Photos/Sydni Smaller

LYNN, Mass. 一 While the first pitch of Division 1 college baseball in 2024 was thrown just last week, the North Shore Navigators are already looking forward to another summer in the New England Collegiate Baseball League (NECBL) and welcoming back seven returning players to the team.

The returning cast features five pitchers, two of whom hail from neighboring towns to Fraser Field in Peabody native and St. John’s Prep graduate Ryan Bradley (Bryant) and former Swampscott standout Pierce Friedman (Stonehill).

Bradley enjoyed a strong first season out of North Shore’s bullpen in 2023, posting a 3.86 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 11.2 innings. NECBL opponents hit just .139 against the left-hander who did not allow an earned run in 10 of his 13 appearances. A senior at Bryant, Bradley entered this spring with 16 career collegiate outings to his name. 

Friedman joined the Navs last summer following a standout freshman year at Stonehill, where he emerged as a starting pitcher and led the team in innings pitched (52.2) and ERA (3.59). He worked 11.1 innings and pitched scoreless ball in seven of his 12 appearances during his debut summer with North Shore.

The return of reigning NECBL All-Star Matt Chatelle (Merrimack) will add a veteran presence to the Navs’ catching core. The Stoneham native and Austin Prep product followed up his rookie spring by hitting .236 with seven doubles, two home runs, 19 RBI and 13 runs scored last summer. He solidified his All-Star nod with hits in nine of his first 10 July games, including a 3-for-5, four-RBI performance.

Ahead of his ongoing junior campaign, North Andover’s Brett Dunham (Northeastern) was one of four North Shore pitchers to make a team-high seven starts in 2023. Dunham fanned 25 batters in 22.1 innings during his first go-around as a Navigator and figures to make key contributions to the Huskies’ pitching plans, having made 16 relief appearances and posted a 3.93 ERA last season.

Infielder Brendan Jones (Holy Cross) is also set for a return to Fraser after playing in 38 of the Navs’ 42 games last summer, primarily at second base. The Arlington native recorded 19 total hits, four doubles, 10 RBI and 11 runs scored while reaching base at a .306 clip last summer. His season included a three-hit game and two multiple-RBI efforts.

Right-hander Sawyer Duarte (Middlebury) was added to the 2023 roster just before the summer began in June and made 12 relief appearances, striking out 10 in 15.2 innings. Duarte pitched multiple innings on three occasions, two of which were scoreless. He had a perfect 5-0 record during his NESCAC spring with Middlebury before joining the Navs.

Another Stoneham and Austin Prep product, Jack Iannibelli (Stonehill) is on North Shore’s season-opening roster this time around after being called upon four times in relief last July. The southpaw had a 4.26 ERA during his first collegiate season in 2023, which was second only to Friedman on the Skyhawks’ staff.

The Navigators will return to historic Fraser Field and the NECBL for their 17th summer season in 2024, with first pitch set for Tuesday, June 4. Stay up to date on the latest Navs news 一 including updates on current and former players throughout the spring 一 by visiting nsnavs.com and following the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.