LOWELL, Mass. — UMass Lowell Baseball Head Coach Nick Barese has added nine newcomers to the roster for the upcoming 2025 season.
The River Hawks welcome Caden Angelo (Southington, Conn.), Brayden Cali (Taunton, Mass.), Evan Clark (Cheshire, Conn.), Joseph DeLanzo (Nutley, N.J.), Nolan Geisler (Bayonne, N.J.), Jake LeFrancois (Worcester, Mass.), Rowan Masse (Manchester, Conn.), Zachary Scott (Lunenburg, Mass.) and Jake Zawatsky (Billerica, Mass.) to the baseball program.
"It's been very exciting to see the newcomers this fall. The addition of our freshman class, along with some transfers, has really solidified the depth of our roster in key positions," said Barese. "The coaching staff did an awesome job identifying great baseball players that fit the direction of this program on and off the field."
RIVER HAWK PLAYER PROFILES
Name: Caden Angelo
Hometown/High School: Southington, Conn./Southington
Class: Freshman
Position: Infielder
Height: 6-0
Club Team: MVP New England
Major: Business
HIGH SCHOOL: Three-year letterwinner at Southington High School … reached the semifinals in the 2024 CIAC Connecticut Baseball State Championship … awarded 2024 All-Conference Team honors in the west division from the Central Connecticut Conference … selected as honorable mention in the Northeast region for the 2024 Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-Region Teams … reached the quarterfinals in the 2023 CIAC Connecticut Baseball State Championship … made the 2022 CIAC Connecticut Baseball State Championship.
PERSONAL: Son of Rick and Kelly … has a brother (Callan) … Callan currently plays golf at ECSU … father, Rick, played baseball at Marist … lists cooking and video games as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV show is Suits … his favorite sports team is The New York Yankees … lists his favorite sports figure as Marshawn Lynch … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it was the best fit plus he liked the coaching staff.
Name: Brayden Cali
Hometown/High School: Taunton, Mass./Taunton
Class: Freshman
Position: Infielder
Height: 5-10
Club Teams: East Coast Eagles/East Bridgewater
Major: Business
HIGH SCHOOL: Senior captain for Taunton baseball … Three-year letterwinner at Taunton High School (baseball, xctf) … 2024 honorable mention for Hockomock League All-Star … 2022 and 2023 Taunton Daily Gazette Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year … 2023 Hockomock League All-Star, 2023 Boston Globe All-Scholastics … two-time MIAA Division I Baseball State Champion (2022, 2023) … selected to the National Honors Society at Taunton High School.
PERSONAL: Son of Brenda and Michael … has three brothers (Andrew, Evan, Ty) … Andrew currently plays baseball at Assumption, Evan plays baseball at Keene State and Ty plays baseball at Roger Williams … lists lifting, watching movies, playing basketball and hanging with friends as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV shows are Suits, The Flash and Family Guy … his favorite sports teams are the Celtics, Red Sox, Bruins and Patriots … lists his favorite sports figures as Mookie Betts and Trea Turner … chose to attend UMass Lowell because of its great baseball facilities and coaches, as well as for the business school to further his academics.
Name: Evan Clark
Hometown/High School: Cheshire, Conn./Cheshire Academy
Class: Freshman
Position: Left-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6-2
Club Team: US9 Prospect
Major: Business (Finance)
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Cheshire Academy … selected as honorable mention in the Northeast region for the 2024 Rawlings-Perfect Game Preseason All-Region Teams … 2023 Second Team All-WNEPBL … posted a 0.56 ERA (16 IP) his junior year … part of Cheshire Academy baseball team's best record in a season (overall 14-2, league 13-1).
PERSONAL: Son of Jeffrey and Jennifer … has four siblings (Taylor, Kyle, Breanna, Kaylee) … his grandmother played basketball and softball at Southern Connecticut State University … lists fishing and golfing as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV show is Peaky Blinders … his favorite sports team is the Red Sox… lists his favorite sports figure as Jacoby Ellsbury … chose to attend UMass Lowell because of the fit it had towards his academic and athletic career.
Name: Joseph DeLanzo
Hometown/High School: Nutley, N.J./Nutley
Class: Junior
Position: Infielder
Height: 5-10
Club Team: Complete Performance Baseball Academy
Major: Health Studies/Psychology
STONY BROOK: As a sophomore (2024), made 16 appearances, starting in one … tallied one hit and one run at LSU on February 25 … recorded an RBI vs. Fordham on March 27 … posted a grand-slam (1 hit, 4 RBI) vs. Elon on April 5th … tallied three RBI, one double vs. Manhattan on April 23. As a freshman (2023), made appearances in 15 games, starting in one … made collegiate debut at CSUN on February 17 … posted first hit and RBI at LIU on March 21 … recorded two RBI, two putouts and stole one base at Manhattan on April 18.
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity baseball player … captain as a junior and senior … earned First-Team All-Essex County, First-Team All-Conference and New Jersey All-Group 3 honors his senior year … selected to play in the 2022 Senior All-Star Game … obtained Second-Team All-Conference and Second-Team All-Essex County selection in 2021 … part of the National Honor Society, Italian Honor Society, and National Student Leadership Conference.
PERSONAL: Son of Kim and Joseph … has a sister (Sophia) … father, Joseph, played baseball at DeSales University … lists enjoying time with family and friends as his favorite hobby … his favorite TV show is The Sopranos … his favorite sports team is The New York Yankees … lists his favorite sports figure as Derek Jeter … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it was a school he was always interested in because of the baseball program and strong academics.
