BOSTON – In the midst of Fall Ball, Suffolk baseball has dubbed four upperclassmen as captains for the 2023 campaign, head coach Anthony Del Prete unveiled Friday morning. Graduate students Marc Birbiglia and Timothy McCarthy, fifth-year senior George Breslin and junior Garret Roberts earned the call to share the leadership responsibilities of the Rams for next year.
"We are excited and proud to announce our four captains for the 2023 season: Marc (Birbiglia), George (Breslin), Tim (McCarthy) and Garret (Roberts), Del Prete said. "Each of these four individuals bring unique skill sets to lead our team. They are committed to both their individual achievement and improvement, but also the team's growth and success."
The foursome, all of whom step into the role for the first time in their careers at Suffolk, is the first set of captains of the Mutts since the 2020 campaign when the blue-and-gold saw tri-captains, Tim Brigham, BSBA '19, MSMKT '21, Parker Browne, BSBA '21 and Rich Gilbride, BSBA '21. Suffolk has not been led by four players since 2017 when Matthew Brenner, BSBA '17, Sean Cameron, BS '17, Chuck Gibson, BSBA '17 and Brady Chant, BSBA '18 shared the role. That year, the Rams made the program's longest run in the NCAAs, two games shy of the NCAA Division III World Series.
Birbiglia and McCarthy opted in for their fifth-year after completing their undergraduate degrees last May. The twosome strive to send Suffolk back to the NCAAs after a four-year hiatus. In order to do so they both will have to improve upon their career numbers from a year ago.
Birbiglia was a Third-Team All-CCC left fielder in 2022. The Saint James, New York, native tallied 43 hits and 26 RBI behind a .301 average with 33 runs scored and eight stolen bases. McCarthy, a second baseman from Beverly, Massachusetts, logged 12 hits on a .316 connection rate, brought in five runs and scored nine himself. The pair were foes throughout the summer, competing in the North Shore Baseball League. McCarthy's team, the Beverly Recs, captured the championship over Birbiglia's, the Peabody Champions.
Roberts emerged on the Suffolk scene as a sophomore transfer who started his collegiate career at UMass Lowell. The two-way player from Stratham, New Hampshire, was a contributor from the get-go in the infield and on the mound. The lead-off hitter rounded out the year as an all-league second-team selection with 37 hits and 27 RBI behind a .327 average with 36 runs scored and nine stolen bases. On the bump, the righty proved to be the most successful in relief with three saves to his credit. He fanned 29 batters over 30.0 innings of action.
Breslin has been consistent in Suffolk's starting rotation over the last two years. Over four seasons the Milton, Massachusetts local, has seen action in 20 outings with a dozen starts under his belt. In 2022, the right-hander registered three wins, no losses in his nine appearances with 19 punchouts. Breslin worked on his craft throughout the summer in a championship season with Al Thomas Baseball Club in the Yawkey League. Michael James Jr., a Suffolk graduate student, who returns to the Rams' outfield this year, joined Breslin in the YBL and helped Al Thomas to the franchise's first back-to-back titles.
Both Breslin and Roberts represented the Rams alongside Suffolk alum, current NESN anchor Adam Pellerin, BS '02, in the Old Time Baseball Game this August. The game is a celebration of the nation's pastime, played each year at St. Pete's Field in North Cambridge for charity.
Suffolk will continue to work on its game throughout the fall in preparation for the 2023 campaign where the Rams intent to be a top contender in the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) crown race.