Rockland Boulders ready to defend title

RAMAPO – If you had to characterize the Rockland Boulders' past offseason roster moves in a 'Frozen' song, "Let It Go" might be an obvious choice. But for the first time in forever, the Boulders actually look something like they did at the end of the previous season.

Normally subject to heavy turnover during the offseason, many of the pitchers who helped the Boulders win the league championship last year are returning again this season.

Lefty ace Richard Salazar, Stephen Harrold, Nathaniel Roe and Bo Budkevics are back in the rotation, while Shawn Gilblair, Fray Martinez, Luis Sanz and closer Chad Robinson highlight the bullpen returnees.

Rockland will have a fixer-upper at the top of its lineup following the departures of Matt Nandin, Antone DeJesus, Jerod Edmondson and Ryan Stovall — last year's one-through-four hitters.

"It's nice to know that the backend of your bullpen and your first couple three starters are back, that's huge," Boulders manager Jamie Keefe said prior to Saturday's exhibition game against the NYPD. "I was trying to figure out what it is or what the lineup is and how we're gonna play it and how we want it to look; who's gonna be the guy that's getting on base and who's gonna be the guy that's not, and where we're going to set those guys in the lineup."

Every defensive position is an open door, with most players on the roster expected to play multiple positions. Keefe said his biggest focus in the field will be McDonald adjusting to the spacious center field of Provident Bank Park.

"He knows what he's doing," Keefe said of McDonald. "Jared's a guy that's been around and he knows that center field needs to be played very well here because it's an awfully big center field, and he's a guy that can do it.

"We're looking for big things from him."

With twice as many teams in the league as last year, the Boulders will have a more diverse and competitive schedule in royal pursuit of a title defense. The schedule should also have the team well rested on road trips moving onward and upward throughout the year.

Rockland's away games in Canada — the team goes by bus, a drive of approximately nine hours — have been scheduled in groups, with the team playing back-to-back series' against Canadian-based teams such as Quebec, Trois-Rivieres, and newly-formed Ottawa.

"I think our travel is going to be so much nicer this year," Keefe said calmly. "Last year was really tough, as we know, and it was league-wide, it wasn't just us; it was everybody."

The Boulders will receive their championship rings prior to Thursday's season-opener against Trois-Rivieres at 7 p.m.

Twitter: @Zacchio_LoHud, @LohudBoulders