ESPNBoston.com and its high school sports staff are pleased to announce the 10 finalists for the fifth annual "Mr. Baseball" award, honoring the top overall player in Massachusetts.
We will announce the winner on Friday, June 26. Springfield Central shortstop Isan Diaz took home the award in 2014.
Here are the 10 finalists:
Connor Columbus, Sr. 3B, Braintree
The returning ESPNBoston First Team All-State selection and UMass signee once again demonstrated terrific right-handed power for the Wamps, earning Bay State Carey MVP for his hitting totals our of the cleanup spot (.425/.528/.726, 29 RBI, 5 HR). He also mashed out a number of key hits in the postseason for the Wamps, who won the MIAA Division 1A State Championship.
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Jack Connolly, Sr. RHP, Bridgewater-Raynham
Armed with one of the Bay State's sweetest curves, the returning ESPNBoston First Team All-State selection and Notre Dame signee turned into another strong spring, going 6-1 with 51 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.91, holding opponents to a .166 average. After putting on some weight in the winter, Connolly showed off some never-before-seen power from the middle of the Trojans' hitting order, batting .355 with 16 RBI as the Trojans reached the "Final Four" of the Super 8 tournament for the second straight year.
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Seamus Curran, Sr. 1B, Agawam
One of the state's most feared long-balled hitters, demonstrating left-handed power rare for his age, the 6-foot-6, 240-pounder drew his fair share of walks. But when he was pitched to, he more often than not crushed the ball, -- especially in the second half of the season, finishing with .443/.558/.787 totals with two home runs after hitting just .190 through the first eight games of the season. He was drafted in the eighth round by the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month, and is expected to sign.
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Kevin Donati, Sr. SS, Pittsfield
Regarded as one of the region's best defensive infielders, the University at Albany signee put up absurd numbers in 2014, and had a great repeat performance this spring. On the season, he hit .453/.539/.750 with 21 RBI, as the Generals earned the top seed in Division 1 West before taking a surprise first round upset.
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Justin Foley, Sr. RHP, St. John's Prep
No pitcher was as dominant in the Super 8 Tournament as Foley, who began the tournament with a no-hitter and finished by setting a tournament record for most strikeouts (22). One of the best at pitching to contact, the 5-foot-7 Bates College commit finished the 2015 season 11-0 with 60 strikeouts in 75.2 innings, walking just 12 batters with an ERA of 1.02. He was also named MVP of the Catholic Conference for his efforts.
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Connor Gill, Sr. RHP, Wachusett
The Babson College commit was the emotional leader of the Mountaineers' run to their first-ever appearance in the Super 8 tournament, doing damage from both the mound and plate along the way. Gill went 7-2 on the mound, with 74 strikeouts in 68 innings to just 12 walks, holding opponents to a .177 batting average and posting an ERA of 1.34. At the plate, he helped his cause with .338/.411/.388 totals and 12 RBI.
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Ryan January, Sr. C, Swampscott
Armed with one of the region's best pure swings, the 6-foot-3 January demonstrated rare left-handed power from the leadoff spot as the Big Blue earned one of the top seeds in Division 3 North. On the season, January batted .463/.656/1.000 with 19 RBI and seven home runs, drawing 31 walks, scoring 36 runs and stealing 31 bases.
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Conor Moriarty, Jr. SS, West Springfield
Previously known for his strong glove, the UConn commit added a potent bat to the resume this spring, as the Terriers reached the final four of the Division 1 West tournament. Out of the leadoff spot this spring, Moriarty hit .358/.517/.507 totals, while drawing 22 walks and plating 13 runs.
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Andrew Noviello, Sr. C, Bridgewater-Raynham
The 6-foot Noviello came into the spring with a mound of hype, regarded as one of New England's top overall MLB Draft prospects, and did not disappoint. On the season, the returning ESPN Boston First Team All-State selection batted .508/.634/.983 with 22 RBI, six home runs and just five strikeouts on the season. In spot starts as a righthanded pitcher, he also struck out 24 batters over 16 innings with one save an ERA of 1.75. Noviello was drafted in the 25th round by the Boston Red Sox earlier this month, and is expected to sign.
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Chris Sullivan, Sr. 3B, Westfield
Posting one of the top OPS in the state (1.542), the University of Hartford commit was the most prolific bat in one of the state's most dangerous hitting lineups. He recorded .563/.627/.915 totals at the plate with 34 RBI, three home runs and 12 walks, as the Bombers earned one of the top seeds in Division 1 West before taking an unexpected early exit.