Sea Unicorns announce roster for 2022 season
After a successful first half in the Futures League in 2021, the Norwich Sea Unicorns were not as lucky when the second half approached, finishing the season 27-40. Looking to rewrite the story of last season, Norwich has had a busy offseason bringing in the best young talent college baseball
After a successful first half in the Futures League in 2021, the Norwich Sea Unicorns were not as lucky when the second half approached, finishing the season 27-40.
Looking to rewrite the story of last season, Norwich has had a busy offseason bringing in the best young talent college baseball has to offer. Five players from the 2021 season will be returning for a second season in the Rose City.
Pitchers Eddie Kaftan and Griffin Pontbriant will be back, offering not only experience to a deep Norwich bullpen but consistency also. Kaftan, who plays for Mitchell College went 3-3 in the 2021 season recording 24 strikeouts.
In the outfield, Hunter Yaworski also from Mitchell College returns along with Quinnipiac standout Jared Zimbardo, which manager Devin Belenski sees as major acquisitions. “Yaworski is a leader on and off the field, Zimbardo is a character and I love to have him back,” said Belenski. Yaworski had a stellar year in 2021 batting .289 belting 3 homers across 187 at-bats. Zimbardo himself had an outstanding spring for Quinnipiac in 2022, batting an impressive .307 across 163 at-bats. Expect this outfield duo to be a major force in the Futures League this summer.
Manager Devin Belenski will not have to worry about a lack of bullpen arms as a total of 18 fresh arms will be on the roster, including three lefties.
“Last year was a scramble, I got the job ten days before the season started. It was last minute trying to find whoever is out there,” said Belenski. “The big thing I look forward to this year is character of players, I want Norwich to be known as having hardworking, blue-collar players.”
In addition to the three returning pitchers, the Sea Unicorns welcome, John Ruggerio, Trent Price, Ryan O’Connell, Allistar Morin, Curren Larson, Pat Reilly, Connor Podezwa, Sean Wininger, Zachary Lopez, Finn Doherty, Bret Fee, Jack Kabel, Jordan Marot, Tim Cotter, Ryan Mueller, Curren Larson and Kolby Pascerilli.
The Norwich pitchers will have a variety of battery mates to start the season, as a total of five catchers are on the roster. Tyler Kipp, Danny Melnick, and Ryan Hyde are all from Division 1 universities followed by Ben Jerome of Nichols College and David Christoforo of Southern Connecticut State University. Christoforo, a freshman, also has first base experience.
What is special about the Futures League is its ability to adapt and provide opportunities for younger players. Norwich will have four recent high school graduates on the roster this year. This will give them valuable experience before their first year of college baseball. The players include Drew Kron, an outfielder from Xavier High School. “I think he is going to be a talented player for us this year, very physical kid, excited to have him with us,” said Belenski.
Alex Irizzary, from East Catholic, an infielder, Cameron Maldonado a utility-man who is a Northeastern commit and finally Kolby Pascerilli who is going to UCONN in the fall will be the other rising freshman with Norwich.
Just like the pitching rotation, the infield is stacked also. The Norwich infield will feature many Connecticut Division 1 players. The diamond will include Tim McGuire and Nick Sturino of Fairfield University, Jackson Ferrigno (transfer portal) and Zac Zyons of Bryant University. As mentioned earlier, Irizarry and Maldonado are also joining the infield. Norwich will also be graced with a returner who will look to reclaim his spot at the hot corner in Bryan Loriga
To start the season, the outfield is the one spot with the least depth for Norwich although possibly is filled with the most talent. High School sensation Drew Kron highlights the outfield along with Zimbardo, Yaworski, Sean Swenson, Ray Leonzi and Dougie Delacruz. A Montville native, Delacruz helped the Mitchell College Mariners capture a back-to-back NECC Championship this year.
With a combination of speed, power, and an excellent baseball IQ, look for the Sea Unicorns to have an impressive second year in the Futures League. When all is said and done, fans will be able to say that Norwich is once again the place to be for premiere baseball in New England.
