A deep and talented pitching staff, a star catcher and a powerful lineup – indeed, Brunswick School’s baseball team seems to have it all as it enters the 2022 season.

And this season, the Bruins will also have the opportunity to compete in the FAA Tournament.

The 2020 baseball season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and last season was shortened due to COVID precautions, but like everyone else, the Bruins will play a full schedule of games this spring, which will conclude with the FAA Tournament.

“We love this game, so anytime we can play it, it’s a privilege,” said Brunswick coach Johnny Montanez, who is beginning his 12th season as coach of the Bruins. ‘I’m super excited, I think the boys are super excited.”

The Bruins captains are seniors Adonys Guzman, Josh Feldman and Cole Mascolo, all of whom are expected to play pivotal roles once again for their squad.

“I’m especially looking forward to the FAA playoffs,” Guzman said. “I haven’t gotten the chance to play in it, so I’m looking forward to competing against FAA teams and bringing the championship back home.”

Brunswick was scheduled to open its 2022 campaign today with a doubleheader against visiting Belmont Hill School, but Mother Nature didn’t cooperate and the games were canceled due to rain. Instead, the Bruins will begin its season with a home game against Iona Prep on Monday at 4:15 p.m.

Guzman, who is 5-foot-10 and strongly built, is a standout catcher, who will continue his baseball career at Boston College. He batted .560 with a team-high 12 homer runs and 37 RBIs in 2021 for the Bruins and was selected to play in the PerfectGameUSA American Classic in San Diego last summer.

“Adonys is extremely special,” Montanez said. “He controls the running game, he controls the pitching staff and controls the team’s emotions. He’s our quiet leader, but more importantly, he is one of the hardest workers I’ve ever coached. He loves this game and always has a smile on his face. Adonys loves being a captain, he loves learning. After each game and at-bat, he’ll come over and ask for advice. He’s done a phenomenal job of handling the staff.”

Guzman is slated to hit in the No. 3 spot in the order.

“He’s the anchor of our lineup,” Montanez said.

Expected to bat second in the lineup is Mascolo, who has been on the Bruins roster since his freshman year. Mascolo is the starting center fielder and will also see some action on the mound.

“Last year we were a young squad, so this year I think we’re going to be more mature and have a really good group,” said Mascolo, who will play at Elon University next season and is especially embracing his role as captain this season. “The big this for us is to compete and play really hard every day.”

“It feels great being a captain, I love it,” Mascolo continued. “Coach has been great in helping us out and it feels great to lead the team.”

Said Montanez: “Cole is part of the backbone of this team, he’s been with us since freshman year. He went from a kid who just loved the game to a kid who is a huge difference maker. He is a good leader, a kid who leads by example who you love having on your team.”

Pitching shouldn’t be a problem for Brunswick, which has a wealth of athletes capable of taking the mound. Feldman, a 5-11 right-hander, is the squad’s No. 1 starter.

“We look pretty strong this year, we have a couple of minor injuries, but we look strong going into it,” Feldman said. “We have a strong lineup and we look good.”

Montanez knows the team has an ace starter in Feldman.

“He is an unbelievable kid, the anchor of our pitching staff,” Montanez said of Feldman. “Josh is as tough a kid on the mound as I’ve ever coached and we’ve had some great ones here – he’s super special. Josh is a kid who will ask for the ball every time. He never shies away from anyone. While he dominates pitching, we’ve asked more from him. We’ve asked him to play right field, so he starts in right field for us and he bats lead off.”

Feldman likes what he sees from the team on and off the field.

“Our relationship with our teammates is one of our strengths,” he said. “We have good communication back and forth and we have a very strong chemistry this year.”

Sophomore Michael Yeager (6-3) is also expected to power the Bruins on the mound. A right-hander, Yeager has already made a verbal commitment to play at the University of Virginia.

“Michael is strong, he hits the strike zone at a high rate,” Montanez said. “He can play first base and committed to play at Virginia as a freshman. He is one of those guys who loves this game and has bought into the process.”

Junior Boston Flannery (6-4) is beginning his first season on the Bruins. He’s a shortstop and will provide innings as a starter and reliever.

“He is a lights out shortstop and has tremendous foresight for the game,” Montanez said of Flannery, who has committed to play at the University of South Florida. “He runs like the wind.”

Player Crosby, a junior, is also slated to pitch for the Bruins. He is currently working his way back from an injury. Crosby will also see some time in the outfield. Junior Sam Seeley will aid the team as a middle infielder and pitcher, while junior Riley Redahan will play a variety of roles. Redahan can play third base, second base, shortstop and patrol the outfield.

“Riley swings a phenomenal bat and he is in our lineup every day,” Montanez said. “He is our utility guy.”

The lone freshman on the team, Jackson Shepelsky gives the deep pitching staff another strong arm, as will junior Jurgis Schmedlen, who will also play right field.

“There are some very good pitchers on the opposing side, but I feel like we have the best pitchers in the FAA,” Guzman said.

Liam Butler and Wyatt Triestman (6-foot-7) are also hard-throwing pitchers. Triestman, who excelled on the school’s basketball team, is a power hitting first baseman, who is coming back from an ankle injury he sustained during the basketball season. Juniors James Moore and Trip Williams are catchers, senior Kyle Karas is an outfielder and Reed Hyde will pitch and can play first base.

“Our goals this year are to win the FAA Tournament and to compete hard every time we step on the field,” Mascolo said.

Guzman began catching when he first began playing baseball as a 6-year-old. He’s aiming for a big senior season for Brunswick, before heading off to Boston College.

“I am looking forward to just learning each and every day and learning from my failures and becoming a better baseball player at the end of the day,” Guzman said. “We have an amazing amount of potential. I feel like if we play the right way no one can beat us.”