batting average, six home runs, 53 RBIs, 52 stolen bases, 20 doubles and 71 runs. He was also a Daily News All-Star as a two-way football standout (WR/CB). “Jake has been the cornerstone of our roster for the past three years, starting every game at shortstop and hitting in the top-three in the lineup; obviously he has played as large a role as anyone in achieving the success that we've had in this program,” said L-S coach Matt Wentworth. Haarde will play baseball at Penn State University.
Derek Hatherley, Hopkinton
The senior pitcher/first baseman and senior captain was integral to the 19-5 Hillers’ run to the Division 2 state quarterfinals, earning Tri-Valley League pitcher of the year and all-star honors in addition to team MVP. Hatherley went 7-1 over 49 2/3 innings, striking out 57 while posting a 1.55 earned run average and a .166 opponents’ batting average and a 1.02 WHIP. He also had 12 RBIs and 10 stolen bases batting largely at cleanup. Hatherley will attend the University of Virginia in the fall.
Tyler Ladouceur, Bellingham
This senior lefthanded outfielder/first baseman/pitcher was dynamite for the Blackhawks this spring in leading them to a 13-8 finish and an eighth seed in the Division 4 state tournament. On his way to earning Tri-Valley League Small MVP honors, Ladouceur batted .338 (22-for-65)/.442 on-base percentage/.630 slugging percentage with five home runs (8 extra-base hits total), 16 RBIs and 12 walks. On the mound, Ladouceur won three games and posted a 3.00 ERA and a .197 opponents’ batting average against. He will play baseball at Nichols College.
Keith Lee, Milford
After earning Daily News All-Star honors in football, this senior shined once again as the Scarlet Hawks’ catcher this spring, earning Hockomock League all-star honors while backstopping Milford (17-8) to the Division 2 state semifinals. On the year, he hit .368 (26 hits) with a 0.538 on-base percentage, nine doubles, a triple, 19 RBIs, 20 runs and 20 walks. “Keith was the best catcher in our league offensively and defensively and had D1 schools asking about him late in the year because they missed on him as a junior.” Lee will attend Brandeis University and play baseball.
Brayden Lewis, Hopedale
The junior shortstop led all of Central Mass. in hits (36) and had the second-best batting average in the region (.537) while also leading the Blue Raiders in runs (24), triples (4) and steals (11) in propelling them to a 14-7 finish that included the No. 2 seed in the Division 5 state tournament. The first-team Dual Valley Conference all-star also hit six doubles and walked 11 times. “Brayden is a phenomenal player in all aspects of the game,” said Hopedale coach Kevin Bresciani. “He is a big threat every time he steps up to the plate and he forces opposing teams to give special attention to him.”
Matt Mahoney, Lincoln-Sudbury
This senior first baseman/third baseman/pitcher earned his first Dual County All-League (top 13 players in DCL) nod after batting .321 (25-for-78) with four home runs, 23 RBIs, 17 runs and six doubles in addition to going 3-1 on the mound with a 1.86 ERA, 57 strikeouts and a save in 37 2/3 innings pitched. One of three Warriors named Daily News All-Stars, Mahoney helped them reach the Division 1 Round of 16. He was also a two-time Daily News Boys Hockey All-Star. “Matt is the definition of an athlete,” said L-S coach Matt Wentworth. “To have a guy play two ways is one thing, but to have him do it at the level that Matt did this season and against the quality of competition he faced was incredibly special.” Mahoney will head to Colby College, where he will play baseball.
Lucas Messer, Framingham
The senior catcher and two-year captain batted .375 with a .475 on-base percentage, .641 slugging percentage, 24 hits (14 for extra bases), 19 RBIs, 12 runs and four steals. He also caught 14 baserunners stealing from behind the dish. “Lucas has been a cornerstone of our roster for the past few seasons as our backstop,” said Flyers coach Matt Milano. “He’s a phenomenal receiver, blocks at a high level, and this year really made some huge improvements to his footwork and arm to help control the running game.”
Brian Olson, Dover-Sherborn
This three-sport (football and basketball the others) standout makes his return to the Daily News All-Star team after batting .426 (22-for-68) with three home runs, 17 RBIs, 16 runs and 15 walks in lifting the Raiders to a 13-9 finish that included a berth in the Division 3 Round of 16. The captain will attend Middlebury College in the fall, where he will play both football and baseball.