Norwich in thick of playoff race at halfway point of season
Summer is in full swing and as the calendar flips to July, the Norwich Sea Unicorns are already halfway through the 2022 season. Sitting at an even 16-16, the Sea Unicorns have been playing some of their best baseball of the summer as of late, winning seven of their last
O’Connell dazzles in relief, leads comeback win
Having a final line of six innings pitched, one run allowed on two hits, and 11 strikeouts isn’t out of the ordinary for a starting pitcher. Tuesday night at Dodd Stadium, that was the final line for Sea Unicorns reliever Ryan O’Connell in Norwich’s 9-6 win over the Westfield Starfires.
Norwich back to winning ways over the weekend
Following a four-game losing streak, the Norwich Sea Unicorns have won three of their last four games, placing the squad a game out of playoff contention at the quarter mark of the season. The turnaround began on Thursday night as Norwich welcomed the Nashua Silver Knights to Dodd Stadium for
Sea Unicorns take part in 'You Choose the Rules' game
Wednesday was Education Day across the Futures League. As part of the league-wide initiative, the Sea Unicorns took a trip to Worcester to face the Bravehearts in an exhibition “You Choose the Rules“ game. The Bravehearts allowed fans to vote on rules that were implemented periodically throughout the seven-inning game.
Norwich loses three straight over weekend
It was a weekend to forget for the Sea Unicorns last week, as the Norwich-based squad lost three games in a row to drop to 3-7 on the season. Following back-to-back wins on Wednesday and Thursday, with the latter coming in walk-off fashion, Norwich lost a pair of one-run affairs
Zyons the hero in walk-off win
In its second home game of the season, the Norwich Sea Unicorns mounted an impressive comeback to nab its first home victory in walk-off fashion, 7-6 over the Worcester Bravehearts. With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom half of the ninth, Zac Zyons, who drove in the
Norwich back in win column as Ruggiero retires 10 straight
After opening the 2022 season with a win, the Sea Unicorns would fall on hard times losing their next four games. Just under a week since their last win, the Norwich bats came to life late to steal a victory in the Hardware city. On the mound for the second
Early woes continue as Bees take Norwich home-opener
In front of a crowd of more than three thousand, Norwich’s bats continued to stay quiet in a 5-2 loss to New Britain in the Sea Unicorns’ home opener Monday night. Norwich was only able to squeak out two hits on the night and didn’t score a run after the
Offense quiet in loss to Worcester
After scoring 15 runs across its first two games of the season, the Norwich Sea Unicorns were only able to bring two across the plate in Sunday’s 8-2 loss to the Worcester Bravehearts. Norwich’s four through seven hitters were a combined 0-for-13 on the day. Four of the Sea Unicorns’
Sea Unicorns game at Brockton postponed
The Sea Unicorns’ scheduled game Saturday night in Brockton has been postponed due to weather. It will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Tuesday, June 21 in Brockton. Both games will be seven innings. Norwich will travel to Worcester Sunday to take on the Bravehearts. First pitch
Norwich loses first game on walk-off in Pittsfield
Under the lights in Pittsfield Friday night, the Sea Unicorns dropped a heart breaker to the Suns, with the home team grabbing a walk-off victory off the bat of first baseman Jack Ryan. Norwich took a one-run lead into the bottom of the ninth, but walked the bases loaded before
Bats come alive in opening day win
As the saying goes, it’s better late than never. In their 2022 season opener, the Norwich Sea Unicorns offense clicked late to propel the team to its first victory of the season over the New Britain Bees, 11-5. Norwich scored seven runs across the final two innings to pull away
Sea Unicorns schedule and promotions update
Dear Sea Unicorns Fans, As we move closer to the start of our 2022 season, I would like to update you on many happenings with the Norwich Sea Unicorns. As many of you know, we have had a few personnel moves in the Front Office. A huge part of our
