Will D’Agostino’s performance last Friday in Falmouth’s 5-4 baseball win over Yarmouth was typical – he was an anchor on defense at shortstop, had two hits, including the one that tied the game and got the pitching save.

There was a tense moment, however, late in the game when D’Agostino got spiked in the wrist applying a tag at second and had to leave the field briefly for a bandage. The Yachtsmen cannot afford to lose him.

Additional Images

Will D’Agostino’s defense at shortstop is a big reason Falmouth has won nine straight. “I feel Will is the best defensive shortstop I’ve seen in southern Maine,” says his coach, Kevin Winship. Gordon Chibroski/Staff photographer

As D’Agostino goes, so goes Falmouth. And right now, the Yachtsmen (13-2) are going very well. They’ve won nine straight heading into Tuesday’s season finale at Poland. Falmouth is ranked third in the Heal point standings in Western Maine Class A.

“Will is a big-time player for us, and if he went down, it would not be good for the ballclub,” said Coach Kevin Winship. “He’s fine.”

As the Yachtsmen prepare for their first trip to the Class A playoffs, they know their pitching, defense and hitting could carry them deep. D’Agostino contributes in all three categories. He’s batting .488, second on the team to Connor Aube, leads the team with five doubles and two home runs. D’Agostino has a .580 on-base percentage and a .678 slugging average.

In a May 12 game at Kennebunk, D’Agostino hit a long home run in the first inning to left-center that ended up in the parking lot. Kennebunk won the game, 7-5; Falmouth’s first loss.

D’Agostino’s passion for the game began in Little League.

“Like most kids who play baseball, Will started in T-ball,” said his father, Michael D’Agostino. “When he was 8, baseball was by far his favorite sport.”

He pitched, played shortstop and third base and when he was 11, his Falmouth Little League team won the 11-year-old state title.

Addison Foltmer was a teammate then and is now. Foltmer said nothing much has changed – D’Agostino is still rock solid on defense.

“It’s just reassuring to have him behind me,” said Foltmer, a left-handed pitcher. “He makes almost every single play.”

And of course, when a starter gets in trouble in the late innings, D’Agostino trots over to the mound from short to save the game as a closer. At 6-foot-2, he can look imposing.

“Will is our go-to guy when the game is on the line,” said Winship. “He throws hard and has a really good breaking ball. We have a lot of faith when we put him on the mound.”

D’Agostino has a win and two saves this season.

D’Agostino is in his fourth year as a starter for the Yachtsmen, who won a Class B state title his sophomore year. According to D’Agostino that was after a less than auspicious first year of varsity baseball.

“I didn’t have the best year,” he said. “I didn’t hit too well and I remember changing my swing right after the season. I also didn’t have great field mechanics.”

D’Agostino might have been a little discouraged, but was determined to get better.

After playing American Legion baseball in the summer after his freshman and sophomore years, D’Agostino went outside the state for better competition.

He played for the North East Rays, a showcase team based in Massachusetts. He played for the U-17 team last summer and will play for the U-18 this summer. The Rays host tournaments, travel to tournaments as the players gain valuable experience and exposure.

“It definitely helped my game,” said D’Agostino. “It’s the competition. I learned a lot playing last year and hope to learn as much this summer as I get ready for the next level.”

D’Agostino plans to play at Holy Cross College in Worcester, Massachusetts.

“Holy Cross had been in touch with me before I started playing for the Rays,” he said. “They did get to see me play a few more times with the Rays.”

Holy Cross is a member of the Patriot League, which doesn’t offer athletic scholarships.

“That’s a little bit of a drawback, but the academics make up for it. Another reason I liked Holy Cross is the coaching staff,” said D’Agostino, whose average at Falmouth is in the high 90s.

While baseball is his favorite sport, D’Agostino also played goalie for two Class B state championship soccer teams his sophomore and junior seasons and credits the footwork required for the position with helping him at shortstop.

In the winter, he’s an avid snowboarder.

D’Agostino’s first couple of seasons, he improved by increments. The last two seasons, he’s taken giant leaps.

“I feel Will is the best defensive shortstop I’ve seen in southern Maine and I like to think the others coaches would agree,” said Winship. “Anytime the ball is hit to short, the team knows it’s going to be an out.”

Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

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