DelVecchio, Grover, McCarthy, Mulligan tabbed as baseball captains
NEWPORT, R.I. (Monday, January 22, 2024) -- Coming off the greatest single season in program history, Salve Regina University baseball head coach Eric Cirella '05 announces the selection of four team captains for the 2024 campaign -- Tommy DelVecchio (Scotch Plains, N.J.), Brandon Grover (Ashland, Mass.), Wil McCarthy (Pembroke, Mass.), and Sean Mulligan (Verona, N.J.).
"The four captain selections represent voting from each of the players on the team," said Cirella, who has amassed a 256-124-6 (.671) record since taking over the reins from his father, Steve Cirella, in 2014. "I think these young men complement each other very well. They all have different strengths and fill in the gaps that the team needs. They care about the team's needs over their personal needs and do a great job as an extension of the coaching staff."
"Additionally, there may be four captains, but we have a lot of guys who are leaders and who are battle-tested. Over half the roster has experienced NCAA regional play and many have played in two or three."
Cirella on Brandon Grover (SR) OF - third-consecutive captain selection. Brandon is consistent, reliable, and hard-working. He is the same kid every day and that person is someone that I hope all our players strive to be. I cannot say enough good things about him. His level of preparation is unmatched at this level in any sport. He keeps us organized and on track and, most importantly, never lowers the bar... he is always helping the team and the coaches raise the standard of excellence. He holds himself accountable first and he knows when a team or individual effort isn't good enough. That's how mature and cerebral he is as a baseball player and a leader.
Cirella on Tommy DelVecchio (GR) RHP - Another third-time captain selection, Tommy is our loudest and most vocal pitcher by far. He is old school in the sense that he wants to be coached hard and he doesn't like the coaching staff to sugarcoat anything. He demands toughness out of the pitching staff and wants to be around competitors. He is not afraid to let you know if you are being soft. A lot of times a coach is about to give a coaching point to a pitcher and Tommy is already on them doing it for you. He is the kind of kid you want to be in the trenches with.
Cirella on Wil McCarthy (GR) INF - Wil is our most vocal position player by far. I am proud of how much Wil has matured over the last four years and turned himself into an outstanding leader (on and off the field). He cares about winning and he is passionate about having a team that is resilient and that pulls for one another no matter the score or situation. I think he is the glue that holds us together when we hit a rough patch. If he stays focused on the little battles each day, he can help you win a lot of games.
Cirella on Sean Mulligan (SO) RHP - Sean received as many votes as just about any sophomore I have ever coached, so he is certainly deserving. His teammates will tell you that he works as hard as anyone. His coaches will tell you that he competes as hard as anyone. He is soft-spoken off the field but when you get on the field, he is all business. We had enough confidence in him to give him the ball in game 1 of the NCAA Regionals and he delivered his finest performance of the year. I am excited to see what this season brings and how Sean will continue on his impressive trajectory. It will be most important to see how many players he can bring along with him.
NEXT UP
Salve Regina finished 39-10-1 in 2023 with its second straight trip to an NCAA regional final, and opens the 2024 season at Catholic University in Washington, D.C., in a three-game series that also features Stockton and Western New England (February 23-25).