Bravehearts

Worcester, MA -The Worcester Bravehearts have announced the signings of fourteen players to their 2022 roster, all of which are from Central Massachusetts. This list includes three returners, highlighted by 2021 FCBL All-Star and Holden-Native LJ Keevan (UMass-Lowell).

The lefty reliever Keevan went 2-0 in ten appearances last summer, striking out 44 batters in 23.2 innings pitched. Returning to the Bravehearts with him will be 2020 reliever and Marlborough-native Hunter Reynolds (Franklin Pierce) and 2021 reliever Jared Kapurch, who graduated from St. Peter Marian High School before heading to St. Petersburg College.

Kapurch will be reunited with two former Saint Peter Marian teammates for the 2022 season. Worcester-Native Frankie Hernandez (Monmouth) and Former Westfield Starfire Kosta Drosidis (Anna Maria) will now sign with their home-town team. Hernandez was named a 2019 Central Mass Telegram and Gazette All-Star while Drosidis played a big role in helping St. Peter Marian to a Central Mass Championship in 2018. 

The Bravehearts will add to their Worcester-grown talent with Doherty High School’s own David Pedanou (Dayton). The infielder was named a 2021 T&G Hometeam All-star while playing for the Highlanders. Worcester Academy’s Kyle Rizy (Bryant) and Nate Novia (AIC) will join the arms in the Bravehearts pitching rotation. Rizy held a career 1.30 ERA at Worcester Academy in five seasons of varsity baseball with the Hilltoppers. Before attending Worcester Academy, Novia starred at Holy Name Central Catholic High School.

Matt Livingston (Siena) will be the latest player to continue the St John’s and Shrewsbury Post 397 pipeline. The first baseman was a team captain for the Pioneers and was named the 2019 New England American Legion MVP, helping Post 397 to the American Legion World Series. 

Holden-Native and Wachusett High School Senior Mike Simes will enter his first season with the Bravehearts before joining his hometown friend Keevan at UMass-Lowell. 2021 Milford Daily News Male Athlete of the Year  Alex Luccini out of Hopedale will also join Keevan and Simes in Lowell as he enters his freshman season.

Boston College-Commit AJ Colarusso, will join the Bravehearts bullpen after completing his spring season at Groton School. Worcester-Native and Quabbin Regional High School Graduate Gavin Price (Fairleigh Dickinson) will also get a chance to play the infield for the Bravehearts as a two-way player. Auburn-native and former three-sport athlete at Auburn High Kyle Sebastyanski (Elms) will round out the bullpen.

“Local talent is key to winning in the Futures Collegiate Baseball League,” said Worcester Bravehearts Manager Alex Dion. “ I’m confident these fourteen players are going to help us not only on the field, but in the locker room and in the community. Fans should be extremely excited to watch these talented athletes this summer”