The predicament that the Georgetown baseball team found itself in heading into this season was well documented … but worth reiterating.
It’s the reality of the cycle of high school sports, but the Royals knew that starting pitchers Ty Gilmore, Carter Lucido — both Daily News All-Stars — and Ethan Lee had graduated out. What they couldn’t have predicted, however, was that a few days before the start of the season, our reigning Daily News MVP, Hayden Ruth, was going to tear both his ACL and PCL. In an instant, the team’s .450-hitting leadoff batter, and someone who had a 7-0 record and 1.07 ERA a year ago, was just … poof … gone for the year.
All of a sudden, a starting rotation — and lineup — already with big question marks got dealt what could have been a death blow.
But in stepped Ty Southall.
Our 2025 Daily News Baseball MVP, everyone around the Cape Ann League this year quickly got to know Southall’s name. Mainly just a spot-reliever and occasional second baseman as a freshman on a loaded Georgetown team a year ago, as a sophomore this spring, Southall grew into both an ace for the team, as well as a feared hitter at the very top of the order. As a left-handed batter he hit .343 (22-for-64) with 17 runs scored, and as a right-handed pitcher he posted a 6-2 record with a microscopic 0.70 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 50.0 innings pitched.
And it started from Game 1.
Against Whittier Tech during Georgetown’s season opener, Southall tossed four scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a win. His work on the mound also included a complete-game one-hitter with eight punchouts against Rockport, a complete-game gem with 10 Ks against Manchester Essex, and another complete game in a win over Amesbury where he allowed just one earned run with five Ks. Then at the plate, he had a pair of 2-for-3 days against both North Reading (RBI) and Manchester, as well as a 2-for-4, 2-RBI night against Pentucket. In a win over Mystic Valley, he went 1-for-3 with two runs scored, before picking up the save on the hill.
With how it started during the preseason, it was looking like a lost season.
But Southall made sure that Georgetown (11-11) was still competitive in the CAL and made it back to the Division 5 Round of 16.
You could argue that the Bert Spofford Tournament is the “start” of postseason play, and against Amesbury in the opening round, Southall threw a complete-game four-hitter with 10 Ks while also going 2-for-3 at the plate to power the win. He again got the call for Georgetown’s Div. 5 playoff opener against Lenox, and would strike out six over six innings of work while going 1-for-2 with a stolen base in a 3-1 win. The Royals would fall to eventual state champion Pioneer Valley in the Round of 16, but he would go 1-for-3 while scoring a run during the game.
A two-sport standout, Southall was also our Daily News Golf MVP as a freshman during the 2023 fall season.
Josh Roberts
Amesbury, Jr., P/INF
Multi-year starter was named a Second Team CAL All-Star. Junior tri-captain helped Amesbury (5-17) make the Division 4 playoffs. Finished second in the area batting .406 (28-for-69) with 14 runs scored and 10 RBI. Also posted a 3.12 ERA on the mound with 40 strikeouts in 51.2 innings pitched. Threw a complete-game with seven Ks, while also going 2-for-2 with a two-run double, in a 5-3 win over St. Mary’s Parish in the Div. 4 preliminary round. Followed with a 2-for-4 performance with an RBI against Lynnfield in the first round. A 5-for-5 day with two runs scored against Hamilton-Wenham. Went 2-for-4 with an RBI, while also throwing a complete game with only one earned run, against eventual Division 3 state champion North Reading. Had a pair of 2-for-3 days against Georgetown (2 RBI) and Rockport, and other two-hit games against Triton and Winthrop (RBI).
