Mercury-Area 2015 Team-By-Team Preview
BOYERTOWN
Head Coach
Todd Moyer, 22nd season.
Last year
16-2 PAC-10, 20-6 overall. Fell to Methacton in PAC-10 Semifinals and District 1-AAAA final. Lost to eventual state champion La Salle in PIAA-AAAA opener.
Players to watch
Daulton Hughes, Sr., OF; Austin Madeja, Sr., OF (.385 batting average, All-Area 1st Team); Zach Moser, Sr., IF; Ben Longacre, Jr., OF/DH (.326 BA, All-Area Honorable Mention).
OutlookAlways in the mix to win a PAC-10 Championship, the Bears must replace their four best pitchers from last year in Tyler Bauman (1.62 ERA, 67 strikeouts and two no-hitters), Brandon Griesemer (All-Area 2nd Team), James Buckley and Sean Pavlik (All-Area Honorable Mention) and will look to junior Andrew Bauer to help headline that charge. Team returns Longacre who had nine RBI last season as well as Madeja and Moser who combined to score 46 runs last season. “We are very young, having lost our top four pitchers,’ Moyer said. “The young guys will have to step up to fill those holes. We always expect to win at Boyertown, and that always means competing for championships in the league, district and ultimately the state.’
DANIEL BOONE
Head Coach
Jason McCord, 5th season.
Last year
4-6 Berks I, 10-10 overall.
Players to watch
Sean Bologa, Jr., P/OF; Jordan Goodrich, Jr., P/1B; Bryant Schwoyer, Jr., 3B/P/1B (.321, 11 RBI); Bryce Stout, Jr., C/OF (.439, 12 runs, All-Area Honorable Mention); Tyler Esenwein, So., 2B/3B; Joey Moyer, So., SS (.312, 9 RBI, All-Area Honorable Mention); Brendan Rivoli, So., C/OF/1B (All-Area Honorable Mention).
Outlook
The Blazers are a young team with an extreme amount of promise. Stout will solidify himself in the middle of the lineup while Schwoyer will be relied heavily on his defense. Moyer returns after a solid freshman season and will play shortstop and Esenwein, after entrenching himself in the lineup last season, solidifies the middle infield. Goodrich will be called upon to take over the role vacated by graduated pitchers Zach Heffner (49 in 42 IP) and Justin Herring (6-2 2.54 ERA 55Ks in 49.2 innings). Team must also find replacement for All-Area First Teamer Doug Schilling, who hit .426 with 16 RBI and one home run last season. “This season the Blazers will be young, but talented,’ McCord said. “If the team can play together and develop their abilities on the field, then we will be able to overcome our youth and be competitive. It will be a tough road given the strength of schedule and strength of conference opposition.’
HILL SCHOOL
Head Coach
Chris Drowne, 4th season.
Last year
3-6 MAPL, 5-11 overall.
Players to watch
Grady Paine, Sr., C; Jack Overholt, Sr., OF (.315, 10 RBI, All-Area 2nd Team): Nick Chroscinski, Jr., 1B (.293, 12 RBI); Jack Hogan, Jr., P (2.97 ERA, 37 strikeouts, All-Area Honorable Mention)
Outlook
Overholt and Hogan return after producing All-Area-worthy seasons last spring while Paine becomes the new man behind the plate. Chroscinski will shift to first base to try and fill in the void left by the graduated Quin Butler, who led the team in batting average and RBI and is now playing at Oberlin College. “The Hill returns its pitching staff from last year with another year of growth and experiment under its belt and welcomes solid additions, behind the plate especially,’ Drowne said. “Defensively, some will be playing out of their natural position, but hopefully will settle in by the time MAPL play begins. Once again the MAPL will be strong and balanced and we hope to rise to that competition week in and week out with a handful of solid freshman joining the lineup to mix with those returning guys.’
METHACTON
Head Coach
Paul Spiewak, 12th season.
Last year
12-6 PAC-10, 22-7 overall. PAC-10 Champions, District 1-AAAA Champions, fell to Spring-Ford in PIAA-AAAA quarterfinals.
Players to watch
Erik Marberger, Sr., IF/OF (.309, 15 runs); T.J. Tornetta, Sr., OF (.360, 27 hits, 18 RBI, 21 runs scored, All-Area 2nd Team); Patrick O’Neill, So., SS.
