Former Ranger and professional baseball player Domenick Carlini will enter his seventh season in 2024 as an assistant with Northwest, where he works primarily with pitchers.
Four of Carlini's pitchers from the 2023 squad signed to play at the four-year level, led by Brayden Sanders (Memphis) and Brooks Rice (Samford), both of whom received Honorable Mention All-MACCC honors. Additionally, Logan Eldridge and C.J. Lofton signed with Delta State University and Mississippi College, respectively.
Carlini's pitching staff overcame early obstacles in 2022 to guide Northwest to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament. Sophomores Colton Presley and Zach Willingham developed into the Rangers' top starters, finishing with six wins apiece and a combined 144 strikeouts. The duo made 13 total starts and combined for five complete games.
Additionally, Carlini helped develop Connor Spencer into one of the top closers in the MACCC. Spencer made all 18 of his appearances in relief, finishing with a 2.55 ERA, 48 strikeouts and six saves. The Hernando native delivered two clutch outings in the postseason, preserving a pair of victories in the Rangers' playoff series at No. 7 Meridian, upsetting the Eagles to advance to the NJCAA Region 23 Tournament.
Four pitchers from the 2022 squad signed to the four-year level, including three to the Division I ranks - Willingham (South Alabama), Spencer (Southeastern Louisiana) and John Luke Marlin (UAB). Presley also inked with Division II powerhouse Delta State.
Carlini's 2021 staff was led by Delta State signee Hammer Franks, who posted the team's best record (5-3) and most strikeouts (52). Marlin collected two saves in relief, while sophomore Colton Peel posted a 1.50 earned run average in seven appearances.
Despite a shortened 2020 campaign due to COVID-19, Carlini's pitching staff posted solid numbers through the first 15 games of the season. Collectively, the Rangers posted a 2.27 ERA with 148 strikeouts as part of a Top 10 national ranking and a 14-1 overall record, the best start in program history.
Carlini's pitchers accounted for five of the Rangers' six four-year signees, including Dalton Fowler (Oklahoma), Parker Stinnett (Mississippi State), Landon Zizmann (Delta State), Jackson Smith (Mississippi College) and Trent Bunting (Arkansas-Monticello).
In 2019, Northwest's pitching staff posted a 4.05 ERA, the 19th-best in the NJCAA, with the most strikeouts (379) and lowest opponent batting average (.241) in program history.
Four pitchers earned all-conference honors, with Fowler and Parker Stinnett earning First Team All-MACJC recognition and Carson Stinnett and Colton Peel being named to the second team. Fowler was also drafted by the New York Mets in the 27th round and former Ranger Peyton Plumlee was taken in the 31st round by the Houston Astros.
The Nesbit native and DeSoto Central product spent two seasons in minor league baseball after being drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 21st round of the 2016 MLB Draft out of Southeastern Louisiana. Carlini was originally assigned to the Elizabethton Twins (Rookie) in 2016 and spent the 2017 season with the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Single-A).
Carlini was 8-2 with a 2.03 ERA and two complete games in 16 appearances for the SELU Lions as a senior en route to Second Team All-Southland Conference honors and an NCAA Regional berth. In 97.1 innings of work, Carlini held opposing hitters to a .206 batting average while striking out 63 against 36 walks. He was 1-0 with three saves as a junior.
His lone summer ball stint was with the St. Cloud Rox after his junior year at SELU, going 5-2 with a 2.68 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 57 innings pitched.
Carlini pitched the 2013-14 seasons for Northwest, helping the Rangers to back-to-back 30-win seasons and posting a 7-8 career record with five complete games, two saves and a 3.04 ERA. He struck out 119 batters (fourth-most in school history) against 35 walks in 119.2 career innings pitched.
He was named "Mr. Ranger" after his sophomore season in addition to earning Second Team All-MACJC honors. Carlini was also selected the MACJC Pitcher of the Week on April 8, 2014, to kick off his sophomore campaign.
Carlini is married to the former Lauren Carson of Independence, a Northwest graduate and former Ranger cheerleader. The couple have two children, Ridley Anne (5) and Adeline May (2).
