Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery 2017 All-Area Baseball Teams
The 2017 high school baseball season has come to a close.
Plenty of area schools made memories that will last a lifetime.
North Penn and Hatboro-Horsham are conference champions, Dock Mennonite is a district champion and Upper Merion had its best season this decade.
New rivalries were created by schools switching conferences within the Suburban One League or moving to the Pioneer Athletic Conference.
Through it all there were plenty of memorable performances by players. The ones who had the biggest impact are recognized as members of the 2017 Reporter/Times Herald/Montgomery All-Area teams.
First Team
Pitchers
Colin Kennedy, Hatboro-Horsham: Colin Kennedy was a part of Hatboro-Horsham’s devastating one-two punch on the mound along with Brian Edgington. Kennedy helped pitch the team to six consecutive shutouts at the end of the regular season during a 12-game win streak to claim the Suburban One League American Conference title. Kennedy posted a 0.60 ERA in 12 appearances. In 58.1 innings, the senior allowed 35 hits. He struck out 67 batters, walked 14 and surrendered just nine runs — five earned.
Connor Larkin, Spring-Ford: Connor Larkin was Spring-Ford’s best pitcher this season and was selected as the Pioneer Athletic Conference Player of the Year. Larkin went 7-1 in 10 appearances for the Rams. He gave up 17 hits in 52 innings of work. He struck out 86 batters to 16 walks and posted a .80 ERA. One of his best games of the season was a no-hitter in a district playback game against Downingtown East to keep Spring-Ford’s season alive.
James Kelly, Archbishop Carroll: James Kelly was named the Philadelphia Catholic League Most Valuable Player and Pitcher of the Year after a dominant senior season. Kelly went 6-2 in nine appearances to lead Archbishop Carroll to a third place finish in the PCL regular season. He posted a 2.00 ERA to go along with 48 strikeouts, 42 hits and 16 walks in 49 innings of work.
Infielders
Zack Miles, North Penn: Zack Miles hit .468 for North Penn. He led the Knights with 10 doubles and two triples and was second with one home run. He had the most hits (36) and RBI (17) for the District 1 Class 6A runner up.
Nolan Bolton, Dock Mennonite: Nolan Bolton is only a sophomore for Dock Mennonite, but that didn’t stop him from leading the team in most offensive categories. He paced the Pioneers in average (.434), runs (22), RBI (23), triples (2) and home runs (1). He was second in hits (23) and doubles (5).
Patrick O’Neill, Methacton: Patrick O’Neil was named the first-team All Pioneer Athletic Conference shortstop. He had 30 hits this season with a .411 average, .451 on-base percentage and 17 RBI for Methacton. What really separates the future Villanova Wildcat is his defense. He’s started at shortstop since he was a freshman and his coach Paul Spiewak praised him as the best defensive player in Methacton history.
Matt Shilling, Wissahickon: Matt Shilling did a lot for the Wissahickon offense. He bounced around the top three spots in the batting order early in the season before settling in to the No. 3 spot. He hit .522 on the season and .541 in SOL American play. He had eight doubles, four triples and two home runs to lead the Trojans to the District 1 playoffs.
Catcher
Andrew Cossetti, La Salle: Andrew Cossetti was the Philadelphia Catholic League Offensive Player of the Year and was a First-Team All-League selection. He hit .426 for La Salle and showed off his power with six home runs, six doubles and 23 RBI.
Outfielders
Luke Barnum, Souderton: Luke Barnum was selected as a First-Team All-SOL Continental outfielder. He hit .453 with 16 runs, 13 RBI and a .486 on-base percentage. He helped lead Souderton to the District 1 Class 6A playoffs.
Thylar Summarell, Souderton: Thylar Summerell joined Barnum in the Souderton outfield and on the SOL Continental’s top team. The senior right fielder showed off his power with seven home runs and a .710 slugging percentage. He hit .306 and had 18 RBI.
Ryan Bealer, North Penn: Ryan Bealer was also on the SOL Continental’s first-team outfield with his two Souderton rivals. He hit .324 and scored 22 runs in the Knights 24 games.
Second Team
Pitchers
Brian Edgington — Hatboro-Horsham
Dan Kirwin — North Penn
Matt Stevenson — North Penn
Infielders
Justin Horn — Upper Dublin
Eric Marasheski — La Salle
Joe Gorla — Perk Valley
Brett Moyer — Souderton
Catcher
John Gifford — Archbishop Wood
Outfielders
Mike Hutchinson — Upper Merion
Randy Meehl — Upper Moreland
Mick Pristas — Archbishop Wood
Third Team
Pitchers
Daniel Sabath — Dock Mennonite
Andrew Mayhew — Pennridge
Kody Cracknell — Archbishop Wood
Infielders
Kieran Versaw-Barnes — Cheltenham
Ryan O’Donnell — Hatboro-Horsham
John Pecharo — Plymouth Whitemarsh
Alex Tappen — Wissahickon
Catcher
Matt Marino — North Penn
Outfielders
John Contoudis — Jenkintown
Gregg Sywulak — La Salle
Christian Wagner — Pope John Paul II
