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2025 New England High School Team Previews

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2025 Spring Team Preview: Phillips Academy Andover (MA)

ANDOVER, Ma. - After two seasons coaching in the Chicago Cubs’ organization, Kevin Graber is back in charge of Phillips Academy Andover.

Things changed during his time away, with the Big Blue finishing 7-12 last season.

“I missed being in the classroom,” Graber explained about his return to a program that was ranked number one in New England from 2018-2022. “I missed being on campus with the students.”

While expectations are not where they were when Graber left, there is hope on the horizon according to Graber, who spent 13 seasons as head coach of PA with a 170-60-1 record, including a 116-20 mark from 2014 through 2022. There were Central New England Prep championships in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018 and 2022 (with no titles awarded in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID).

“Starting over the program from scratch excites me,” admitted Graber, whose program boasted a sub-1.00 ERA from 2018-22 and now has three alums playing professional baseball (Thomas White ’23 Marlins first-round pick; Jonathan Santucci ’21 Mets second-round pick; and Jack Penney ’21 Tigers fifth-round pick). “At its height, this program was rolling. This is totally hitting refresh, but I feel we can be better with development than we were even before.”

Boston College commit Luke Gallo, Elon signee Marek Krystofolski and Penn State recruit Robert Brown headline the standouts on the 2025 squad. Gallo is the second-rated senior shortstop in New England, Krystofolski the 15th-ranked 2025 right-handed pitcher in New England and Brown the 11th-rated senior RHP in New England. 

“We have the arms,” noted Graber, pointing to senior Liam Lennon, the ninth-ranked 2025 left-handed pitcher in New England as another key part of the rotation. “We have a lot of them and they are capable.”

But there are holes to fill with the loss of third baseman Isaac Lamson, now playing at Princeton, and catcher Jace Roossien, currently at Boston College.

“The talent is down compared to the program’s glory years, and we’re coming off perhaps the worst season in school history, but this can be a scrappy group that plays hard and forces opponents into uncomfortable situations,” related Graber.

Gallo, the lone returning starter, is “one of the best players I’ve ever had” according to Graber and the cornerstone of an infield that will feature senior Logan Umbach behind the plate and sophomore Micah Krystofolski at second. Umbach, the eighth-ranked 2025 catcher in New England, is a Bates College commit while Krystofolski is the younger brother of Marek.

Juniors Owen Callahan and Boone Fahey along with sophomore Jun An are competing for playing time at first base and third. Caleb Penn and Michael Doherty, a pair of 10th graders, will play in the outfield with the other outfield position up for grabs.

“We have a group of nice kids who are receptive to learning,” Graber explained. “Being the underdog is new for us, and it’ll be a fun challenge.”

Plans are to try and create havoc whenever possible.

“Offensively, we will run every chance we can get,” Graber said. “We will always be trying to do something. We won’t be the most talented team, but we will try to make the opponent uncomfortable.”

Graber, who with the Cubs served as a coach and coordinator and managed the Class AA affiliate, the Tennessee Smokies, to their first Southern League Championship in 45 years (the first title since Tony La Russa was their manager), sees a couple of areas that will determine what takes place this season.

“We will have to find ways to score runs,” Graber said. “We have one bat, Luke Gallo, so we’ll have to get hit by a pitch, bunt, walk, delay steal, squeeze, hit and run … just go crazy with everybody. The execution of our short game offense along with our pitching depth will be the keys to success.”

It has Graber cautiously optimistic.

“Coming off a 7-12 season with only one impactful newcomer in Luke Umbach), perhaps it’s safe to assume, expectations from the others in the region are low,” Graber concluded.

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