The Cranston East baseball team encountered some struggles last season in an extremely deep Division I, finishing the season with a record of 4-14.

But with a mix of experienced players and newly-infused youth, the ’Bolts are hoping for better results this season.

“We’re looking to improve,” head coach Mike Walsh said. “We have some guys coming back and some young guys who are looking to step in and have success.”

East’s lineup shouldn’t have a problem putting up runs, as its offense should be its biggest strength entering the season.

Returning behind the plate for the ’Bolts will be senior Logan McConaghy, while James Kirwin and Vannak Rourm will compete for time at first base, Alex Whitney and Luis Paulino will occupy shortstop and second base and senior Jorden Turner will occupy third.

The ’Bolts will have some experience in the outfield, as Mike Castillo will patrol centerfield and Harold Corniel will play left field – two players who will reassume their starting roles from a season ago.

In right field, there will be a battle for playing time between junior John Anderson and sophomore Jake Frost.

But despite having some experience throughout its lineup, East will enter this season with a pitching staff that has minuscule experience.

Chrisdione Mendez – a junior – is the only hurler with real varsity experience in the rotation this spring. As a result, he has been deemed the ace of the staff – at least as of now.

Other pitchers that should log innings this season are Zachary Heald, Anthony Zapata and Harrison Sailer.

“Offensively, we should be okay,” Walsh said. “Defensively, we’re not really sure. The big question will be the pitching group, which has only pitched a total of 20 varsity innings. They’ll have to get better as the season goes on and throw strikes. The key will be throwing strikes.”

In a talented 22-team league, Walsh admitted that titles are difficult to win, but he did set an early goal for the ’Bolts going into the first week of the season.

“Our goal is to be in the playoffs,” Walsh said. “Our team hasn’t been in the playoffs the last two years. Division championships are hard to come by, but we want to make the playoffs, then we’ll see what happens.”

The weather has affected the ’Bolts’ preparation for the season, as they’re limited as to how much they can do indoors.

In terms of Cranston Stadium – East’s home field – there is still a little bit of snow on it according to Walsh and the field won’t be worked on until the field is clear.

East has already had to rearrange its schedule because of field conditions, but it will finally get its season underway next Wednesday at La Salle, which was kind enough to move the game to its home field, as the game was originally supposed to be at Cranston Stadium. The Rams have a turf field, so they haven’t had to deal with the headaches that coaches with grass fields have had to deal with.

East’s first home game, as it stands, will be on Saturday, April 18, at 1 p.m. Walsh is hoping that his team can conduct full practices before then.

Because of the cancellations, East will most likely have a high number of games in very few days towards the end of the season, so East’s pitching staff will have to be efficient with little rest in-between games.

“It’s going to be tough for everybody,” Walsh said. “If we throw strikes, we’ll be okay. We’re not short on arms, but we’re short on experience. We’re going to put them out there and see how they react.”

Hopefully, for the ’Bolts’ sake, the staff will react well because it may be a big factor in determining whether or not they make it back to the postseason.