BEAU KNOWS: Princeton Day School baseball player Beau Horan is serious about having a big senior season. The star shortstop and team tri-captain, a top recruit for the highly-regarded Division III school Williams College (Mass.) and its baseball program, figures to be a key player for PDS as it looks to rebound from a 4-14 season in 2011. The Panthers, now 1-1 this spring after an 11-1 loss to St. Augustine last Saturday, will be hosting the Hill School (Pa.) on April 4, the George School on April 5, South Hunterdon on April 9, and Princeton High on April 10.

Working a bunch of new players into its lineup last spring, the Princeton Day School baseball team went through a transition phase.

After struggling to a 4-14 mark in 2011, the PDS players are primed to show what they learned from the tough spring.

“I think the mood is upbeat and the guys are excited about the season,” said PDS head coach Ray O’Brien.

The Panthers showed progress on their annual preseason trip to Florida in late March.

“We only had gym time and parking lot time before we went down to Florida because our field here wasn’t ready,” said O’Brien.

“We went 3-3 down there. The last game was official and we won 11-6 over Apollo Ridge High from Spring Church, Pa. I was pleased with the effort and attitude on the trip.”

In O’Brien’s view, the 2012 squad boasts good experience with an infusion of young talent.

“It is a good group of seniors,” said O’Brien, noting that three members of the Class of 2012, Jacob Eisenberg, Beau Horan, and Sean McCoy, are serving as team captains.

“We have four freshmen (Jake Alu, Ross Colton, JP Radvany, and Cole McManimon) who have come in and they are all going to make a contribution.”

PDS has several pitchers who should be able to make valuable contributions this spring as seniors Matt Cook, Tom Keegan, and Jacob Eisenberg together with junior Greg Auerbach and freshmen McManimon and Alu figure to get innings.

“Cook and Eisenberg were steady and gave us a lot of innings last year,” said O’Brien, whose club moved to 1-1 with an 11-1 loss to St. Augustine last Saturday and will be hosting the Hill School (Pa.) on April 4, the George School on April 5, South Hunterdon on April 9, and Princeton High on April 10.

“Greg Auerbach threw the ball well in Florida. I think we have three good arms at the top end of the rotation. Tom Keegan had an injury bug and we are hoping he can come around. We have some freshmen who can eat up some innings for us. Cole McManimon is a tall kid who is throwing well. Alu should also pitch.”

The pitchers will benefit from a strong infield which has been coming together nicely.

“We have Sean McCoy at third base; he is one of the senior captains and he is playing well,” said O’Brien.

“Beau Horan is another senior captain and he is looking very good; he should be one of the best shortstops in the area. He has played pretty much since his freshman year. He has committed to Williams College so it is good that he is settled. Ross Colton is doing a real nice job. He is fielding well and I think he will be able to hit some. We have another freshman, J.P. Radvany, at first base; he was probably our best hitter in Florida. Bradley Freid has one year of catcher under his belt,  we are looking for him to be better.”

PDS hopes to be better across the outfield as well. “We have B.J. Dudeck in center field again, he is playing well,” said O’Brien.

“We are looking at Cook in left field when he is not pitching. Rob Colton surprised us down in Florida; he did a good job. We will also use Alu out there.”

With the implementation of BBCOR (Batted Ball Coefficient of Restitution) bats this spring, which have a smaller “sweet spot” with balls coming off them more like wood, the PDS offense will look to manufacture runs.

“We have five proven hitters in Dudeck, McCoy, Horan, Cook, and Freid; we had good offensive numbers last year,” said O’Brien.

“I think the freshmen will make a contribution. We will have to go back to some small ball and scratch some runs across. We don’t have mashers so I think it works well for us.”

O’Brien is confident that things will go well this spring. “I think we have the potential to do well, if the pieces fall into place,” said O’Brien. “We will go as far as our pitching takes us. We are optimistic.”