Sea Unicorns geared up for 2022 season
After their inaugural first season in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League (FCBL) in 2021, The Norwich Sea Unicorns are back for the 2022 season. Originally rebranded from the Connecticut Tigers, Norwich was set to be the Low-Class A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers. This was changed when Major League Baseball
8-13-21 - Yaworski and Driscoll Win FCBL Post-Season Awards
Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, CT/Mitchell College) and David Driscoll (Hingham, MA/Williams College) were both named recipients of two post-season awards in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League. Both were presented their awards by FCBL Commissioner Joe Paolucci before the final home game of the year Thursday night at Dodd Stadium. Yaworski won
8-12-21 Sea Unicorns Drop Doubleheader to Starfires in Last Home Games of Season
(Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns fell to the Westfield Starfires in a doubleheader at Dodd Stadium 7-5 and 10-5 to conclude the home schedule on Thursday night. Trailing 7-0 in the fifth, Norwich scored five unanswered runs to cut their deficit to two runs. Korey Morton (Norwalk, CT/UConn)
8-10-21 Game Recap - Rox 11 Sea Unicorns 3
(Brockton, MA) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns fell to the Brockton Rox 11-3 Tuesday night on the road. Trailing 10-0 in the seventh, the Sea Unicorns extended the game with three runs to avoid the mercy rule. David Driscoll (Hingham, MA/Williams College) and Michael Torniero (East Haven, CT/Central CT State
8-7-21 Sea Unicorns 1 Bees 0
Sea Unicorns Shutout In-State Rival Bees In 1-0 Pitchers Duel At Dodd Stadium (Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns take down in-state rival New Britain Bees 1-0 at Dodd Stadium on Saturday night. The Sea Unicorn’s pitching shined against the Bees as Jimmy Wang (Beijing, CN/University of Connecticut) started
8-5-21 Sea Unicorns 8 Rox 6
(Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns defeated the Brockton Rox 8-6 Thursday night at Dodd Stadium in a game that featured a little of everything Anthony Porrino (Locust Valley, NY) came up to the plate with runners on second and third in the third when he swung and missed
8-3-21 Silver Knights 5 Sea Unicorns 2
(Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns dropped Tuesday night’s game at Dodd Stadium 5-2 to the Nashua Silver Knights. Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, CT/Mitchell College) began the fourth inning with a triple down the right field line, followed by a base hit back at the pitcher by Tyler Wells (Danville,
8-1-21 - Sea Unicorns Fall on Road in Doubleheader to Suns
(Pittsfield, MA) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns fell to the Pittsfield Suns on the road in both ends of a doubleheader 6-4 and 15-1 Sunday afternoon. Down 5-0 after three in game one, the Sea Unicorns cut their deficit with a three-run fourth. Jack Blake (Westfield, MA/Eastern CT State University)
7-31-21 Silver Knights 8 Sea Unicorns 2
(Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns dropped Saturday night’s game 8-2 to the Nashua Silver Knights at Dodd Stadium. The Sea Unicorns scored their first run on the night when Gianni Zarrilli (Wethersfield, CT/UMass Boston) was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the seventh, scoring Ian
7-30-21 Rox 14 Sea Unicorns 10
(Norwich, CT) -- The Norwich Sea Unicorns fall to the Brockton Rox 14-10 Friday night with a season best 2,323 in attendance at Dodd Stadium. The Sea Unicorns grabbed an early lead as Tyler Wells (Danville, VT/University of New Haven) ripped a two-run triple that scored Hunter Yaworski (Brooklyn, CT/Mitchell
7-29-21 Sea Unicorns 12 Rox 0
(Norwich, CT) -- The Sea Unicorns batted around twice in six innings and beat the Brockton Rox 12-0 in a rain-shortened game at Dodd Stadium on Thursday night. The Sea Unicorns were hitting in the sixth when the skies opened, but not before knocking 14 hits around the yard early