Mabee the year for Saugus baseball: new coach confident in experienced team

By Dom Nicastro

The Saugus High School baseball program heads into the 2025 season with a new coach – but a familiar face. Mike Mabee Jr., an alum with the program and former assistant, takes over for former boss Joe Luis.

Mabee coached with Luis from 2021 to 2022 as an assistant. He has coached with Vikings AAU baseball at the 13u and 16u levels and has also coached the Saugus Middle School basketball team. The 2018 Saugus graduate played four years of baseball at Worcester State University.

“My vision for this team and the future is to create a culture of family and competitors,” Mabee said. “We have a great group that I got to walk into, and they have bought into this already. And we are getting better every day working on these skills that are going to help us compete and win baseball games, as well as give them tools they will take into their lives after baseball at Saugus High School. The more we practice, compete, fail and succeed is going to build this team up, and there is no limit for this team’s success as we continue to do these things.”

The team voted for four captains who are all seniors.

Cam Soroko brings a lot to the table. He can play anywhere on defense and will be a steady presence on the mound. “He is a leader through and through and will be one of the players we rely on all year offensively, defensively and on the bases,” Mabee said. “Cam is going to Bryant University next year to play baseball and further his academics.”

Ty Riley, captain, is always consistent. He shows up on time, ready to go and never needs reminders to be ready. “He is a guy who leads by example, everywhere he is,” Mabee said. “Like Cam, he can do a lot defensively between the infield and outfield and will be a routine bat in our lineup.”

Captain Danny Zeits will do most of his work at first base this year. He can also play third and will be in the rotation pitching. “He is always ready to work and is trying to get better in every aspect of his game every day,” Mabee said. “He is a great locker room guy and is a key in keeping the team’s energy in the right place.”

Captain Cam Bernard is a “grinder,” the coach said: on the weight room, taking ground balls, in the cage, anywhere he is there is no doubt he is trying to perfect his craft. “He will spend his time in the infield primarily at shortstop but can play anywhere left of first base,” Mabee said. “He also will hold a steady presence in our pitching rotation.”

Along with the four captains, the Sachems have a heavy group of upperclassmen where others have taken leadership roles like Connor Bloom and Connor Kelleher.

Senior Bloom is a leader and gamer. He is a crafty lefty on the mound and will see time in the outfield and first base. He will have a heavy presence in the batting lineup.

Junior Nathan Soroko is going to hold down the backstop and provide a quality bat in the lineup.

Junior Jordan Rodriguez is another Swiss army knife and can do anything asked of him; he’ll provide consistency in the lineup and be a frequent flier on the mound.

Junior Brayden Crawford came back from St. Mary’s of Lynn and has been a great addition, Mabee said. He will be a force on the mound and plate. Like other guys, he can do it all defensively.

“Having a large group of upperclassmen, our strength is going to be our experience,” Mabee said. “Almost all of our team is returning from last year, and it has shown since day one of practice. We are going to play loose, fast and aggressive because of the experience this team has.”

Areas of growth are the small things, the coach said. With such a short preseason there’s going to be bumps in the road with communication and being in the right spot at the right time, and things along those lines. “Having a strong group of leaders is going to help us solve these issues when they arise and become a true team all the way through the roster,” the coach said.

The team has had two scrimmages so far and has played well. “We have seen some of those areas of growth mentioned, and the boys have answered the call to make adjustments in practice with their focus and attention to detail,” Mabee said. “They have responded to adversity, and they are chomping at the bit to get out and compete in Game 1 Wednesday, April 2, at World Series Park. I think any coach’s goal, like mine, is to squeeze as much talent out of every individual in the program and show them that hard work will get them to their talent threshold. Baseball is a mental game, and my emphasis to the team has been to win every single pitch, bounce back quickly when we don’t and to be confident in themselves, and to trust their teammates at all times on the diamond.”