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2026 Spring Team Preview: St. John’s Prep (MA)

DANVERS, Ma. - If the pitching holds up it could be another strong season for St. John’s Prep.

“Good defense and pitching will be the keys,” explained long-time mentor Dan Latarte, who is now in his 34th year of coaching at St. John’s Prep, including 13 as head coach. “It will be important to hold our opponents runs down.”

A year ago, the Eagles advanced to the Final Eight in Division I, but the losses to graduation will be difficult to replace. Shortstop Will Shaheen (Duke), outfielder Nic Lembo (High Point), 3B/RHP James Willett (Bowdoin), LHP Braden Hurley (Bowdoin) and RHP Rowan Cormier (Rivier University) leave holes to fill.

“I feel our strength this season is catching, especially depth at the position,” Latarte said. “Our weakness is the lack of returning innings pitched.”

Joe Eberhart, a right-hander committed to UMass Lowell, was 2-0 with two saves and returns to anchor the staff, with senior southpaw Jeremiah Ramirez, a Mississippi Valley State signee who plays outfield, another pitcher.

The middle of the field will be well covered with Brady Baldassare manning center field, Christian McCarthy at shortstop, Jim DiCarlo at second base and Conor Durney behind the plate. McCarthy, a junior, batted .358 last year while DiCarlo, the 22nd-rated junior shortstop in Massachusetts, carried a .320 average his sophomore season. Durney, the 32nd-ranked 2027 catcher in New England, hit .343 a year ago.

“I love the work ethic of this team,” Latarte related. “It’s the kind that grinds in the weight room and comes ready to practice, willing to get better.”

Collin Thornburgh, Owen Flanagan and Matt Rabito are newcomers that Latarte believes can play major roles this season. Thornburgh is a junior RHP/3B, Flanagan a sophomore right-handed pitcher and Rabito a 2028 RHP/1B.

“This is a program that wants to compete at the highest level and play the best competition,” explained Latarte about St. John’s, which won state championships in 1999 and 2000 and made all six Super 8 tournaments from 2014-2019. “We want our players to be prepared to play in college.”

League play traditionally brings that strong competition Latarte strives for his teams to face.

“The Catholic Conference is always tough,” concluded Latarte, who enters this year with a head coaching record of 173-72. “It has had a team represented in the state finals 10 of the last 13 years.”

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