Worcester - The Worcester Bravehearts have announced the signings of fourteen players to their 2022 roster, all of which are from Central Massachusetts. This list includes three returners, highlighted by 2021 FCBL All-Star and Holden native LJ Keevan (UMass-Lowell).
The lefty reliever Keevan went 2-0 in 10 appearances last summer, striking out 44 batters in 23.2 innings pitched. Returning to the Bravehearts with him will be 2020 reliever and Marlborough native Hunter Reynolds (Franklin Pierce) and 2021 reliever Jared Kapurch, who graduated from St. Peter Marian High School before heading to St. Petersburg College.
Kapurch will be reunited with two former Saint Peter Marian teammates for the 2022 season. Worcester-Native Frankie Hernandez (Monmouth) and Former Westfield Starfire Kosta Drosidis (Anna Maria) will now sign with their home-town team. Hernandez was named a 2019 Central Mass Telegram and Gazette All-Star while Drosidis played a big role in helping St. Peter Marian to a Central Mass Championship in 2018.
The Bravehearts will add to their Worcester-grown talent with Doherty High School’s own David Pedanou (Dayton). The infielder was named a 2021 T&G Hometeam All-star while playing for the Highlanders. Worcester Academy’s Kyle Rizy (Bryant) and Nate Novia (AIC) will join the arms in the Bravehearts pitching rotation. Rizy held a career 1.30 ERA at Worcester Academy in five seasons of varsity baseball with the Hilltoppers. Before attending Worcester Academy, Novia starred at Holy Name Central Catholic High School.
Matt Livingston (Siena) will be the latest player to continue the St John’s and Shrewsbury Post 397 pipeline. The first baseman was a team captain for the Pioneers and was named the 2019 New England American Legion MVP, helping Post 397 to the American Legion World Series.
Holden-Native and Wachusett High School Senior Mike Simes will enter his first season with the Bravehearts before joining his hometown friend Keevan at UMass-Lowell. 2021 Milford Daily News Male Athlete of the Year Alex Luccini out of Hopedale will also join Keevan and Simes in Lowell as he enters his freshman season.
Boston College commit AJ Colarusso, will join the Bravehearts bullpen after completing his spring season at Groton School. Worcester native and Quabbin Regional High School Graduate Gavin Price (Fairleigh Dickinson) will also get a chance to play the infield for the Bravehearts as a two-way player. Auburn native and former 3-sport athlete at Auburn High Kyle Sebastyanski (Elms) will round out the bullpen.
“Local talent is key to winning in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League,” said Worcester Bravehearts Manager Alex Dion. “I’m confident these 14 players are going to help us not only on the field, but in the locker room and in the community. Fans should be extremely excited to watch these talented athletes this summer.”
In The News
>WEATHER: Mark Rosenthal's 7-day forecast (:30). High of 56 today in Worcester
>TOP OF THE NEWS
+6:00: Man fleeing police in Worcester crashes into State Police cruiser, Worcester police say (1:07). Article
+6:00: Worcester biopharmaceutical firm to lay off 81% of staff
+6:00: Radio Worcester Roundtable (45:58): City violence and upcoming State of the City address
+6:00: 100FM The Pike (6:38): Breakdown Lane
+Noon: It's Friday! Check Dining Out and Bars & Bands before making plans
+Noon: New shows and movies to watch this weekend
+Noon: New movies on demand — "Dune: Part Two," "Immaculate," and more
+Noon: Mark Cecil's epic fable "Bunyan and Henry" leads back to Worcester
+Noon: "Beyond the Frames: A Musical Celebration" set for Mechanics Hall
-51-year-old amputee playing baseball at Quinsigamond Community College after accident ended trucking career (2:21). Article
-Worcester’s city employee salary database for 2023: see the city’s top earners and more
-Worcester public housing community receives high inspection score, despite complaints
-GoFundMe created to benefit family of Worcester shooting victim Bob Nuah
-Worcester judge orders fourth triple shooting suspect held without bail
-Charged in Worcester girl's death, Christopher Remillard awaits trial
-W.R.T.A. board votes to extend fare-free buses through 2025
-W.B.J. hires New School graduate as reporter covering health care, D.E.I.
-Danish educators learn classroom A.I. from Worcester teachers
-Worcester Tech senior Stephen highlighted as a Worcester Star Student
-Radio Worcester (15:55): Eric Batista discusses Worcester gun violence & city plans
-Faces of Worcester: Sean Harris, Director of Community Engagement, Quinsigamond Community College
>DINING OUT: Phantom Gourmet's Great 8 Unique Restaurant Locations (5:02)
-ICYMI: Rutland teen killed in crash during motocross race in Southwick
-Channel 5 Wake Up Call from Chandler Magnet Elementary School in Worcester (:46)
-New Worcester Police Department gun unit recovers first illegal firearm
-Cordella's Coffee opens in Worcester on bustling block
-See the rest of the day's Worcester news
>HOLDEN (brought to you by Lamoureux Ford): Eagle Scout project refurbishes church lounge
-Lamoureux Ford salutes the UConn Huskies (:54)
-Spring composting 8 to 2:30 Saturday
>THE BURBS (brought to you by North End Motor Sales): West Boylston plans override, amount T.B.D.
