Sports

No. 3: Xavier hungry for return trip to CHSAA ‘AA’ final

Nick DiLeo is expected to be the No. 1 starter for the Knights.

Nick DiLeo is expected to be the No. 1 starter for the Knights. (Kendall Rodriguez)

Xavier head coach Rich Duffell believes his team has the ability to return to the CHSAA Class AA final.

Xavier head coach Rich Duffell believes his team has the ability to return to the CHSAA Class AA final. (Philip Hall)

A year ago, Xavier made a surprising run to its first-ever CHSAA Class AA intersectional championship game, upsetting No. 1 Xaverian, No. 4 Archbishop Stepinac and No. 3 St. Raymond along the way before losing to St. Joseph by the Sea in the final.

With 14 returning players, including six starters, the Knights could well return to Kaiser Stadium in June. But they’re sure not going to surprise anyone this year.

“I think that’s going to help us prove to people that last year wasn’t a fluke, that we can make it back and this time win,” Xavier third baseman James McCool said. “There’s going to be pressure.”

The Lafayette-bound senior said the experience of a deep playoff run last year gives Xavier added confidence this season.

“Last year we felt what it was like to be in the championship, but we also felt what it was like to lose,” McCool said. “We definitely want to be on the winning side this year and I think we have enough experience, returning guys and leadership to get back and this time win.”

McCool, who will also see time on the mound, is a co-captain along with Sean Meekins, who will move from the bullpen to the starting rotation, and returning starting second baseman Matt Drucker as part of coach Rich Duffell’s largest returning class in his two decades at the helm.

“The difference between last year’s team and this year’s team is I have backups in every spot that I can use at any time that I would trust,” Duffell said.

While ace Rob Maguire is now a freshman at Sacred Heart, left-hander Nicky DiLeo will be the No. 1 pitcher and gets the start Opening Day against Fordham Prep on April 6.

“He’s tough on the mound and doesn’t get flustered,” Duffell said. “He knows what he’s doing out there, he has a plan and he sticks with it.”

Meekins, a hard-throwing right-hander, will be the No. 2, while McCool and Dan D’Angelo will also start.

“I think this year it’s a more balanced rotation,” McCool said. “Each game we’re going to have a guy we’re confident with that we can win.”

Senior David Eschen returns as a starting first baseman, Brian Flanagan replaces Stephen Vorvolakos at shortstop and D’Angelo and DiLeo return as corner outfielders with Brendan Cosgrove starting in right when DiLeo is on the mound. Sophomore Tito Ovalle is expected to start in center for graduated Dom Gatta.

“We have plenty of experience behind them,” Duffell said of his starters. “If we hit, we’ll be fine.”

Freshman Paul Ramirez will split time at first and designated hitter with Eschen, while occasionally pitching, Alex Tactuk is a strong-armed junior up from the junior varsity team who can also hit and Mike Sansevere will back up D’Angelo in left.

But Duffell has yet to find a suitable replacement for graduated catcher Brian McKenna and the three-man race continues into the final week of the preseason.

“Brian didn’t do much for us offensively, but his biggest asset was they couldn’t really run on him,” Duffell said. “It’s a tough hole to fill. Outfield and infield are as strong as we were last year, the pitching is strong, it’s just the catching. We haven’t had the experience yet out there this year. Hopefully this week will tell. The best defender is going to be the one who starts because I think we can carry them [offensively].”

While Xavier has its sights set on a second consecutive trip to the final, winning what is arguably the toughest division in the CHSAA is the first goal.

“That gives us an easier path,” McCool said. “That’s what we’re shooting for.”

dbutler@nypost.com