By Xavier Cardoso, class of ’27
Sharon Baseball’s New Drive
As the 2025 baseball season begins, the Sharon High School team is entering the year with a renewed sense of confidence and determination. After years of struggling in the highly competitive Hockomock League, the Eagles are now setting their sights on reaching the playoffs—a goal that seemed out of reach just a few years ago.
Building a Winning Culture
Larry Yaffe, now in his second year as head coach, has been vital in transforming the program. Last year, he and the rest of the coaching staff were focused on rebuilding the culture of SHS baseball and laying the groundwork for a successful and long-lasting season. Now, with the blueprint set, the focus shifts toward making a serious playoff push.
“This year, we want to build on that and take the next step,” said Yaffe. Luckily for Yaffe, the 2025 team will have 15 returning varsity players who will bring the experience needed to carry through this vision. He explained how crucial it is for teams to get a taste of high-stakes varsity action early on to understand better what it takes to compete at this level. “Getting experience at the varsity level is maybe a little underrated,” Yaffe added. “I know it’s so important to get your first varsity nerves out of the way.”
Challenges and Goals
However, the coaching staff is also emphasizing the importance of maintaining a clear mind throughout playoffs. “We do really just want to focus on becoming more consistent at playing competitive baseball,” Yaffe explained. “The goal of qualifying for the state tournament will take care of itself if we continue to just get better and better every single day.” Through this, Sharon emphasizes a one-play-at-a-time mentality.
A Team Fueled by Leadership
The team’s other senior captain, Drew Yaffe, has also made sure that the squad has been grinding all off-season. Through travel ball, junior Legion, fall ball, and weight training sessions, they helped foster a relentless grind mentality that has impressed Coach Yaffe. He noted that the team’s camaraderie and commitment continue to fuel their engines. According to Yaffe, “The most exciting thing is that these guys have bought in completely and have been super excited about getting ready for the season.”
For Arundale, the focus is on pushing the team while maintaining a fun and supportive environment. “Being a senior now, you take what past captains did right and adjust what they did wrong,” said Arundale. Meanwhile, Drew Yaffe, who is recovering from a hamstring injury, continues to lead by example by encouraging all of his teammates to put in the work and stay disciplined. Day by day, he continues to stress the significance of putting your best efforts forward. “My expectations for the team are to be competitive and just play hard,” he said. “You gotta play hard if you wanna do good.”
Key Players to Watch
Alongside Yaffe and Arundale, the Eagles have several important contributors returning, all expected to step up this season. Last year’s top offensive player, Soham Kulkarni, will be a crucial part of the lineup, while, on the other hand, shortstop Matt Berkeley is sure to make huge stops this season on defense. Jacob Mento, who stepped in for Yaffe after his injury last year, is another player to watch for, while Ben Eio and Benny Hertzel have recently made varsity as well.
The pitching staff will be centered around captain Cole Arundale, Will Toby, who impressed in late-season appearances, and underclassmen like Mason Silverman and Naman Shukla, both of whom have been putting in massive efforts during the offseason. Transfer student Brady Shuffain, who played varsity at Carver last year, adds depth to the roster. Additionally, Ben Eio and Benny Hertzel are new members of the varsity team who [] varsity roster. Other names to look out for include Timmy Broughton, Ari Grossman, Brody Lasser, Harry Librot, Aidan McAuliffe, Ethan Sparacino, and hopefully, Casey Stengel, who will be coming off his injury.
2025 is the Year to Thrive
In addition to the Hockomock season, the Eagles will embark on a special trip to Cooperstown over April break, where they’ll play a game against Dover-Sherborn. For now, the Eagles have already kicked off the season with a statement victory, shutting out the Stoughton Black Knights 3-0 in their season opener on March 31. Eagle fans should look out for the next games of the schedule including Milford and Norton.
With this team, there is no doubt that the Eagles will be successful this year. Win or lose, the program has created a bond unlike any other. “This is a family,” Yaffe said. The senior leaders have worked hard to create a brotherhood, ensuring that every player feels like part of the team.
With strong leadership and a hard-working mentality, Sharon Baseball is ready to make noise in 2025. Whether it’s achieving their ultimate goal of punching a ticket to the playoffs or simply proving they belong among the best, one thing is certain: this team is prepared to compete.