-Sutton solar project remains under enforcement order
-Clinton P.T.A. now "award winning"
-Rutland hydrant flushing begins April 22nd
-Q.C.C. Early College Program coming to Southbridge High School
-9 Grafton B.V.T. students earn medals at District V competition
-The Item's public safety logs
>BARS & BANDS: The Mayor's Live Music List for Friday
>SHOWTIME: Taylor Swift unveils surprise double album "The Tortured Poets Department: The Anthology" -- and fans go wild
-Five things to do: Motorheads, mind readers, moments of music
-Richard Thomas in "To Kill a Mockingbird" in Worcester
-Street style served up fresh at fashion show
-Northampton cosmic metal act Black Pyramid set to invade Central Mass.
-Worcester State prof and poet Heather Treseler wins prize for "enthralling" poems
-WCCA-TV's Chandler Chat No. 421 (27:14): Dr. Lynda Young
-Unity Radio (55:04): Standups and Standouts
-This Week in Worcester Podcast (51:27): Public restrooms, youth justice reform, Rep. McGovern on Gaza
>OBITUARIES: Tribute to local 17-year-old killed in crash
>SPORTS: Former Worcester Academy star T.J. Power of Shrewsbury leaving Duke, enters transfer portal
-Boston police warn Bruins, Celtics fans about counterfeit playoff tickets
-Eliot Wolf, Patriots "open for business" entering NFL Draft
-NFL Draft Preview featuring Holy Cross stars Jalen Coker and C.J. Hanson (33:06)
-Holy Cross Athletics announces return of Coaches Road Show
-Clark's Isaiah Taylor to host free youth basketball clinic Saturday on campus
-Red Sox lose to Cleveland, 5-4
-WooSox postponed, doubleheader Saturday
-Remembering Larry Lucchino, eulogy by Dr. Charles Steinberg
>CARS: Bertera has the all-star team to help you find your next Nissan car or truck (:39)
-About 55,000 Prius, Prius HEV compact cars recalled
>NATIONAL: 6 arrested, 3 on run in what police call biggest gold theft in Canada’s history
-Shocking video captures scam victim pointing gun at innocent Uber driver before allegedly killing her
-Tragic: Video shows cop shooting 15-year-old with toy gun
>NEW ENGLAND: James Parker granted parole in 2001 Zantop murders
-11-year-old Maine boy killed after crashing friend's A.T.V.
>COLLEGES: Anna Maria’s play raises money for local charity
-Student entrepreneurs make a splash at WooTank
-Winners of Nichols' annual Elevator Speech Competition announced
>TRAVEL (brought to you by Fuller RV & Rental): The 8 most underrated places in Switzerland
>BUSINESS: Retail sales rose in March for the second straight month
-LPL Research: Revisiting energy
-W.B.J.'s 5 Things I know about ... Still overlooked money basics
>SHOPPING: Yoto mini recall affects 250,000 speakers for kids due to fire risk
>HOMES: See all homes sold in Worcester County, April 7th to 13th
>HEALTH: Mass. doctor on new warning about measles (2:36)
-Cardiac arrest and COVID vaccines aren't linked in young, C.D.C. says
>FOOD: Central Mass. Mom's Best Ice Cream Shops in Central Mass.
>TV/STREAMING: CNN axes Charles Barkley and Gayle King's weekly show "King Charles"
>MOVIES: A fifth "Matrix" movie is in the works
>CELEBRITY: Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
>ANIMALS: Puppy thrown in trash is unrecognizable now (3:01)
>HISTORY: George Frisbie Hoar Monument
>GOOD NEWS (brought to you by Bertera Nissan): Couple a perfect match in marriage and in their kidneys
-Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, woman goes ballistic while being arrested on Spirit plane
Latest obituaries | | Thursday's highlights | | Today's horoscope | | Local Sports
Quick Links: Personalize your news | | Browse members | | Advertise | | Blogs | | Invite friends | | Videos
Animals | | Boston Sports | | Business | | Cars | | Celebrity | | Colleges | | Commute & Travel | | Crime | | Faith | | Food | | Good News | | Health | | History | | Homes | | Local Sports | | Lottery | | Movies | | National | | New England | | Politics | | Shopping & Deals | | SHOWTIME! | | TV & Streaming | | Weather