Ex-Nipmuc pitcher coaches deep staff 

By Chris Villani

Sports Writer

Nipmuc High graduate Anthony Leonelli was coaching college baseball at Pine Manor in Chestnut Hill when the season, and the school, came to an abrupt end amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 Nipmuc Baseball player Liam O’Connell. Courtesy photo

“Our school closed due to the pandemic,” Leonelli said. “I was kind of all done with baseball coaching and then the Nipmuc job opened and it was the number one high school job in America that I would be interested in.”

Just over two decades removed from winning a state championship with the Warriors, Leonelli is coaching a 2023 roster that is led by its deep pitching staff. 

 Nipmuc Baseball players Josh Giancola (#9), Liam O’Connell (#5) and Colin Burchard (#6). Courtesy photo

Senior Colin Burchard has been at the top of the rotation. Junior Dan Heisler posted a sub-1.00 ERA through his first couple of starts and sophomore Dylan Muccini has been strong as well.

“All three of those guys have been excellent,” Leonelli said. “We just need to do a better job scoring some runs and catching the ball.”

Leonelli said Nipmuc is looking to compete for a Dual Valley Conference championship and contend in the Central Mass. tournament at the end of the regular season. The pitching staff also gives Nipmuc a chance to have success in the statewide tournament if the Warriors land a spot there.

“Our staff is 100% built for the tournament if we can catch it and hit it when we need to,” the coach said. “We have to do the little things in order to do the big things and just take care of the next thing in front of us and see where it goes.”

The top offensive threat for Nipmuc is junior centerfielder Anthony Ruggiero, who is already committed to play at Northeastern.

“I usually default to ‘everything was better back in my day,’ but this kid has got the prettiest swing I have seen and I have seen just about every Nipmuc player for the past 30 years,” Leonelli said.

Ruggiero hit three home runs through the team’s first seven games and Leonelli said the number would be higher if some of the teams Nipmuc played had a fence.

Leonelli’s return has been made even sweeter by having his dad Nick and former Valley Tech coach Scott Felper on his staff.

“It’s been great,” Leonelli said. “I missed being around high school athletes and it’s my hometown. I had such a great experience playing here and I want these kids to have just as good an experience.”