Oliver Thibeault
Georgetown, Jr., P/3B
Multi-year starting third baseman was named to the 15-person All-CAL First Team. Posted a 3-3 record, a 1.84 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 53.1 innings pitched. Also hit a team-best .371 (23-for-62) with 12 RBI. Quad-captain helped Georgetown (11-11) reach the Division 5 Round of 16. Pitched 8.0 innings with one earned run against eventual state champion Pioneer Valley in the Sweet 16. Had a 16-pitch save against Lenox in the first round. Tossed a complete-game with 9 Ks in a 1-0 shutout of Ipswich. Went 1-for-3 with a double and also earned the save in a 5-4 win over Lowell Catholic. Pitched 7.0 innings with only two earned runs against eventual Division 3 state champion North Reading. A 5-for-5 night with the walk-off single in the 11th to beat Hamilton-Wenham. Also went 3-for-4 with two RBI against Amesbury, and 2-for-3 with an RBI against Manchester-Essex. Hit .305 with 24 runs scored and 18 RBI as a sophomore.
Brendan Loewen
Georgetown, Jr., SS
Two-year starting shortstop picked up his first CAL All-Star Second Team nod this spring. Hit .313 (21-for-67) with 11 runs scored and 10 RBI. Quad-captain helped Georgetown (11-11) reach the Division 5 Round of 16. Had an RBI-single against eventual state champion Pioneer Valley in the Sweet 16. Went 2-for-2 with a three-run triple in a win over Manchester Essex. A 3-for-4 performance with three RBI against Rockport, and a 3-for-5 night with two RBI in an 11-inning win over Hamilton-Wenham. Had RBI-singles against Ipswich, Pentucket and eventual Division 3 state champion North Reading. Hit .349 with 24 runs scored and 18 RBI last spring as a sophomore. Also a two-time Daily News Basketball All-Star. Averaged 9.0 ppg with 20 3s to lift Georgetown to the Division 4 State Championship this winter.
Evan Luekens
Newburyport, Sr., P
Ends career a two-time Daily News All-Star. Bumped up to the 15-person All-CAL First Team this year after being named a CAL All-Star as a junior. Hard-throwing 6-foot-4 righty is committed to pitch at Roger Williams University. Went out posting a 5-3 record with a 2.46 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched. Co-captain helped Newburyport (14-8) make the Division 3 playoffs. Pitched 6.0 innings with six Ks and only three earned runs against Shawsheen Tech in the Div. 3 first round. Went the distance with 12 strikeouts and no earned runs in a 3-1 win over Amesbury. Tossed 7.0 innings with nine Ks in a shutout of Rockport. Another 10 punchouts in a complete-game, 5-2 win over Manchester Essex. Had a 3-4 record with a 2.36 ERA and 60 Ks in 50.1 IP last year as a junior. Honor Roll student finished Newburyport career with a combined 2.42 ERA and 158 Ks in 139.0 IP.
Jack Oreal
Newburyport, Soph., P/OF
Mainly a high-leverage reliever as a freshman, stepped up to earn his first CAL All-Star Second Team nod. Pitches righty but bats lefty. Hit .245 (13-for-53) with 13 runs scored and 6 RBI. Posted a 3-2 record with a 2.46 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched. Helped Newburyport (14-8) reach the Division 3 playoffs. Went 1-for-3 against Shawsheen Tech in the first round. Pitched 7.1 scoreless innings with five Ks in an eventual win over rival Triton. A complete-game, 3-hit shutout with five Ks to blank Essex Tech, then tossed another complete game with nine Ks in a win over Pentucket. A six-inning two-hitter with six punchouts in a win over Whittier Tech. Scored the game-winning run against Lynn English, and had hits against Rockport, Haverhill and Manchester Essex (2 RBI). High Honor Roll student at Newburyport is a two-time Daily News Golf All-Star and was our MVP this fall.
