Diamond gems: Presenting the 2021 All-Main Line baseball teams

Several Main Line high school baseball squads enjoyed memorable seasons this past spring, notably Malvern Prep (26-4) and Friends’ Central (25-6).
Malvern Prep captured the Inter-Ac championship, and a half-dozen Friars received first team All-Inter-Ac selection, including league Most Valuable Player Fran Oschell.
Friends’ Central set a school record for wins, went 9-0 in the Friends’ Schools League, outscoring league opponents 103-2 and defeated LaSalle, Neumann-Goretti, Springside Chestnut Hill and Father Judge by a combined score of 46-1. Eight Phoenix players made first team All-Friends’ Schools League.
Other successful Main Line squads included Haverford School (18-10), Devon Prep (14-8), Conestoga (advanced to the second round of the PIAA District 1 6A tournament. Barrack Hebrew Academy posted a winning record.
The All-Main Line high school baseball teams are selected by the coaches. Because Main Line Media News covers 19 high schools, the Main Line Media News sports staff limits the number of sports available to first team, second team and honorable mention – but follows the priority of the coaches’ selections. What follows are the 2021 All-Main Line high school baseball teams:
FIRST TEAM
Ilan Gordon, Barrack Hebrew Academy – Senior catcher, a first team All-Penn Jersey League selection, batted .333 with good power and displayed a strong throwing arm, nailing 12 of 20 potential base stealers. “He was our rock,” said Barrack head coach Justin Cooper.
Shane McCullen, Conestoga – Junior was voted All-Central League first team designated hitter, batting .423 with 22 hits and 13 RBI’s and only three strikeouts. Was 5-1 as a starting pitcher and held opposing hitters to a .205 batting average.
Jack Eshelman, Devon Prep – Senior pitcher/center fielder was a first team All-Catholic League pitcher and second team All-Catholic League position player. Batted .328, posted a .467 on-base percentage and stole 8 bases. On the mound, was 5-2 with a 1.67 ERA, striking out 62 batters in 37.2 innings.
Paul Grycewicz, Devon Prep – Senior catcher, a third team All-Catholic position player, was the MVP for a strong Tide squad. Had .397 on-base percentage, and was a fine defensive receiver, throwing out a dozen would-be base stealers.
Alex Barrist, Episcopal Academy – Freshman second baseman was a fine all-around performer for a solid Churchmen squad this spring, batting .315 with 16 runs scored, 14 RBI’s, five steals. Was a slick fielder at the keystone position, with a .970 fielding percentage.
Justin Rubin, Friends’ Central – Senior shortstop, a first team All-Friends Schools League selection, was the Phoenix’s MVP. Batted .566 with .714 on-base percentage, 25 RBIs and set school records with 43 hits, 44 stolen bases, 53 runs scored and 77 career steals. Headed to University of Virginia.
Sam Burman, Friends’ Central – Junior third baseman/outfielder/designated hitter, a first team All-Friends Schools League selection, batted .456 with .544 on-base percentage. Hofstra commit had 41 Hits (second-most for Phoenix all time), a school-record 41 RBIs and a dozen extra-base hits, including four home runs.
Johnny Fitzpatrick, Friends’ Central – Junior pitcher/outfielder, a first team All-Friends’ Schools League selection, posted a 7-3 record and 2.15 ERA, striking out 58 batters in 39 innings. Threw a two-hitter in the Friends School League championship final, striking out 13 batters and walking none.
Luke Buscaglia, Friends’ Central – Junior middle infielder/pitcher, a first team All-Friends Schools League selection, batted .390 with a .545 on-base percentage, with 30 hits, 30 stolen bases, 29 RBIs and 36 runs scored. In eight relief pitching appearances, had 0.00 ERA in 16.1 innings, striking out 16 and earning two saves.
Will Higson, Haverford High – Senior third baseman and captain, a first team All-Central League infielder, batted .368 with seven extra base hits and 16 RBIs in 17 games. A three-sport athlete, he won several multi-sport awards and is going to Franklin & Marshall to play football.
Eric Genther, Haverford School – Senior catcher, a unanimous first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .521 with 37 RBIs, 25 runs, 5 home runs, a .660 on-base percentage and only 4 strikeouts. A top defensive catcher who threw out eight baserunners, and was MVP of a strong Ford squad. Two-time Carpenter Cup representative is headed to University of Rhode Island.
