MONKS BASEBALL NEWSLETTER
Issue #2 ~ March 7th, 2025
2025 SJC Baseball Hot Stove Auction a Huge Success
The Saint Joseph’s baseball team launched its 2025 season on Saturday, January 11, with the 19th annual Hot Stove Auction, drawing over 250 attendees. Established in 2005 by longtime Head Coach Will Sanborn ’86, the event funds the team’s annual Florida trip, equipment, and other program needs. Aside from a brief COVID hiatus, the auction has remained a cornerstone of SJC baseball. Each year, alumni, local businesses, and families of current players donate hundreds of items, ranging from gift cards and sports memorabilia to vacation packages and pro sports tickets. This year’s event featured a cash bar, pizza, apparel sales, rafles, and both silent and live auctions. Coach Sanborn, who also served as the auctioneer, expressed his gratitude: “It was incredible to see such a strong turnout despite the weather. The support from parents, alumni, faculty, staf, and friends of the program truly highlights what makes the Saint Joseph’s College Baseball Family so special.”
Thanks to the generosity of attendees and donors, the event surpassed its fundraising goal, raising over $35,000 in just three hours. Notable auction items included three vacation packages, Bruins and Celtics tickets, and the highest-selling item - a gourmet dinner for 10, which went for $2,200, generously donated by alum Mike Greve ’00 and his brother, professional chef Chris Greve.
Former Standout Nic Lops Returns to SJC Coaching StaA
Saint Joseph’s College baseball is excited to welcome back former standout catcher and three-year Hitting Coach Nic Lops ’15, who returns to the Shores of Sebago as the Monks’ Director of Player Development this spring. Lops rejoins St. Joe’s after a three-year stint as Head Coach at Southern Maine Community College, where he led the Seawolves to three championships and earned YSCC Coach of the Year honors each season. Since 2022, he has also managed the Sanford Mainers of the NECBL, winning NECBL Joel Cooney Manager of the Year twice - one of only two coaches in league history to do so.
As a four-year starter for the Monks, Lops posted a .357 career batting average with 193 hits, 82 runs, 38 doubles, and 130 RBI across 154 games. He was a key contributor to three GNAC Championships and NCAA Tournament appearances, earning multiple accolades, including GNAC Rookie of the Year, GNAC Tournament MVP, and several All-New England nods. After college, Lops signed professional contracts with the Watertown Bucks (Empire Professional Baseball League) and the Ottawa Champions (Canadian American Association of Professional Baseball) in 2016.
2025 SPRING TRIP SCHEDULE @ RUSSMATT INVITATIONAL
Senior Zack Adams Accepted into Springfield College Strength & Conditioning Master’s Program
This past summer, Zack Adams had the opportunity to be part of the prestigious internship program at Cressey Sports Performance (CSP) in Hudson, MA, working under the guidance of John O'Neil, now the Co -Owner of the Hudson location. During his time at CSP, Adams applied the knowledge gained from his coursework at Saint Joseph’s College to a high-level training environment, working with elite collegiate and professional athletes. CSP is widely recognized as one of the premier sports performance facilities for baseball players, with over 100 professional athletes calling it home during the ofseason. Notable players such as Tanner Houck, Max Scherzer, and Michael Wacha have trained at CSP’s Florida location for several years.
Adams was recently accepted into the Strength and Conditioning Master’s Program at Springfield College, where he will begin his studies next fall. His long-term career aspirations include building strong connections within the strength and conditioning field, becoming a professional strength and conditioning coach for a Major League Baseball organization, and ultimately owning his own sports performance facility in the southern United States. Congratulations, Zack!
April 6, 2025, 1:00 PM: ALUMNI, FAMILY & FRIENDS TAILGATE vs. Saint Joseph (CT)
April 13, 2025, 1:00 PM: SENIOR DAY vs. Anna Maria followed by JV game vs. Anna Maria
September 14, 2025: MONKS BASEBALL ALUMNI GAME
January 10, 2026, 12:00 PM: HOT STOVE AUCTION
Saint Joseph's posted a 14-25 overall record, including an 8-8 mark in conference play, under the watch of 32nd-year Head Coach Will Sanborn '86 in 2024. The Monks closed the season strong, winning eight of their final 11 games – including a six-game winning streak – to secure a GNAC Tournament berth. After falling to eventual conference champ Mitchell College, the Monks bounced back with a 6-1 victory over Anna Maria College in an elimination game before seeing their season end with a 12-8 loss to Colby-Sawyer College on May 4th.