Luke Pergola
Pentucket, Jr., P/RF
Earns both his first Daily News All-Star and All-CAL First Team nod this spring, after being named a CAL All-Star as a sophomore. Hit .328 (21-for-64) with 17 runs scored and 9 RBI, and on the mound went 5-3 with a 1.98 ERA and 54 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched. Helped Pentucket (12-10) win the Bert Spofford Tournament and reach the Division 3 playoffs. Tossed 6.2 innings against Blackstone Valley in a preliminary round win. The Spofford Tourney MVP went 7.0 innings with five strikeouts to beat Triton. Struck out nine across 6.0 innings against Newburyport. Went 2-for-3 against both Manchester Essex and Greater Lowell. Threw 7.0 innings with five Ks and an RBI-triple in a win over Whittier Tech, then went 5.0 innings with seven Ks in a win over Ipswich. This after the Pentucket Honor Roll student hit .355 (22-for-62) last year to go along with a 3-1 record and a 2.41 ERA.
Julien Powers
Pentucket, Jr., SS
Three-year varsity player and power-hitting shortstop earned a spot on the CAL All-Star Second Team. Hit a team-best .362 (25-for-69) with 15 runs scored and an area-leading 18 RBI. Tri-captain helped Pentucket (12-10) win the Bert Spofford Tournament and make the Division 3 playoffs. Went 2-for-3 in a preliminary round win over Blackstone Valley. Doubled in the Spofford Tourney finals against Georgetown. Had a 3-for-4 day with a triple and two RBI against Newburyport, and went 2-for-3 with a double and three RBI in a win over Ipswich. Another 3-for-4 performance with three RBI against Georgetown, and a 2-for-4 night with two RBI in a win over Essex Tech. Lined an RBI-single against Greater Lowell. Pentucket Regional Honor Roll student is now batting a career .360 (64-for-178) heading into his senior year.
Nick Bonasera
Triton, Sr., P
Two-year breakout ace ended his career a two-time Daily News All-Star and two-time All-CAL First Team selection. Quad-captain helped Triton (9-12) make the Division 3 playoffs for the fourth straight year. Workhorse led our area in both innings pitched (55.1) and strikeouts (70) to go along with a stellar 1.69 ERA. This after posting a 5-4 record with a 1.76 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 43.2 innings last year as a junior. Threw 6.0 innings with seven strikeouts in the preliminary round against Oakmont. Strong hitter also went a combined 3-for-6 at the plate across two Bert Spofford Tournament games against Pentucket and Amesbury. Thrived against rival Newburyport, throwing 7.0 scoreless innings with 11 Ks during the first meeting, followed by 8.0 scoreless innings with 14 punchouts during the rematch. Needed just 99 pitches to get through 9.0 innings against Essex Tech.
Gavin Fraser
Triton, Jr., P/2B/OF
After breaking out last year as a sophomore, improved in every area this spring to pick up both a Daily News All-Star and CAL All-Star Second Team nod. The best hitter in the area, by far, finished slashing .500 (27-for-54) with 13 RBI. This after batting .333 (21-for-63) a year ago. Helped Triton (9-12) reach the Division 3 playoffs. Had two hits during the team’s postseason game against Oakmont. Also had hits in both Bert Spofford Tournament games against Pentucket and Amesbury. Tossed 6.0 five-hit innings against Middlesex while also going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Went 2-for-3 with an RBI in wins over rival Newburyport and Georgetown. Other big games included a 3-for-5 performance against Essex Tech, as well as a 2-for-4 night with an RBI against Pentucket. Plays AAU baseball for Rip City USA, and will be a college commitment to watch come next year.
Honorable Mention
Amesbury — DJ DiCarlo, Sr., P/OF; Thomas McElaney, Jr., INF; Ethan Kirby, Jr., P/INF
Georgetown — Cole Healy, Sr., OF; Shawn Riley, Jr., P/INF
Newburyport — Ryan Sanchez, Sr., 1B; Sean Estabrook, Jr., P; Sam Luekens, Frosh., P/INF
Pentucket — Tanner Kamuda, Sr., INF; Patrick Stewart, Jr., P; Tedy Cloutier, Jr., C; Noah Meyer, Jr., INF/P; Donovan Yoder, Frosh., OF
Triton — Josh Hersey, Sr., C; Connor Rumph, Sr., INF; Josh Penney, Sr., INF