North Penn’s Melone, Wood’s Lancellotti headline Reporter/Montgomery all-area squad
Once again, Districts 1 and 12 provided some of the premier baseball talent in the state of Pennsylvania.
Within the Reporter/Mongtomery area alone, fans were treated to tight divisional races, tremendous pitching, outstanding hitting and a collection of talent that continues to draw college coaches to the area. North Penn added its second state title in three years while Archbishop Wood broke a 22-year hex on the Philadelphia Catholic championships and added a District 12 title to boot.
La Salle remained a force in the PCL while Wissahickon and Upper Dublin provided plenty of highlights in the Suburban One League American. Abington returned to districts for the first time since 1989 while Christopher Dock remained a player in the Class A bracket with another district title. It’s a clear sign that the local pool of talent is by no means shallow.
FIRST TEAM
Joey Lancellotti Jr. P/OF, Archbishop Wood: The PCL player of the year, Lancellotti was electric in his first year with the Vikings. A UNC recruit, he posted a 7-1 record on the mound highlighted by a no-hitter of Class AAA state finalist Neumann-Goretti and also brought plenty of power with his bat and a rocket arm to right field as an everyday player at Wood.
James Witner Sr. P, North Penn: The latest in North Penn’s line of overnight aces, Witner got the start in the state title game and delivered the same as he had all year. A senior with plenty of experience, Witner proved he could get the job done in a close game and pitched the Knights to some of their biggest wins of the season.
Jared Melone, Sr. INF, North Penn: A stalwart for the Knights since his sophomore season, Melone emerged as a vocal leader for the state champs and kept up his usual high-end production. Mashing the ball to a .450 average, Melone handed his team 35 RBI, 16 runs, four doubles, three home runs, and two triples en route to his second state championship.
Danny Long Jr. INF, Pennridge: Freshly committed to Monmouth, Long was again a catalyst for the Rams. Putting his bat to good use early in the order, Long was the right guy to hit in front of the heart of Pennridge’s lineup while his speed helped on the bases and defensively in the infield. Long also chipped in from the mound as a multi-tool player.
Christian Huckfeldt Sr. P/INF, Upper Dublin: The Flying Cardinals’ ace pitcher, Huckfeldt was a commanding presence on the mound as he helped UD to a shared SOL American title. A first-team conference pick, he also brought a good bat and solid infield defense, able to step in at first or third when it wasn’t his turn in the rotation and will play for Scranton next year.
Nick Falso Sr. INF, Wissahickon: The heart and soul of the Trojans’ SOL American co-champs, Falso was the kind of leader any coach would take in a snap. A smooth-fielding shortstop, Falso also made a mark with his bat as the Trojans claimed the No. 2 seed in the District I AAAA bracket. He will take his energy and talent to Ohio University next year.
Jimmy Herron Sr. OF, La Salle: The Duke-bound Herron is a textbook tablesetter. The leadoff man for the Explorers was a perfect 20-for-20 in stolen base attempts and his .329 average meant he was on base a lot, scoring 24 times. That speed translated well to centerfield as well, where he anchored one of the best defensive outfields in Southeastern PA.
Eric Lane Sr. P/OF, Hatboro-Horsham: When Lane pitched, opponents knew runs would be at a premium. The Kutztown-bound senior was one of the top pitchers in all of the SOL, even handing North Penn a rare loss in an early season duel. The lefthander prides himself on going the distance and was a steady presence at the plate and in the corner outfield when he didn’t pitch.
Mason Nadeau Jr. OF, North Penn: After missing much of his sophomore year with an injury, Nadeau was a welcome return to the Knights. A rangy defender, Nadeau helped anchor a rock-solid outfield and provided a steady on-base presence for Knights mashers to drive in. A recent commit to Penn State, Nadeau is looking to keep the North Penn tradition going as a senior.
Nick Bein Sr. C, Abington: Big, strong, a rock behind the plate and a menace with a bat in his hands, Bein is everything a team could want in a catcher. A team captain and middle of the order force, Bein helped guide the Ghosts back to districts and was the guy any pitcher would love to throw to. He is taking his talents to Elizabethtown.
Blake Rapoport, Jr. INF/OF, Wissahickon: One of several underclassmen stars, Rapoport ensures the cupboard isn’t empty for the Trojans as they look to continue to remain a force in the SOL American. Fleet-footed, Rapoport has top of the lineup potential and is a vacuum at second base, though he could probably play anywhere and excel.
SECOND TEAM
Joe Molettiere Sr. P, Pennridge; Evan Trauger Sr. P/OF, Christopher Dock; Sean Kelly Jr. INF, Archbishop Wood; David Tatoian Sr. INF, Pennridge, Justin Gregorio Sr. INF, Hatboro-Horsham; Nick Smalley Jr. INF, Lansdale Catholic; Brendan Gallagher Sr. OF, Abington; Tyler Mathe Sr. OF, Souderton; Ian McIntosh Sr. INF, La Salle; Tim DiLoreto Jr. C, Christopher Dock; Nick Lafferty Sr. C, Archbishop Wood.
HONORABLE MENTION
Andrew Mayhew So. P, Pennridge; Julian Salzer Sr. P, Springfield Twp.; Joe Bates, Jr. P, Upper Moreland; Nate Luscombe Sr. P/OF, Souderton; Mike Christy Sr. INF, North Penn; Alex Tappen, So. INF, Wissahickon; Jameson Kolb, Jr. INF, Jenkintown; Matt Peralta Jr. OF, CB West; Cole Swiger Jr. OF, Upper Dublin; Langston Livingston Jr. OF, La Salle; Dylan Morrissette Sr. C, Souderton; Eric Schwartz So. INF/P, Lower Moreland; Danny Sabath So. P, Christopher Dock; Tim Brodhag Sr. INF, William Tennent, Justin Rubin Sr. P, Archbishop Wood
