After a 2022 season in which the Panthers made it all the way to the MIAA D1 State Championship, Franklin High Baseball hasn’t missed a beat to start their 2023 campaign. Following an 8-0 win in their home opener yesterday against Canton, Franklin is 3-0, having allowed just a single run in a year that already features two wins by 10-run mercy rule. With so much success defensively thus far, the Panthers’ ace pitcher was recently recognized.

Franklin captain Alfred Mucciarone has been named Hockomock Sports’ Player of the Week for April 3rd – April 9th. The senior was awarded for his opening-day performance on April 3rd at Oliver Ames in which he pitched five innings with zero earned runs, two hits, and ten strikeouts.

“This start of the season has been great, but expected,” Mucciarone said, “The work over the off-season has prepared the team and me; we expect to keep this train rolling.”

Mucciarone has started in two of the Panthers’ opening three games. After being named “Player of the Week” by Hockomock Sports, Mucciarone posted a complete game shutout in yesterday’s win, allowing just one Bulldog walk in another two hit, zero earned run, and ten strikeout outing.

Mucciarone, the first “Player of the Week” for the 2023 spring season and the first Panther since Franklin Boys’ basketball’s Sean O’Leary to be recognized, is committed to pitching collegiately at Division 1 UMass-Lowell next year.

Franklin Baseball looks to avenge their loss in last year’s state championship as the Panthers travel to the D1 defending champion Taunton Tigers (3-0) this Wednesday, April 12th.