Pictured last summer for Medfield MIBL, Dennis Folan (16) will serve as one of three Medfield High School varsity baseball senior co-captains in 2021. Photo by Mike Flanagan.
By Mike Flanagan
Hometown Weekly Sports Editor
Medfield High School varsity baseball was absolutely stacked heading into 2020 and ready to compete for a TVL and state championship.
Then, along came COVID.
A year later, the expectations of competing for the conference, sectional and state championships still remain intact. The roster may look a little different than it did in 2020, but at the center of it is a core of college-bound players ready to make their mark.
Leading Medfield in 2021 will be three senior co-captains: Stonehill-bound infielder Dennis Folan, Skidmore-bound pitcher and first baseman Sam Kornet and Tufts-bound catcher and outfielder Ben Leonard.
Two other big bats returning for the Warriors are senior outfielder Sam Palmer and Pepperdine-committed junior shortstop Jack Goodman.
Even with everything going in the world last summer, the Medfield boys were allotted the opportunity to return to the diamond. With the summer American Legion season cancelled, the Major Independent Baseball League was formed by local high school and Legion coaches to allow players the opportunity to keep their skills fresh. Medfield's team, nicknamed the River Rats, turned out to be a powerhouse in the league. All of Folan, Kornet, Leonard, Goodman and Palmer turned out to be major contributors for the River Rats, who went 12-3 in the regular season and then won their way to the league championship series against Ashland. Medfield ultimately fell 2-1 to Ashland. However, the Medfield boys proved to both themselves and their competition that the high expectations they had for themselves in the spring of 2020 were entirely warranted. In 2021, Folan says he and his teammates will look to bring that "rat-pack" mentality back to the diamond for Medfield High School.
"We were a very strong team both offensively and defensively," said Folan. "Our expectation for the season is to pick up where we left off last summer and continue building upon it. The goal is to ultimately win the state championship. We have the bats, and we have the gloves. We’re ready."
Spring athletes in 2021 will be the first group allowed the chance to play in a postseason since the pandemic began. Folan says the MIAA's decision to institute a postseason and state championship for spring athletes is welcomed by he and his teammates as they look to make up for lost time.
"Playing in a postseason and having a chance at a state championship is huge motivation not only for me, but for all of the guys," said Folan. "Everyone has been working extremely hard in the offseason in hopes of playing for a title, and thankfully, we have the opportunity this year after losing our season due to COVID last year."
For funny and incisive sports analysis as well as video highlights of games, follow Mike Flanagan on his personal Twitter and Instagram handles @flano0.
