MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Primer and Predictions

Franklin ace Jake Noviello hopes to lead Franklin on a deep Super Eight run.

Photo courtesy of Ryan Lanigan (@R_Lanigan)/HockomockSports.com)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

This year’s Super Eight certainly is not lacking in star power.

Lexington’s entrance into the tournament brings with it arguably the top player in the Bay State in Sal Frelick. Frelick, the Co-MVP of the Middlesex League, is hitting over .500 with five home runs and 22 RBIs. Along with the future Boston College infielder, the Minutemen pitching staff is led by UMass Amherst bound left-hander Jack Pawlowski. Madison Dina follows Pawlowski in the rotation.

Lexington’s candidacy was bolstered by a non-conference win over BC High and will now look to knock off their second Catholic Conference team in St. John’s Prep in the opening round. 

MIAA Baseball: Super Eight Projection 3.0

St. John's Prep and BC High currently hold two of the top three spots in our latest projection.

Photo by Eamon Convey (@ConveyWEEI)

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

The arrival of Sunday of Memorial Day weekend means there is exactly one week until the Division 1A "Super Eight" committee convenes in Franklin to decide the eight teams that will compete in this year's Super Eight tournament.

As it stands now, this very well could be the most unpredictable field yet. Mansfield’s play over the last three weeks has put them in competition not just for a spot in the field but a potential home game, while Andover has made its way into the conversation. 

Xaverian and Catholic Memorial’s chances each took a bit of a hit with losses over the weekend while Austin Prep continues to prove that is deserving of serious consideration. Any of St. John's Prep, Wachusett, and BC High could compete for the top spot over the season’s final week, but after that it seems to be anyone’s guess as to who lands a berth in the 2018 Super Eight field.

With one week to go, here is SuiteSports’ MIAA Super Eight Projection 3.0. We will release our fourth projection on Thursday, May 31^st before releasing our final projection one week from today. 

High School Baseball Notes: Palowski Doing it All for Lexington, Belmont Following Similar Formula, Wellesley Building off Last Year's Run

Belmont ace Nate Espelin (pictured) continues to prove he is one of the top arms in Massachusetts. 

By Matt Feld (@Mattyfeld612)

If you hear anything pertaining to Lexington athletics, the odds are praise concerning multi-sport star Sal Frelick is right around the corner.

Frelick, the 2017 Massachusetts Football Gatorade Player of the Year for his play at quarterback, is once again proving his talents on the baseball field are equally as impressive. The Boston College bound shortstop, after getting off to what coach Zack Friedman labeled “a slow start for Sal’s standards,” is now batting well over .500. 

It is the performance on the mound by Jack Palowski, however, that is proving to be just as important in spring boarding Lexington into the Super Eight conversation.

PHOTO GALLERY: Everett Tops Lexington in D1 North Football Semifinals

Photos by Joe Parello (@HerewegoJoe)

Things were even early, as a Sal Frelick touchdown pass drew the host Minutemen even with favored Everett at 14 in the second quarter. But it would be all Crimson Tide after that.

Thanks to a swarming defense, play making offense, and some opportunistic special teams, Everett scoring 35 unanswered points to walk out of Lexington with a 49-21 victory, and a trip to the Division 1 North sectional finals.

Continue below for images from the Tide's big win over the previously unbeaten Minutemen, and note that you can click any image to enlarge and launch a slideshow.