The hits keep coming

Andover-linked players propel Wheaton to eight-game winning streak

Dan Haugh spent the entire summer imagining the moment, when, in his mind, he would have arrived as a college baseball player.

The St. John's Prep graduate from Andover just didn't expect that moment to come in the first game of his collegiate career, in his third at-bat of the day.

"I went into the day just hoping that I could get a hit," said Haugh. "I would've settled for any kind of hit, just to get it out of the way. I'd heard that your first hit is always the hardest to get and once you do, it all flows from there. It was a fastball, and I just remember seeing it coming at me and I was hoping to make any kind of contact."

Haugh certainly made contact.

With Wheaton College teammate Sean Munley (triple) on third with one out in the fifth inning, Haugh belted a 2-2 offering over the fence in left field, sparking the Lyons to a season-opening win over Rochester Institute of Technology on March 7, triggering an eight-game winning streak.

And the 6-foot, 185-pound Haugh has been an impact bat in the middle of the order, leading the 12-1 Lyons, ranked 12th nationally in Division 3, with four home runs, a .460 average and a .740 slugging percentage.

"He's just a good, polished hitter out of high school," said Wheaton head coach Eric Podbelski. "He's a very humble kid, very grounded. He just loves to go out there and play baseball. He's transitioned into college ball very well, because he truly, deep down, loves the game. Kids like that just eat up the extra hours needed to be successful."

His love for the game combined with some familiar faces on the roster has made Haugh's transition from high school to college athletics that much easier.

In fact, reacquainting himself with his new teammates was a little like stepping back into time.

Junior outfielder Paul Malaguti and sophomore southpaw Kevin Calabro, also Andover residents, welcomed the freshman infielder/designated hitter to the lineup. And Jason Clucas, a junior first baseman from Peabody, played with Haugh for two years at St. John's.

"It's definitely great to be playing with these guys again," said Haugh. "I played with Kevin and Paul for four years [with the Andover American Legion team] and Jason for two, so having some guys I already knew on the team made things a lot easier when I first got here. I know how they play, they know how I play, so that chemistry's already there. They really helped me see that Wheaton was the right place for me to play."

Haugh, Calabro, and Malaguti spent four summers playing for Andover Legion, under head coach Joe Iarrobino. Calabro and Haugh have played together since Little League, while Malaguti and Calabro played throughout middle school and were standouts at Andover High.

"Paul and I played together for a long time and when he committed to Wheaton, it really made me think about it more seriously," said Calabro. "I know that him being here my freshman year really helped me a lot. Dan and I have been friends for so long, it's so cool we got to show him the ropes this year. I'm not surprised there are a few Andover kids here. The town strives to produce good baseball players, but also good people. It's definitely a testament to Andover baseball."

Now in his 13th season as head coach, Podbelski said, "Andover High and Andover Legion always have good teams.

"It's become a great resource and we've certainly identified them as a good place to look into each season. They turn out good kids who want to succeed in college. He comes out, ready to play every day. Dan plays his heart out every inning. . . . It's no surprise Paul and Kevin are the same way."

Other incoming locals in the Lyons' lineup are Tyngsborough's Mike Szablak, an outfielder; Eric LaLiberte, a former infielder at Bishop Guertin in Nashua; and outfielder Hal Landers, of Salem, N.H. The Lyons play at Endicott College tomorrow, at 3:30 p.m.

Sapna Pathak can be reached at sportsgalsp@gmail.com