Name: Nolan Geisler
Hometown/High School: Bayonne, N.J./Bayonne
Class: Freshman
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6-3
Club Team: Canes American
Major: Criminal Justice
HIGH SCHOOL: Two-time captain (junior, senior) … three-year letterwinner at Bayonne High School … made the quarterfinals in the 2024 NJSIAA New Jersey Baseball State Championship … recorded 200 career strikeouts … two-time Hudson County Picther of the Year in the American Division (2023, 2024) … three-time Hudson County Interscholastic All-County Team in the American Division (2022-24) … won the 2023 NJSIAA New Jersey Baseball State Championship in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 (9-2) … tallied a 0.99 ERA in 56 2/3 innings as a junior … led the team in ERA as a sophomore (1.49).
PERSONAL: Son of Kathleen and Rob … has three siblings (Mallory, Robert, Ian) … his brother, Robert, currently plays on the UMass Lowell baseball team with him … lists traveling to the beach, going to concerts, and spending time with family as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV shows are Chicago Fire and Outer Banks … his favorite sports teams are the Yankees, Giants, and Devils … lists his favorite sports figures as Mariano Rivera and Derek Jeter … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it gave him a chance to continue his academic and athletic career at the Division I level.
Name: Jake LeFrancois
Hometown/High School: Worcester, Mass./St. Paul Diocesan
Class: Freshman
Position: Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 6-0
Club Team: Legion
Major: Business
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at St. Paul Diocesan … two-time captain at St. Paul Diocesan (baseball, basketball) … selected twice for the Worcester T&G Home Team High School Baseball Super Team (2023, 2024) … top 3 finalist for the 2023 T&G male athlete of the year … honorable mention for 2022 Worcester T&G Home Team High School Baseball Super Team … member of the National Honor Society.
PERSONAL: Son of Eric and Heidi … has a brother (Max) … his brother, Max, currently plays baseball at Assumption College … lists working out, fishing, and hanging with friends as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV show is Suits … his favorite sports team is the Red Sox … lists his favorite sports figure as Mike Trout … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it seemed to be a great fit overall, but it also was the perfect distance from home.
Name: Rowan Masse
Hometown/High School: Manchester, Conn./Westminster
Class: Sophomore
Position: Infielder
Height: 6-1
Club Team: Connecticut Rivals
Major: Exercise Science
OLD DOMINION: As a freshman (2024), made appearances in 18 games … made collegiate debut vs Rutgers on February 24 … posted first hit and RBI vs Northeastern on March 8 … tallied two putouts vs Charlotte on March 1 … posted one run and one hit at Texas State on May 4.
HIGH SCHOOL: Captain in baseball as a senior at Westminster … played hockey, as well … 2023 All-NEBJ Prep Second Team … 2023 Preseason Prep First Team All-NEBJ … honorable mention for 2022 All-NEBJ Prep … 2022 All-Founders Second Team for baseball … earned All-State First Team (2x) and All-Conference (2x) at Westminster for hockey … selected to the 2019-20 GameTimeCT All-State Boys Hockey Third Team … 2018-19 CTHS Hockey Division II Freshman of the Year.
PERSONAL: Son of Holly and William … has a brother (Easton) … his father, William, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the 7th round, currently works with the San Diego Padres in Baseball Operations … lists playing hockey and golf as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV show is Friends … his favorite sports teams are the Capitals, Red Sox and Giants … lists his favorite sports figures as Alex Ovechkin and Dansby Swanson … chose to attend UMass Lowell because he felt welcomed by the coaching staff and wanted to keep pursuing his goal of playing baseball in college.
Name: Zachary Scott
Hometown/High School: Lunenburg, Mass./Winchendon
Class: Junior
Position: Infielder
Height: 6-1
Club Team: L & M Baseball
Major: Economics
DAYTON: As a Sophomore (2024), appeared in 17 games, starting in one … posted a hit vs South Dakota State on March 10 … stole one base vs George Mason on April 12 … tallied one hit at Akron on April 16. As a Freshman (2023), made appearances in 29 games, starting in nine … made collegiate debut at Tennessee on February 25 … tallied two hits and one run vs Eastern Illinois on March 6 … stole one base and posted three putouts vs Miami on March 8 … posted one hit, run and RBI at Georgetown on March 24 … tallied two hits and two RBI at UMass Amherst on May 18.
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year varsity starter at Fitchburg High/Winchendon … two-year captain … two-time Midland-Wachusett League All-Conference Team … two-time Worcester T&G Home Team All-Star … member of the National Honor Society and of the Honors Academy.
PERSONAL: Son of Jeff and Jennifer … has a brother (Trey) … lists playing baseball and hanging with family as his favorite hobbies … his favorite sports team is the Red Sox … lists his favorite sports figure as Tom Brady … chose to attend UMass Lowell because he felt the coaching staff was a great fit towards his career.
Name: Jake Zawatsky
Hometown/High School: Billerica, Mass./Austin Preparatory
Class: Freshman
Position: Infielder/Right-Handed Pitcher
Height: 5-10
Club Team: Nor'Easter Runbirds
Major: Undeclared
HIGH SCHOOL: Four-year letterwinner at Austin Preparatory … two-time captain as a junior and senior … Red Sox Scout Team (2024) … 19-0 during his senior season … made the 2023 roster for Team Massachusettsm, which was selected to the GEICO Series High School National Championship … 2022 MIAA D3 State Champions (26-0 record) … 2022 Catholic Central League Rookie of the Year … 2022 First-Team Catholic Central League All-Star … 2021 Second-Team Catholic Central League All-Star.
PERSONAL: Son of Stephanie and Brian … has a sister (Meghan) … lists playing baseball and hanging with friends and family as his favorite hobbies … his favorite TV shows are Breaking Bad and Snowfall … his favorite sports teams are the Red Sox, Bruins, Celtics and Patriots … lists his favorite sports figure as Mookie Betts … chose to attend UMass Lowell because it was close to home and the feel of the campus overall made it a good fit.