Outlook
After a memorable (and somewhat controversial) victory in the PAC-10 Championship game over Pope John Paul II — the first in six years for the Methacton program — Methacton followed it up with a District 1-AAAA championship before falling in the PIAA-AAAA quarterfinals to Spring-Ford. Now, the 11 seniors that led the team to its illustrious run (including Glenn Seymour, Austin Bregman, Tim Carfrey, Kyle Lowery, John Wiedmayer, Jim Shomberg, Kyle Geaster, Greg Pellicano and Owen McCue) are all gone. Methacton must find a way to replace three players that made All-Area first team honors last season in Lowery (.453, nine doubles, 30 RBI, 25 runs All-Area Player of the Year), Feaster (.380, 41 hits) and Carfrey (12-3, 1.97 ERA, 51 strikeouts in 71 innings). Marberber, Tornetta and O’Neill, fresh off the basketball team’s historic PIAA-AAAA run, will look to do just that. “We feel very confident in our ability to play strong defense and throw strikes,’ Spiewak said. “After graduating 11 seniors from last year’s team, we are inexperienced and unproven at the varsity level. With that said, the 2015 team is very much looking forward to the challenge of proving to ourselves and to our opponents that we will compete at a high level in one of the toughest baseball conferences in the state of Pennsylvania.
OWEN J. ROBERTS
Head Coach
Greg Gilbert, 18th season.
Last year
7-11 PAC-10, 8-11 overall.
Players to watch
Grant Fitzsimmons, Sr., P; Jake LeClerc, Sr., RF; Blake McCourt, Sr., 3B; Collin McCourt, Sr., SS (All-Area Honorable Mention); Alex Condello, Jr., 1B (All-Area Honorable Mention); Bobby Himes, Jr., P; Joe Zgleszewski, Jr., C.
Outlook
Owen J. Roberts’ infield is set. The rest, however, is contingent on how the pitching staff fares at the varsity level. Graduated are pitchers Stephen Muscovitch, Kutter Endy, Andrew Lewis and Sam Murphy. Himes and Fitzsimmons look to be the steady arm in a group of pitchers that have little varsity experience. “We are returning five starters from last year’s lineup, all but one infielder starter on last year’s team,’ Gilbert said. “The pitching staff has shown promise but have very little varsity experience. We are hoping to be competitive in a very difficult league that will heave a good number of quality retuning pitchers. Our strengths should be defense and being able to produce runs for the young pitching staff.’
PERKIOMEN SCHOOL
Head Coach
Ken Baker, 26th season.
Last year
8-0 TCL, 20-5 overall. TCL Champions.
Players to watch
Tom Aaron, Sr., 3B (.441, All-Area 2nd Team); Naquan Holden, Sr., OF; Angel Lopez, Sr., C; Javi Quinones, Sr., P/3B/OF; Devon Crossin, Jr., P; Saul DeLeon, Jr., P/1B; Levi Stoudt, Jr., P/SS (All-Area 2nd Team); Josh Cruz, So., P/OF.
Outlook
The Perkiomen School returns a bevy of starters from last year’s TCL championship team. Stoudt returns to the bump after earning All-Area Second Team honors last season while Aaron returns to the hot corner after earning the same recognition. Team must replace shortstop Joey Pena who graduated and is now playing at St. Thomas Aquinas, but junior Christian del Toro could be waiting to fill that hole. Also, junior pitchers Jared Sapirman and David Juechter along with sophomore Marlon Lindsey look to fill out the rotation for the Panthers. “This is one of our deepest teams with players competing for playing time,’ Baker said. “We have pitching depth as well but much of it is untested. We won’t take anyone by surprise this year after making a run to the state title game last year. We will need to ready to play every day. We should be playing for the TCL title again this year.’
PERKIOMEN VALLEY
Head Coach
Ryan Hinkle, 3rd season.
Last year
6-12 PAC-10, 7-12 overall.
Players to watch
Liam Grande, Sr., P/OF(.296, 13 RBI; 3-1 record, 3.15 ERA, 1.5 WHIP; All-Area Honorable Mention); Tyler Krause, Sr., P (.387, 12 RBI, 17 runs; 4-1 record, 3.41 ERA, 1.62 WHIP; All-Area Honorable Mention); Chase Koffel, Sr., (.233, 11 RBI, 12 runs; committed to Centenary College); John Turner, Sr., (.242, 14 RBI; committed to Millersville); Nate Yoder, Jr., (.358, .478 OPB, 11 RBI, 11 runs).