Nick Pedroli, Hopkinton
The junior center fielder, leadoff hitter and captain earned Tri-Valley League all-star honors after batting .355 with a .427 on-base percentage to go with 18 runs and 12 steals as Hopkinton went 19-5 and reached the Division 2 state quarterfinals. Pedroli also only struck out six times in 89 plate appearances. “Nick’s one of the best center fielders in the state, in my opinion,” said Hopkinton coach Matt Anderson. Pedroli was voted unanimously to be a captain again in 2025.
Teddy Peters, Holliston
The senior utilityman and right-handed pitcher earned a Tri-Valley League all-star nod in leading the way as Holliston reached the Division 3 state tournament. On the spring, Peters batted .369 (24-for-65) with a .475 on-base percentage, five doubles, 11 RBIs and 18 stolen bases. On the mound, he was 4-2 with a 1.56 ERA, striking out 37 in 36 innings. Peters will attend Brandeis University and play baseball.
Anthony Ruggiero, Nipmuc
This senior outfielder makes his return as a Daily News All-Star after earning Dual Valley Conference MVP honors. With a batting average of .429, an on-base percentage of .605 and a slugging percentage of .946, 16 of Ruggiero’s 24 hits went for extra bases. He finished with five home runs, 17 RBIs, 21 runs, 24 walks and nine steals. Ruggiero will major in criminal justice and play Division I baseball at Northeastern University.
Cooper Tarantino, Lincoln-Sudbury
A Daily News All-Star regular, this is Tarantino’s fourth nod (2 for football, 2 for baseball) in the last two school years. The senior catcher was strong to the finish in an L-S uniform, batting .431 this spring (31-for-72) with three home runs, nine doubles, a triple, 28 RBIs, 19 runs and three steals to earn his second straight Dual County All-League (top 13 players in DCL) nod. For his high school career, Tarantino batted .376 (74-for-197) with five homers, 20 doubles, three triples, 61 RBIs, 45 runs and 11 steals. “When Cooper came to the plate at the end of the season, you just had a feeling that he was going to come up big and he did almost every time,” said L-S coach Matt Wentworth. “He was a phenomenal leader on and off the field and he will be impossible to replace.” Tarantino will be playing Division I baseball at Northeastern University.
Alex Vosburgh, Blackstone Valley Tech
The junior captain, shortstop and catcher helped again ensure BVT was strong up the middle in spearheading a team that went 16-5 and earned the No. 5 seed in the Division 3 state tournament. This spring, Vosburgh batted .406 with 17 extra-base hits, two homers, 18 RBIs, 22 runs and a 1.297 OPS on his way to a second straight Colonial Athletic League all-star honor. For his high school career, Vosburgh has a .335 average (68-for-203) with two homers, 53 RBIs, 63 runs, 20 doubles and nine triples. “Alex is an excellent leader and the ultimate competitor,” said BVT coach John Burke. “His work ethic is second to none and he has the tools to play and excel at the next level.”
HONORABLE MENTION
Will Adamski, Hopedale
Max Boehm, Wellesley
Josh Bouchard, Bellingham
Jack Byrne, Natick
Austin Campbell, Franklin
Dom Caccavelli, Franklin
Ian Carter, Milford
Andy Cerniglia, Westborough
Louis Consigli, Milford
Preston Cote, Algonquin
Henry DiGiorgio, Franklin
Michael Domino, AMSA
Owen Finnegan, Wayland
Will Forman, Dover-Sherborn
DJ Garabedian, Blackstone Valley Tech
Matt Gaughan, Hopkinton
Josh Giancola, Nipmuc
Daniel Heisler, Nipmuc
Jack Hildred, Bellingham
Nick Koch, Milford
Ty Letichevsky, Ashland
Ross Lipsky, Dover-Sherborn
Corey Magill, Blackstone Valley Tech
Jack Marino, Blackstone Valley Tech
Jenson Martin, Lincoln-Sudbury
Dylan Maw, Tri-County
Nate McCurdy, Tri-County
Zachary Meehl, Algonquin
Luke Miele, Wellesley
Matt Miller, Franklin
Andrew Morse, Millis
Anthony Moura, Hudson
Garrett O’Mara, Medway
Trevor Petty, AMSA
Dean Reap, Ashland
Jackson Redfern, Algonquin
Dylan Romano, Marlborough
Mike Rutkowski, Hopedale
Jack Schoenberg, Holliston
Jake Shaughnessy, Franklin
Talon Shepardson, Millis
Jackson Shusda, Dover-Sherborn
Anthony Skillings, AMSA
Andrew Talmo, Assabet
Brady Wajda, Hopedale
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