North Penn holding 2nd annual Alumni Game
The present is pretty good for the North Penn baseball team.
The Knights lead the Suburban One League Continental Conference and have won four straight after Friday’s 11-0 win over Lansdale Catholic.
But NP coach Kevin Manero still wants his squad to always be mindful of its history. So Saturday, North Penn is holding its second annual Alumni Game and Knights of Fame induction ceremony.
Four former players will be honored along with special recognition inductee Don “Doc’ Ryan, who retired as North Penn’s athletic director in January.
“We’re trying to go back through the history of the program and honor the people who have paved the way for the guys who are here now,’ Manero said. “So, we’re trying to make it something every year we hit some of the best people from the program and it’s big order, because over the course of history of North Penn baseball, there’s a lot of talent.
The Alumni Game is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the North Penn High School baseball field with the odd year alumni taking on the even year. An RSVP is not required, but alumni can confirm their attendance by contacting Manero by email at manerokj@npenn.org.
“I think it’s a little tough for us to tell what kind of turnout we’re going to have until the day of,’ Manero said. “With such a wide base of alumni, that’s the hardest things, is contacting everybody. We use social media, which I think hits a large generation of alumni, but then you hope word or mouth goes around to the rest. So, we’re doing our very best to get the word out. You know, we’ve had a lot of baseball players in North Penn history, so we hope we can have a nice turnout.’
Prior to the game, former players Lee Saverio (Class of 1947), Ron Erb (‘ 59), Charlie Prediger (’64) and Steve Miller (’67) will join inaugural inductee Carl Giuranna into the Knights of Fame.
“We’re trying to get as many as we can right away here. Trying to get people from different decades and stuff like that,’ Manero said. “We’re looking forward to having some of those guys come back and hopefully our players get a chance to see what baseball was like before them and understand that the program doesn’t start and stop with them. They’re just a blip on the radar in the history of the program.’
Ryan had been North Penn’s athletic director since 1981, a span that saw the baseball program win three District 1 titles (1984, 2005, 2008) and two PIAA Class AAAA championships (2009, 2013).
“I think in our hearts, Doc is a baseball guy,’ Manero said. “He’s certainly has been a cornerstone for North Penn athletics and there’s no way to honor him enough times. You can honor him 100 more times and it still wouldn’t be enough.
As for the present, North Penn has a chance to repeat as SOL Conference champion, sitting in first place by one game over both Central Bucks East and Hatboro-Horsham. The Knights visit Souderton 3:45 p.m. Monday then host Hatboro-Horsham 4 p.m. Wednesday.