Outlook
The Vikings took a step back last season after the team graduated 11 seniors from its 13-player roster after finishing 12-6 in the PAC-10 along with a District 1-AAAA playoff berth in 2013. Now, after a year of maturing, Grande, Krause, Turner, Koffel and Yoder look to help put the pieces together for the Vikings after a pleasant offseason training program. “After a tough year with a very young team, expect the Vikings to be very competitive and mature in the conference this year,’ Hinkle said. “Our youth was evident last year with our inability to close our games properly, but our overall experience should benefit us. Returning seniors have stepped into crucial leadership positions that have created an overwhelming positive and encouraging atmosphere all throughout offseason workouts. Making routine plays and keeping our pitch counts low in order to increase the effectiveness of our staff have been made primary goals entering the season.’
PHOENIXVILLE
Head Coach
Jack Sturgeon, 17th season.
Last year
9-9 PAC-10, 9-9 overall.
Players to watch
Michael Anthony, Sr., P/OF (scholarship to La Salle); Brett Arney, Sr., IF (committed to Penn State-Harrisburg); Zach Gallow, Sr., 1B/P (All-Area Honorable Mention); Owen Goryl, Sr., 3B/C; Brett Thomas, Sr., P/OF; Austin Walsh, Sr., OF; Justin Waltman, Sr., C/OF.
Outlook
The Phantoms enter the 2015 season after not reaching the PAC-10 playoffs for the first time after a run of two straight berths. Phoenixville graduated Cameron Cook (All-Area Honorable Mention), Cole Luzins (All-Area 2nd Team), Bryan Furr, James Jackson, Tom Kawchak (All-Area 2nd Team) and Logan Landis and will rely upon the arms of Anthony (fresh off a solid season on the basketball court), Gallow and Thomas to solidify a starting rotation while Arney and Goryl will need to replace the production of Cook and Luzins in the infield. “We will depend heavily on our seven seniors to get us going in the right direction after losing six starters and two of our three starting pitchers.’ Sturgeon said. “The team is working hard to establish an aggressive offensive philosophy along with a pitching staff and defense that will keep us in games. Like most, we will be better as our younger players get their feet on the ground and gain valuable experience early in the season.’
POPE JOHN PAUL II
Head Coach
Matt Eckman, 1st season.
Last year
14-4 PAC-10, 23-5 overall. Fell to Methacton in PAC-10 final before winning District 1-AAA and PIAA-AAA championships.
Players to watch
Andrew Szpindor, Sr., P (Committed to University of the Sciences); Vinnie Togno, Sr., P; Amedo Citro, Jr., OF; Luke DeLeo, Jr., IF; Billy Hitman, Jr., 2B (.348, 13 RBI; All-Area Honorable Mention).
Outlook
The offseason wasn’t pretty after John Duffy’s contract wasn’t renewed after guiding his team to a state title in his first year at the helm. James Bleming (All-Area 1st Team and now at Lehigh), Josh Lafferty (All-Area 1st Team and now at Widener), Dan Zurowski (All-Area 1st Team now at Misericordia), Evan Myers (Seton Hill), Trevor O’Brien (All-Area Honorable Mention), Joey Pedorenko (All-Area Honorable Mention), Chris Kucewicz (All-Area Honorable Mention) and Sean Williamson (All-Area Honorable Mention) are all gone. Now, the slate is wiped clean for better of for worse and it will be a question as to if PJP’s senior leadership (along with the play of Hitman who had two-game winning hits in last year’s playoffs) rises to the challenge in a tough conference. Time will ultimately tell but the hiring of Eckman seems to have the ball rolling in the right direction. “For this season to be successful, which I think we can be, the inexperienced talent is going to have to grow fast,’ Eckman said. “When you are following a state championship season, all eyes are on you and how this team deals wit that will determine how long this team will be playing into the playoffs.’
POTTSGROVE
Head Coach
Steve Burdan, 1st season
Last year
2-16 PAC-10, 3-16 overall.
Players to watch
Tyler Hibbs, Sr., P/OF (All-Area Honorable Mention); Sachael Sciaretta, Sr., IF/P (All-Area Honorable Mention); Garrett Bleakley, Jr., IF/P: Nick DeCutis, So., IF/P.
