It was a more quiet year for our local Cape Ann League baseball teams, but that doesn’t mean there wasn’t any talent.
In fact, just the opposite.
With the release of the league’s baseball awards last week, five local athletes were named to the 15-person All-CAL First Team, while seven more made the CAL All-Star Second Team. And on both of those lists were some familiar faces, some of whom ended their high school careers putting together their best ever seasons.
Despite ultimately losing all five of its league All-Stars from a season ago, still leading the way this year was Georgetown with two All-CAL selections in junior Oliver Thibeault and sophomore Ty Southall. Both two-way stars, Southall hit .343 (22-for-64) with 17 runs scored, while also posting a 6-2 record and 0.70 ERA on the mound with 53 strikeouts in 50.0 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Thibeault went 3-3 with a 1.84 ERA on the hill and 49 Ks (53.1 IP), and at the plate he hit a team-best .371 (23-for-62) with 12 RBI. Lastly, the Royals saw junior shortstop Brendan Loewen, who hit .313 (21-for-67) with 10 RBI, be named a CAL All-Star.
So all three league All-Stars will be back next year for the Royals.
Moving on, Newburyport ace Evan Luekens moved up to make the All-CAL team this year after being named a CAL All-Star a year ago. The right-handed Roger Williams commit had a 5-3 record with a 2.46 ERA this spring, and was second in our area with 62 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched. The Clippers then got to celebrate both senior Ryan Sanchez and sophomore Jack Oreal making the CAL All-Star list. Sanchez hit .266 (17-for-64) with a team-best 10 RBI and a home run, while Oreal did his best work on the mound with a 3-2 record, a 2.46 ERA and 28 Ks in 31.1 IP.
Up next, Triton senior ace Nick Bonasera now ends his career a two-time All-CAL selection. The righty was an absolute workhorse again this spring, leading our area in strikeouts (70) while being second in innings pitched (55.1) to go along with a 1.65 ERA. The Vikings then saw junior utility player Gavin Fraser, who led our area by far with a .500 average (27-for-54), make the CAL All-Star Second Team.
Then heading down the road to West Newbury, Luke Pergola is putting together quite the career for Pentucket. After being named a CAL All-Star last year, the junior pitcher made the leap up to the All-CAL First Team this spring. And it’s easy to see why, as the righty posted a 5-3 record with a 1.98 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched, while also batting .328 (21-for-64) with 17 runs scored and 9 RBI. The Panthers then got to celebrate junior shortstop Julien Powers, who hit a team-best .362 (25-for-69) with 18 RBI, being named a CAL All-Star.
Finally, Amesbury earned two CAL All-Stars in senior DJ DiCarlo and junior Josh Roberts. A three-sport standout, DiCarlo wrapped up his final high school athletic season leading a young Redhawks team to the Division 4 playoffs, while also eating up 45.1 innings on the mound. Then Roberts did a bit of everything, hitting a team-best .406 (28-for-69) with 14 runs and 10 RBI, while also posting a 3.12 ERA and 40 Ks in 51.2 IP.
Here are the complete league All-Star teams for the 2025 CAL season.
All-CAL First Team
Essex Tech: Jacoby Casinelli-Tarasuik, Jr., P/SS; Georgetown: Oliver Thibeault, Jr., P/3B; Ty Southall, Soph., P/INF/OF; Hamilton-Wenham: Gian Gamelli, Sr., 1B; Cormac Heney, Jr., P/SS; Ipswich: Jake Petradelis, Sr., SS; Lynnfield: Tyler Adamo, Sr., SS; Luke DiSilvio, Jr., P/3B; Manchester Essex: Connor St. Laurent, Soph., P/1B; Newburyport: Evan Luekens, Sr., P; North Reading: Matt Mancinelli, Jr., C; Gavin Brady, Jr., CF; Pentucket: Luke Pergola, Jr., P/RF; Rockport: Chase Wheat, Sr., IF/P/2B; Triton: Nick Bonasera, Sr., P/OF
CAL All-Star Second Team
Amesbury: DJ DiCarlo, Sr., P/OF; Josh Roberts, Jr., P/3B; Essex Tech: Cole Waterman, Sr., 1B; Georgetown: Brendan Loewen, Jr., SS; Hamilton-Wenham: Cole Scanlon, Sr., OF; Galen Calark-Goldfield, Sr., 2B; Chase Cann, Jr., C; Ipswich: Brady Merry, Soph., INF/P; Lynnfield: Walter Radulski, Sr., 1B/P; Nick Groussis, Sr., OF/INF; Charlie Morgan, Sr., OF; Manchester Essex: Adam Macleod, Jr., OF; Chris Helm, Jr., OF; Mike Harris, Frosh., SS/P; Newburyport: Ryan Sanchez, Sr., 1B; Jack Oreal, Soph., P; North Reading: Ethan Quan, Jr., P; Christian Lava, Soph., OF; Pentucket: Julien Powers, Jr., SS; Rockport: Josiah Whitley, Sr., OF/1B; Triton: Gavin Fraser, Jr., P/2B/OF
Miscellaneous Awards
Kinney MVP: Matt Mancinelli, North Reading.
Baker MVP: Gian Gamelli and Cormac Heney, Hamilton-Wenham.
Coach of the Year (Kinney): Eric Archambault, North Reading.
Coach of the Year (Baker): Reggie Maidment, Hamilton-Wenham.
Sportsmanship: North Reading (Kinney); Ipswich (Baker).
Champions: Lynnfield (Kinney); Hamilton-Wenham (Baker).