A Feast Fit for Champions:Coach Derek Dana and the Spartans Celebrate Their State Baseball Title

The St. Mary’s High School baseball team celebrated its 2015 state championship season at an awards banquet Tuesday night at The Wharf in Revere.

Head coach Derek Dana presented awards, including a replica of the MIAA state championship plaque, to each member of the team that compiled a 20-6 record, culminating with a 3-0 victory over Mount Greylock in the state final at Fitton Field on the campus of the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester. The team will receive state championship rings at a later ceremony.

There was plenty of emotion (and a few tears) as Dana thanked his players, assistant coaches, and family for their support and contributions to the program’s first state title in 27 years. Dana and assistant coaches Tim Fila and Tom Donahue played for the Spartans and brought the school back-to-back crowns.

Dana, who was named the Boston Globe Coach of the Year, said the state title is “something that they (the players) will take with them for the rest of their lives.”

“It was just an outstanding year,” Dana told the parents in attendance. “It didn’t start off great – we were 5-4 at one point  – and then we go on a 15-2 run. That says a lot about your kids. They bought in. They did what they were supposed to do. It wasn’t about individuals and that really paid off.”

Parents, assistant coaches, and the team credited Dana’s leadership and his ability to maximize each player’s skills as key ingredients in the program’s success.

Tim Fila, a former pitcher who was 11-0 in his senior year at St. Mary’s and guided this year’s staff (including aces Clay Yianacopolus, Brendan O’Neill, and Matt Costanza) to a splendid 2.00 earned run average, said Dana is an excellent high school baseball coach. “Derek works hard at it and he’s excellent with the kids. It’s a great feeling to win a state championship with him.”

Brent Lozzi, who was named Blue and Gold Team MVP, said it was a season that he’ll never forget and an achievement to be shared by everybody in the program.

“It’s awesome to be MVP but this title was a team effort from everybody,” said Lozzi. “Everybody put in a team effort and that’s why we won.”

Lozzi said he and the other players sensed how much this season and the program meant to Dana, who shed a few tears of joy during his remarks.

“It’s just coach being coach – he cares a lot about the game and he loves what he’s doing,” said Lozzi. “All the time and effort that he puts in with us – it’s easy to let out a little emotion here. He’s one of the best coaches that I ever had. He’s taught me most of the stuff I

The players on the 2015 Division 3 state champion St. Mary’s High School baseball team are pictured with head coach Derek Dana at the awards banquet Tuesday night at The Wharf in Revere. The Spartans finished their season with a 20-6 record, winning six games in the MIAA Tournament to claim the coveted title.

The players on the 2015 Division 3 state champion St. Mary’s High School baseball team are pictured with head coach Derek Dana at the awards banquet Tuesday night at The Wharf in Revere. The Spartans finished their season with a 20-6 record, winning six games in the MIAA Tournament to claim the coveted title.

know about football and baseball. He’s a great mentor.”

 Lozzi said the players are well aware of Dana’s phenomenal baseball career that took him from Lynn to UMass to the San Francisco Giants organization.

“We all know how successful he was in baseball all the way up from high school until he stopped playing professionally,” said Lozzi.

Asked what he will remember most about the 2015 season, Lozzi said, “Winning the state championship but most importantly all the kids I played baseball with. I’ll never forget all my teammates and my coaches.”

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