With key returners, promising underclassmen, and experienced leadership, the Monks are poised for a competitive and promising 2025 season. Catching
Freshman Nick Frink leads the Monks' catching unit heading into the 2025 season. Frink, a three-time High School All-State selection from Thornton Academy, played a key role in two state championship teams and brings a strong defensive presence behind the plate. Junior Michael Richards adds depth to the roster, having appeared in 23 games last season, achieving a .239 batting average with 11 hits, including three doubles, and five RBIs.
Infield
The infield showcases a mix of seasoned players and fresh faces. Senior Michael Wearne brings leadership and consistency, having played in 37 games last season with a .323 batting average, accumulating 42 hits, including six doubles, and 17 RBIs. Junior Luke Doughty enjoyed a breakout sophomore season, hitting .314 with 13 runs, 27 hits, six doubles, and 13 RBI while playing in 37 games, mostly at the shortstop position where he solidified the SJC defense by playing errorless ball for the final 12 contests of the season
Sophomore Vinny O'Leary made significant contributions in his freshman year, playing in 36 games with a .282 batting average, totaling 35 hits, including six doubles and one triple, and 17 RBIs. O'Leary’s performance earned him a spot on the GNAC All-Rookie Team.
Freshman Nick Brindle, a standout at Pittsfield High School with 103 career hits and a .385 batting average, is anticipated to add depth and competitiveness to the infield lineup. Freshman Nick Villano, a three-time Salem News All-Star and CCL All-Star, brings a power bat to the Monks' lineup after earning multiple accolades in high school. Freshman Jake Carlisle also figures to play a major role as a Swiss army knife of sorts for the Monks. A middle- of-the- order bat who can play the corner infield and outfield positions, Carlisle is also expected to log meaningful innings during his freshman campaign. Outfield
The outfield is led by junior Jared Wilhelm, the Monks' top returning all-around contributor. Wilhelm is a key ofensive force, earning Third Team All-Conference honors after an outstanding 2024 campaign. He led the team in hits (51), triples (2), home runs (3), RBI (25), batting average (.378), OBP (.431), and slugging percentage (.541). He also reached the 100-hit milestone in just 73 career games – only one SJC player hit the century mark in fewer games: Saint Joseph’s Hall of Fame inductee Jesse LaCasse ’03. Graduate student Dawson Gundlah brings seasoned experience and leadership, having played in 31 games last season with a .321 batting average, accumulating 36 hits, including eight doubles and one home run, and 14 RBIs.
Junior Terry Morrissey and senior Alex Moore add versatility and depth to the outfield. Morrissey provides a left-handed bat and Moore, a right-handed hitter, can play all three outfield positions and showed solid gains as a hitter last spring. Freshmen Connor Finn, Ben Gebhart, and Ryan Thurber provide additional depth. Finn hit .366 in high school, Gebhart played club baseball for Bay State Braves and Middlesex Cannons, while Thurber earned All-Conference honors at Southern Maine CC and helped win back-to-back division titles.
Pitching
The Monks' pitching staf is characterized by a blend of seasoned pitchers and emerging talent. Juniors Padraig Mac Seain and Dylan Brander lead the returning pitchers. Mac Seain is coming of an impressive season in which he earned Third Team All-Conference honors. In 11 appearances (10 starts), Mac Seain posted a 4-3 record with a 4.24 ERA and 47 strikeouts across 51 innings. He was particularly dominant in conference play, going 4-0 with a 1.91 ERA, 30 strikeouts, a 0.88 WHIP, and only six walks over 28.1 innings. Brander led the 2024 team with a 3.35 ERA while posting a 2-2 record with 34 strikeouts and only 10 walks across 43 innings.
Jason Johnson, a senior, is coming of injuries but could be a key contributor if healthy. Junior Ethan Smith brings a strong presence to the mound, with expectations to build upon his previous performances.
The bullpen will feature several solid options, including returners Hugh Barrett, Logan Dee, and Brendan McCafrey Freshman Jack Dyer, a polished pitcher with high upside, posted a 0.98 ERA as a senior at Arlington Catholic High School and was a CCL All-Star. Barrett, Dee, and McCafrey bring plenty of experience to the table and look to provide stability in relief roles.
