Revere baseball’s culture shift starts with effort, not just wins

By Dom Nicastro

Revere High’s baseball program is under new leadership this spring, with first-year head coach Sebastian Salvo bringing a wealth of experience to the dugout.

A former Division 1 player and college assistant, Salvo is focused on building a culture of accountability, hard work and team-first effort. Through five games, the Patriots are off to a 3-4 start (3-3 in the Greater Boston League), which placed them at No. 44 in the 60-team Division 1 MIAA power rankings.

But Salvo sees signs of progress—especially in the team’s pitching staff—and believes better days are ahead if the group can stay disciplined at the plate.

We caught up with Salvo for a wide-ranging Q&A about the season so far, standout players like junior Domenic Bellia, and what it will take for Revere to make a push in the second half of the schedule.

Advocate: Can you give me a little background on yourself as a player and coach?

Salvo: I played high school baseball at Tabor Academy in Marion. After Tabor, I attended Fairfield University in Connecticut where I was a four-year starter at catcher and first base. During my college career, I played summer ball for the New Bedford Baysox in the NECBL and the Wareham Gatemen in the CCBL.

I served as a volunteer assistant coach at Fairfield University (NCAA D1) 2015-2016. I have coached travel ball and worked as a private instructor for Baysox Baseball since 2017. I served as an assistant coach at Salve Regina University (NCAA D3) 2020-2021 where we won our conference and participated in the NCAA D3 Tournament. I served as the head coach at Pomfret School in Pomfret, Conn., 2021-2023.

  Advocate: How would you assess the team’s performance so far at this point in the season?

Salvo: So far at this point in the season our pitching has given us chances to be in every game, but we have not been able to capitalize on opportunities with runners in scoring position. The team has been working hard to cut down our strikeouts at the plate and consistently make the routine plays in the field. Overall, the boys have been working hard every day and buying into the culture that our coaching staff is trying to establish.

Advocate: What have been some of the biggest improvements you’ve seen since the start of the season?

Salvo: Since the start of the season, I have seen a massive improvement in the way our players approach practice. They are working hard and open to coaching through their mistakes. The team has been a cohesive unit so far, and as a coach that is all you can ask for: kids who work hard together and pull for each other.

  Advocate: Are there any players who have really stepped up and taken on leadership roles, either on or off the field?

Salvo: Junior Domenic Bellia has been outstanding for us this season on the mound and at the plate. On the mound he is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA with 27 K in 18 ⅔ IP. At the plate he has a .458 batting average, 1.125 ops, three RBI, two doubles and one HR. Captains Brendan Sack, Ismael El Gharbi and Joe Angiulo have been great leaders for our team setting the tone every day and making sure the team is meeting the expectations we set for them.

Advocate: Obviously, we all live and die by our pitching. How is that going?

  Salvo: In addition to Domenic, sophomore George Papalambros and senior Ismael El Gharbi have performed well for us on the mound. George is 1-0 with a 1.90 ERA with 21 K in 11 IP. Ismael has been our top reliever with a 1.55 ERA through 9 IP.

Advocate: What are some things the team still needs to work on heading into the second half of the season?

  Salvo: Of course as a coach, there is always work to do, and the goal is to always work on every facet of the game as much as you can but our priority going into the second half of the season is definitely to have more competitive at-bats and strike out less. We are striking out too much and leaving too many runners on the bases. Good things happen when you put the ball in play, and we need to do more of that.

Advocate: How are things going at the plate, and who in particular is getting the job done there?

Salvo: Domenic Bellia: .458 avg., 1.125 ops. HR, three RBI, six runs; George Papalambros: .316 avg., .803 OPS,  six RBI; Brendan Sack: .312 avg., 1.042 ops, HR, RBI

Advocate: What are your expectations and hopes for the rest of the season as you approach the stretch run?

Salvo: My expectation is we are going to turn this thing around and become a more competitive team. Our group is capable of more than what we have shown so far. Our players will not shy away from the work that needs to be done, and I believe they will do what it takes to get us back on track.

The game of baseball responds to hard work, good intention and executing on a pitch-by-pitch basis. Our hope is to be more consistent in those areas and compete for the GBL and an opportunity to participate in the MIAA State tournament.