Outlook
Burdan, after a highly successful playing career at Pottstown and Alvernia College, takes over for Richie Ashburn Jr., who stepped down for family reasons. Burdan inherits a Pottsgrove team that has won three games in each of the past two seasons and will look to Hibbs and Sciaretta to provide some leadership for a team, like many others in the PAC-10, that lacks varsity experience. “We are a young team in the aspect of experience, so we are going to have to grow up quick,’ Burdan said. “We look to be much more competitive in the PAC-10 this year.’
POTTSTOWN
Head Coach
Jeff Evans, 4th season.
Last year
5-13 PAC-10, 5-15 overall.
Players to watch
Tyler Gebhard, Sr., P/1B; Nick Irvin, Sr., C; Jordan Mullen, Sr., P/IF (All-Area Honorable Mention); Dakota Robinson, Sr., P/OF; Gary Wise., Sr., P/OF; Ty Wolfel, Sr., IF; Logan Pennypacker, Jr., OF/P (All-Area Honorable Mention); Mason Pennypacker, Jr., IF (All-Area Honorable Mention); Ron Fausnaught, So., OF/IF.
Outlook
Evans enters his fourth season at the helm after the team struggled in 2014 after losing six starters that guided them to a district playoff appearance the year prior. “The Trojans should improve offensively and if the pitching staff comes along, the squad could be competitive,’ Evans said.
SPRING-FORD
Head Coach
Bruce Brobst, 11th season,
Last year
14-4 PAC-10, 20-7 overall. Lost to Pope John Paul II in semifinals before placing fourth in District 1-AAAA tournament. Fell in semifinals in PIAA-AAAA semifinals to La Salle, 3-0.
Players to watch
Bret Clarke, Sr., P (6-3 record, 1.42 ERA, 71 strikeouts in 69 innings; committed to Stony Brook University); Mike Fuhrmeister, Sr., OF (.355, 11 hits, 10 runs; committed to Lock Haven); Connor Klemann, Sr., IF (.443, 31 hits, 15 RBI, 28 runs; committed to Penn State); Ryan Markey, Sr., IF (committed to St. John’s); Cam Simmons, Sr., P/OF (.274, 19 RBI; 5-0 record, 0.74 ERA, 38 strikeouts in 37 innings; committed to Virginia); Zach Smiley, Sr., 3B; Zach Wedemeyer, Sr., 1B/OF; Zach Zoller, Sr., OF (committed to Shippensburg).
Outlook
Team is scary good on paper with five of its starting lineup committed to Division I universities and two others committed to highly profiled Division II universities in Shippensburg and Lock Haven. Brobst has high expectations for this group and for good reason. The Rams have all the pieces to make a PAC-10 playoff run as well as go deep into the district and PIAA playoffs. “We are very excited to get the season started,’ Brobst said. “We have a very talented group of seniors who have high expectations. The PAC-10 is a very strong league boasting a state champion (Pope John Paul II), league and district champion (Methacton) and district runner-up (Boyertown). We have some new coaches in the league and look forward to squaring off against them and the other teams as well.’
UPPER PERKIOMEN
Head Coach
Frank Mercon, 5th season.
Last year
5-13 PAC-10, 5-14 overall.
Players to watch
Chris Kachmar, Sr., P/OF (3.53 ERA, 36 strikeouts in 31 innings; committed to Fairleigh Dickinson); Eric Stalford, Sr., P/2B; Daron Pijanowski, P/OF/1B.
Outlook
The Indians missed out on the district playoffs after advancing to the District 1-AAA quarterfinals two seasons ago. Kachmar, Stalford and Pijanowski will look to continue their efforts in 2015 and bring the team back into PAC-10 and District 1 contention. “I am looking forward to getting on the field this season,’ Mercon said. “I have a great group of young men that work hard. Our goal is to be prepared for the game in front of us and obviously with the intent to win it. We return most of our pitching staff from last year which is a nice place to have experience. I’m hopeful for a return to districts.’
WEST-MONT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Head Coach
Elijah Platchek, 4th season.
Last year
0-5 TCL, 2-10 overall.
Players to watch
Max Davis, Sr., 1B; Ben Clarke, Jr., 2B; Dan Mayk, Jr., SS; Christian Palumbo, So., C.
Outlook
“We are looking extremely strong this year,’ Platchek said. “WCA Baseball has been up and down over the past several years and this year is promising. With lots of young talent this year and the years to follow, we will be successful and it will be fun to be a part of in the dugout. The boys’ talent and heart to play is strong. That, along with proper leadership, will breed success.’
Compiled by Sam Stewart, sstewart@pottsmerc.com
