New Captain, Ing: “Hoping to bring a state tournament win home.”

As a junior last year, Brian Ing watched Jimmy Souza and Joe Perry captain the Blue Knights to a tournament berth. A captain this year, Ing wants not only to pick the ball up where his predecessors left it, but to advance it quite a ways.

“We’re hoping to bring a State tournament win home,” Ing said this morning via e-mail.

Though the catcher-pitcher shows respect for those that came before him — “I’m proud to be a part of a long list of great names,” he said — he aspires to accomplish something that they were unable to.

Ing will act as co-captain alongside pitcher-outfielder Al Stanton. In 2009, Stanton finished second in the ACC with a 1.38 ERA. Most of his work on the mound came with Ing serving as his backstop. Their relationship as a battery should assist them as they take on their roles as co-captains.

“There’s a good level of trust and mutual respect between a pitcher and a catcher,” he explained.

In addition, Ing believes that the duo’s shared competitiveness should work to motivate each other “and hopefully the rest of the team.”

With tryouts less than a month away and Varsity captains chosen, the season can now be said to be fast approaching. Most of all, he said, he’s “just looking forward to a great season.”

Stanton, Ing named captains

Seniors Al Stanton and Brian Ing have been named as the 2010 Blue Knights’ captains.

Stanton, a pitcher-outfielder, stood out last year, finishing amongst the ACC leaders in both ERA and batting average.

Ing is a well respected team leader.  A catcher and pitcher, his positions on the field are indicative of his role in the locker room.

Stanton and Ing

Spring’s approach marked by release of Blue Knights’ baseball schedule

Though a Pennsylvania groundhog said otherwise last week, Spring — and by extension baseball — is on its way.

(Hopefully) Winter's last hurrah on Fenton Field. Image: Jack Vaccaro

Today marked Truck Day in Boston, and the snow dusting from this week’s would-be storm is melting rapidly.  Soon, Fenton Field will be active once more as Sandwich High School’s baseball program embarks on its 2010 campaign.

According to Coach David Aycock, tryouts will be held the week of March 15 with a Varsity team chosen by March 17.

The Blue Knights will scrimmage Carver High School on Saturday, March 20.  More details on the scrimmage as the date approaches.

Here is the 2010 season schedule, subject, of course, to change (* denotes ACC game):

Tuesday March 30 – @ Hingham

Thursday April 1 – vs Barnstable

Wednesday April 7 – @ Marshfield*

Friday April 9 – vs Plymouth North*

Monday April 12 – vs Dennis-Yarmouth*

Wednesday April 14 – @ Nauset*

Monday April 19 – vs Whitman Hanson

Wednesday April 21 – vs Whitman Hanson

Monday April 26 – @ Falmouth*

Wednesday April 28 – vs Plymouth South*

Monday May 3 – vs Marshfield*

Wednesday May 5 – @ Plymouth North*

Friday May 7 – @ Dennis Yarmouth*

Monday May 10 – vs Nauset*

Wednesday May 12 – vs Falmouth*

Friday May 14 – @ Plymouth South*

Friday May 21 – vs Hingham

Tuesday May 25 – @ Barnstable

In addition to these 18 games, there are two on the schedule cryptically denoted Showdown.  The Knights will be looking to improve upon last year’s 12-8 record (7-5 in the league) that netted the team a third place finish and a short-lived State tournament run.

Check back here as Spring draws closer; I will be providing regular updates on the team and its season as it advances and progresses.