Name
2025 MONKS BASEBALL ROSTER
Hometown / High School
1 Michael Wearne* INF SR 6-1 205 Ellington, Conn. / East Catholic
2 Brady Cabral C SO 5-8 145 Fall River, Mass. / Somerset Berkley
3 Connor Finn OF FR 5-10 205 Kingston, Mass. / Silver Lake Regional
4 Nick Frink C FR 6-1 200 Scarborough, Maine / Thornton Academy
5 Logan Dee* RHP SR 5-8 170 Laconia, N.H. / Laconia
6 Jake Carlisle RHP/UTL FR 6-2 195 Portsmouth, N.H. / Portsmouth
7 Dawson Gundlah* OF GR 6-1 180 York, Maine / York / Bridgton Academy
8 Nick Villano 1B FR 6-1 200 Peabody, Mass. / Bishop Fenwick
9 Jack Moltenbrey INF JR 5-8 165 East Longmeadow, Mass. / Pope Francis Prep
10 Vinny O'Leary OF/INF SO 5-9 187 North Quincy, Mass. / North Quincy
11 Dylan Brander RHP/IF JR 6-2 186 Merrimack, N.H. / Merrimack
12 Nick Brindle INF FR 5-8 175 Pittsfield, Mass. / Pittsfield
13 Jack Dyer RHP FR 6-1 187 Medford, Mass. / Arlington Catholic
14 Ryan Thurber OF JR 5-11 195 South Portland, Maine / South Portland /SMCC
16 Luke Wearne RHP/1B JR 6-2 190 Ellington, Conn. / East Catholic / SMCC
17 Victor Caira RHP SO 6-4 180 Newton, Mass. / Newton North
18 Josh Wieners RHP SO 6-3 170 Duxbury, Mass. / Catholic Memorial
19 Henry Paquette RHP FR 6-1 160 Pelham, N.H. / Pelham
20 Brendan McCaffrey LHP JR 5-11 180 Warwick, R.I. / Bishop Hendricken
21 Brayden Bellerose RHP FR 6-2 195 Skowhegan, Maine / Skowhegan
22 Hugh Barrett* RHP SR 5-10 180 Durham, Conn. / The New Hampton School
23 Jason Johnson RHP SR 6-1 185 Thomaston, Conn. / Thomaston
27 William Dionne RHP FR 6-5 215 Somerset, Mass. / Somerset Berkley Regional
28 Nate Leavitt RHP FR 6-1 155 Alton, N.H. / Mountain
29 Allen Merrifield C SO 6-1 200 Limerick, Maine / Massabesic
30 Terry Morrissey OF JR 5-11 175 Andover, Mass. / Winchendon
31 Padraig Mac Seain LHP JR 5-10 175 Brookline, N.H. / Hollis Brookline
32 Matt Elwell OF SO 5-8 170 Wakefield, Mass. / Wakefield Memorial
33 Ethan Smith RHP JR 6-3 200 Hudson Oaks, Texas / Weatherford Christian
35 Ryan Kastle OF JR 5-10 160 Concord, N.H. / Concord
37 Jared Wilhelm OF JR 5-10 230 Tolland, Conn. / Tolland
38 Michael Vittozzi INF SR 5-11 180 North Reading, Mass. / North Reading
40 Kyle MacKay RHP SR 6-2 200 Dracut, Mass. / Dracut
41 Ben Gebhart OF/UTL FR 5-8 150 Carlisle, Mass. / Concord Carlisle
43 Ethan Belvin C/UTL FR 5-10 187 Claremont, N.H. / Bridgton Academy
46 Andrew Keniston LHP JR 6-2 225 Center Ossipee, N.H. / Kingswood Regional
47 Michael Richards C JR 5-8 190 Melrose, Mass. / Melrose
48 Luke Doughty INF JR 6-1 170 York, Maine / York
50 Alex Moore OF SR 6-2 180 Henniker, N.H. / John Stark Regional
51 Zack Adams RHP SR 6-1 185 Norton, Mass. / Norton
54 Rhyse Owens C SO 5-9 190 Buxton, Maine / Bonny Eagle
Head Coach: #26 Will Sanborn '86 (33rd Season)
Associate Head Coach: #44 Lincoln Sanborn '14 (10th Season)
Assistant Coaches: Nic Lops ’25 (4th Season), Eric Cavers (2nd Season), Dan Morin (1st Season)
Captains (*): Hugh Barrett, Logan Dee, Dawson Gundlah, Michael Wearne
