NORTH SHORE – (Radio) In this week’s Baseball Insider the Red Sox set their top two starting pitchers for their opening series in Cleveland (4/4 & 4/6). Brock Holt will see plenty of action in left field to start the season and maybe starting on opening day. The North Shore Navigators 2016 roster is coming together for this summer, information below on two pitchers Cole O’Connor and Clay Yianacopolus.
Baseball Insider Andy Carbone with Bill Newell
North Shore Navigators News – O’Conner and Yianacopolus
The North Shore Navigators announced the signings of Cole O’Connor and Clay Yianacopolus to contracts for the 2016 season. Both North Shore natives, O’Connor and Yianacopolus will add depth to a strong Navigator pitching staff.
O’Connor, who is currently a freshman at Dartmouth College, is coming off one of the most impressive rookie summer seasons in Navigators history. Last season, O’Connor went 5-2 with 3.06 ERA in five starts for the Navigators. In 44 innings O’Connor only gave up 15 earned runs while striking out 32 opposing batters. Opposing hitters hit a minuscule .206 against O’Connor.
Cole, a Bedford, Massachusetts native, is the younger brother of former Navigators ace Walker O’Connor. Despite his relatively young age, the Navigators will look to O’Connor to be an anchor in their rotation during the season.
Yianacopolus, a Wakefield, Massachusetts native, is no stranger to the Fraser Field mound as he was the ace of the St. Mary’s High School pitching staff who brought home the 2015 MIAA Division 3 State Championship. The strong left-handed pitcher is currently a freshman at Assumption College.
In one of his most clutch Fraser Field performances of his high school career, Yianacopolus pitched a complete game shutout, only surrendering four hits while striking out seven in a first round playoff match-up against rival Newburyport.
“The Navigators pride themselves in finding local talent right here on the North Shore that is able to compete at a high level,” said Navigators General Manager Bill Terlecky. “Both Cole and Clay are proven talent that will be assets to our pitching staff. We can’t wait to see them on the mound.”
Navigators baseball returns on Opening Night—Saturday, June 4th
