By Chris Villani

Blackstone Valley Tech’s baseball team has enjoyed a great deal of success at the Division IV level, but moving up to DIII this spring has not stopped the Beavers from a fast start and seven wins through their first eight games.

“We have had a really strong schedule to open up the year,” said head coach John Burke. “But we have played some good ball.”

BVT started the year with the likes of Bellingham, Westbrook, Auburn, Hopedale, and Bay Path, all of whom are perennial playoff contenders and strong programs. The volume of talent on the Valley Tech roster has been a key driver behind the team’s success.

 

“In years past, we have been more reliant on a few guys,” Burke said. “But now, we have a lot of depth in the lineup and the rotation, so we have a lot of guys we can trust both taking the ball on the mound and who can do damage in the lineup.”

Junior Alex Vosburgh made a strong jump to start the year, hitting north of .420 with nine extra base hits through the first eight games. Fellow captain Corey Magill, a senior, is also hitting well over .400 and is nearing 100 hits for his BVT career. Sophomore Jack Marino is another .400 hitter who is driving the Beavers’ lineup.

“These guys have been really good offensively,” Burke said.

Magill and Marino are also key cogs in the Valley Tech pitching rotation. Senior D.J. Garabedian and junior Luke Charron are also talented pitchers, with the latter settling into a two-inning shutdown role in relief. 

The Beavers came into 2024 following a 15-8 record last season and a first round victory in the state tournament. Burke said that, even with the higher level competition, his team is focused on continuing to play good team baseball.

“We picked up a little bit more toughness in our schedule throughout the year, and I would say we are a little bit ahead of schedule in terms of how well the guys have been playing,” the coach said. “Defensively, we are playing well. The pitchers are throwing strikes, and the offense is hitting everything hard and putting the ball in play.”

Burke said the goals for this spring include picking up some playoff wins, making a deep run in the tournament, and “enjoying the ride along the way.”

“We have to continue what we have been doing by raising the floor of expectations,” Burke said. “We have seen the potential when we play real clean baseball, now it’s a matter of fulfilling that every time we go out onto the field.