Gators’ hurler Magliozzi eager to play Cape ball
Johnny Magliozzi has a motor that keeps on running.
The 20-year-old Milton native just finished up his freshman season on the University of Florida baseball team that culminated with a trip to the College World Series in Omaha.
The hurler appeared in 16 games for the Gators, whose season began in mid-February and concluded June 18 with a 5-4 loss to Kent State in Omaha.
After a few days off and taking in a Red Sox game with a few of his Florida teammates, Magliozzi reported to the Falmouth Commodores Sunday for a summer of ball in the Cape League.
“I’ve heard nothing but good things about the kid,” said Falmouth manager Jeff Trundy.
“I know he’s an ultracompetitive kid who logged some pretty good innings at Florida. He’s had a lot of success. It’s always neat when you can have a Massachusetts kid come down and compete for us.”
A 5-foot-10, 195-pound righthander, Magliozzi finished 4-3 with a 5.03 earned run average for the Gators, who were ranked No. 1 in the country for the majority of the season. Making six starts and 10 appearances in relief, he allowed only five walks in 34 innings while striking out 21 batters.
A graduate of the Dexter School in Brookline who played his first two years of high school ball at Milton High, Magliozzi hopes to draw a starting assignment for the Commodores. Much of his success at Florida, however, came working out of the pen.
He posted his first collegiate victory in an 8-5 win over Miami on March 4, working one inning of scoreless relief. Magliozzi then picked up three wins in an 11-day span to boost his record to 4-0. He began the stretch by throwing four innings of one-run ball in a start against Samford, striking out a career-high six batters.
Next, on in relief against Florida State, he induced an inning-ending double play after the Seminoles had loaded the bases in the sixth inning in an eventual 4-1 win for Florida. Magliozzi also was credited with the win in relief when he worked out of bases-loaded jam in a 9-4 win over Ole Miss.
“I expected to go down there and contribute and throw a lot of innings for them,” said Magliozzi, who relies on a fastball that tops out at 94 to 96 miles per hour. “I just wanted to go down there and work as hard as I could and contribute during my first year.”
Now his thoughts turn to the Cape, and a league that has always been a dream destination.
Magliozzi, who was drafted by Tampa Bay in the 35th round of the First-Year Player Draft last summer, hopes to impress the Major League scouts who follow the Cape League.
“I’ll be draft eligible next year, and I’m hoping that the Cape will help with that,” said Magliozzi, who combines a changeup with his fastball to keep batters off balance. Magliozzi is also working on a cutter and a slider.
“I can’t wait to show them what I have this summer and really open some eyes. I’m excited to pitch down there. It’s always been a dream to pitch down on the Cape.”
During draft, NHL squads pluck trio from Nobles
Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Chris Calnan.
The recent National Hockey League draft was an exciting time on the campus of the Noble and Greenough School in Dedham, with three players from the school hockey team being selected.
Rising senior wing Chris Calnan went to the Chicago Blackhawks in the third round, the 79th overall selection after tallying 28 goals and 27 assists last season.
The Minnesota Wild used their fourth-round pick (98th overall) to select junior center Adam Gilmour of Hanover, who skates alongside Calnan. Both players have committed to defending NCAA Division 1 champion Boston College. Gilmour registered 26 goals and 30 assists this past season.
The Ottawa Senators selected defenseman Tim Boyle of Hingham in the fourth round. The younger brother of Brian Boyle , currently playing for the New York Rangers, he will attend Union College this fall.
A nephew of former NHLer Jeremy Roenick, the 6-2, 195-pound Calnan is considering two options for the coming year: returning to Nobles as a student only while skating for the South Shore Kings of the Eastern Junior Hockey League, or playing for Waterloo of the United States Hockey League. He will attend BC in 2013.
Nicholson earns accolades as Brandeis utility player
Walpole’s Pat Nicholson was jack-of-all-trades for the Brandeis baseball team this season. The senior graduate student earned second-team All-ECAC Division 3 New England selection as a utility player, while also earning first team All-University Athletic Association honors.
Nicholson played first base, was designated hitter, and pitched, leading the Judges with a .384 batting average. He was second with seven doubles and tied for second with 15 RBIs and two home runs, while finishing third with a .535 slugging percentage and 16 runs scored.
Nicholson had a team-high 15-game hitting streak and had 13 multihit games. On the mound, Nicholson logged 35.2 innings in eight appearances, including six starts. He went 0-4 with a save and a 4.79 ERA, second-lowest on the squad.
Nicholson, who missed his junior season with an injury, batted .330 with 67 RBIs and four home runs for his career. He had 10 wins and eight saves, fourth on the Brandeis career list, and finished with a 4.15 earned-run average.