DLN-Area Baseball: Team-by-Team Previews
Ches-Mont National
Avon Grove
2016 record: 6-13
Coach: Dave Whitcraft
Key Players: Andrew Brady, Sr, P/IF; Zach Long, Sr, OF; Tom Jacobs, Jr C.
Outlook: The Red Devils struggled last season but they have the look of a team that can be at least .500.
Bishop Shanahan
2016 record: 12-9
Coach: Brian Boyko
Key Players: Riley O’Day, Sr, P/IF; Dan Browne, Sr, OF; Dan DiBeneditto, Sr, IF.
Outlook: O’Day is one of the best players in the league and the Eagles should make a run at a 5A district playoff berth.
Coatesville
2016 record: 14-8
Coach: Hal Ziegler
Key Players: Adam Stauffer, Sr, P; Damon Nelson, Sr, P; Dom Macolino, Sr, IF.
Outlook: The Red Raiders’ pitching should be solid and if Coatesville hits, the Raiders can be a league title contender and a district playoff squad.
Downingtown East
2016 record: 9-11
Coach: Pete Susi
Key Players: Will Peiffer, Sr., P/IF; Chase Fike, Sr., P/If; Hutch Gagnon, Sr., P.
Outlook: The Cougars’ pitching staff should be solid, but East is going to have to hit to be a contender in the Ches-Mont National.
Downingtown West
2016 record: 21-4
Coach: Dave Oleziek
Key Players: Nick Campana, Sr, C; J.J. Freeman, Sr, IF; Mike Mollenhauer, Sr, OF; Drew Britt, Jr, P.
Outlook: West is very deep and is the favorite to win the league and make a run at a district title.
West Chester East
2016 record: 11-11
Coach: Scott Kelley
Key Players: J.T. Thompson, Sr, C; Jackson Berman, Sr., OF; Adam Smith Jr, IF.
Outlook: East returns many players from a district playoff team this season, and if the Vikings get some pitching, they can go back to the playoffs.
West Chester henderson
2016 record: 13-8
Coach: Luke McNichol
Key Players: Thomas Caulfield, Jr, IF; Brady Bash, Jr, P; Zach Roberts, Sr, OF.
Outlook: Henderson will hit and Bash is a tough pitcher, so the Warriors can make a run at a league title and a district playoff berth.
Ches-Mont American
Great Valley
2016 record: 10-10
Coach: Matt Schultz
Key Players: Connor Malloy, Jr, P/IF; Ryan Craig, Sr, P; Brendan O’Donnell, Soph, P/IF.
Outlook: Great Valley is a very young team and the Patriots may struggle on the mound this season.
Kennett
2016 record: 5-14
Coach: Justin Lamborn
Key Players: Owen Dougherty, Jr, P; Ben Lesher, Jr, IF; Drew Massetti, Sr, IF; Bowen DuPhilly, Jr, IF.
Outlook: Lamborn did a great job in his first season and the Blue Demons should improve on last season’s win mark this year.
Octorara
2016 record; 3-17
Coach: Jed King
Key Players: Tim Lubrano, Jr, C; John Cummings, Sr, OF; Matt Rudisill, Sr, IF.
Outlook: Octorara will improve on last season’s win/loss record if it can find some consistent pitching.
Oxford
2016 record: 8-11
Coach: Andy Wendle
Key Players: Nolan Benke, Sr, P/IF; Mike Weber, Sr., OF.
Outlook: Oxford has improved in each of Wendle’s two seasons and the Hornets may be a surprise club in the American Division.
Unionville
2016 record: 8-12
Coach: Mike Magee
Key Players: Brady Horne, Sr, P; Zach Kennedy, Sr, P; Spencer Pelligrino, Sr, IF.
Outlook: Unionville had a rare down season in 2016 and the Indians are one of the favorites in the American this year because of a deep pitching staff.
West Chester Rustin
2016 record: 11-10
Coach: Brad Harkins
Key Players: Chris McMahon, Sr, P; Sean Hopkins, Jr, C.
Outlook: The Miami University bound McMahon is the best pitcher in the American Divison and the Golden Knights always seem to hit, so they are one of the favorites in the American.
Other Schools
Malvern Prep
2016 record: 29-6
Coach: Fred Hilliard.
Key Players: Shane Muntz, Sr, C; Jimmy Kingsbury, Sr, P; Matt Daller, Sr, IF.
Outlook: Malvern, which is arguably the best team in the state and ranked in the top 25 nationally, should win the Inter-Ccademic League title going away.
Conestoga
2016 record: 13-8
Coach: Matt Diamond
Key Players: Alex Lee, Sr, OF; Angus Mayock, Sr, P; Luke Czepiel, Jr, C.
Outlook: Conestoga is one of the favorites in the Central and will be a district playoff squad.
Devon Prep
2016 record: 17-7
Coach: Mark Aquilante
Key Players: Jimmy Loftus, Sr, OF; J.J. O’Reilly, Jr, OF; Nick Ramanjuju, Jr, P.
Outlook: The defending District 1 Class 2A champions should again be a factor in the Bicentennial League and make a run at another district title.
Church Farm School
2016 record: 6-12
Coach: Bob McHale
Key Players: David LaRue, Sr, OF; Coby Brenner, Sr, Of; Jesus Benitz, Sr, IF.
Outlook: Church Farm brings back a lot of players from last season and could be a .500 team this season.
Westtown
2016 record: 7-11
Coach: Kurt Kebaugh
Key Players: Joseph Love-Sheller, Sr, IF; Jonathan Moldoff, Jr, IF/P.
Outlook: Kebaugh is in his first season and the Moose should be around the .500 mark in the Friends School League.