Ryan Reed, Haverford School – Junior lefthanded pitcher, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, posted a 5-2 record and 1.68 ERA, striking out 63 batters in 45.2 innings, pitching against a variety of powerful local teams, including Inter-Ac champ Malvern Prep and district champions Monsignor Bonner and Holy Ghost Prep. University of Pittsburgh commit is a Carpenter Cup representative.
Jonny Flieder, Haverford School – Senior shortstop was a standout leadoff hitter, batting .370 with 34 runs scored, 18 RBIs, 9 extra-base hits. A Carpenter Cup representative, he recived second team All-Inter-Ac honors, and is headed to Haverford College this fall.
Fran Oschell, Malvern Prep – Senior pitcher/designated hitter was the Inter-Ac’s Most Valuable Player, batting .397 with 13 extra base hits (including 5 home runs), 26 RBIs, 17 runs scored and a .750 slugging percentage. On the mound, he posted an 8-1 record with a 1.38 ERA, striking out 68 batters in 50.2 innings and allowing only 9 walks.
Lonnie White, Malvern Prep – Senior center fielder, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .395 with 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 25 RBIs and a .721 slugging percentage. An all-around hitter who posted a .534 on-base percentage, stole 26 bases in 27 attempts and scored 36 runs.
Jimmy Kirk, Malvern Prep – Senior first baseman, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .478 with 12 extra-base hits, 25 RBIs and a .754 slugging percentage as well as 20 runs scored and a .570 on-base percentage.
Josh Smith, Malvern Prep – Senior right fielder, a first team All-Inter-Ac selection, batted .379 with a .488 on-base percentage, scored 26 runs, producing 19 RBIs and stealing 19 bases in 21 attempts.
Scott Belveal, Radnor – Senior catcher, a first team All-Central League selection, was a fine all-around performer for Radnor, batting .366 with 26 hits (nine of them for extra bases) and scoring 16 runs.
Jack Pachella, Radnor – Junior first baseman, a first team All-Central League selection, batted .366 with 26 hits (10 of them for extra bases) and scored 21 runs. Is a Carpenter Cup player this spring.
Tommy Ball, Shipley – Junior infielder/pitcher, a first team All-Friends Schools League selection, was a standout leadoff hitter who batted .419 with eight extra base hits (including 5 triples) and scored 14 runs. On the mound, posted a 3-2 record and 2.14 ERA with 23 strikeouts. Is a Carpenter Cup selection.
SECOND TEAM
Barrack Hebrew Academy – Aaron Heller, junior infielder/pitcher.
Conestoga – Drew Lamonica, senior outfielder; Jayce Tharnish, junior second baseman.
Devon Prep – Mason Lindley, junior shortstop.
Episcopal Academy – Shane Lawler, senior pitcher; Jake Fant, junior catcher; Dan Kane, senior first baseman/third baseman.
Friends’ Central – Jack Donahoe, senior first baseman; Dylan Posencheg, junior center fielder; Lucca Frattone, sophomore pitcher; Jonathan Aman, junior right fielder.
Harriton – Austin Goldstein, senior designated hitter; Teddy Molineaux, senior shortstop.
Haverford School – Colby McNeely, junior pitcher/infielder; Jake Stacey, senior infielder; Will Ferris, junior outfielder.
Lower Merion – Josh McCormick, junior outfielder; Jake Krimsky, junior pitcher.
Malvern Prep – Cam Conley, senior shortstop; Dominic Chieffalo, senior pitcher; Trey Tiffan, sophomore third baseman.
Radnor – Austin Marx, junior outfielder/pitcher; Will Reger, junior outfielder; Mike Sears, senior infielder.
Shipley – Justin Curran, junior outfielder/pitcher; Tommy Dee, senior infielder/outfielder.
HONORABLE MENTION
Devon Prep – Jake Kenney, junior pitcher; Michael Romano, senior pitcher; Tom Kent, senior first baseman; Bere Bauers, senior pitcher.
Episcopal Academy – Jake Jaszcz, junior outfielder; Brad Johnston, sophomore first baseman/third baseman.
Harriton – Mike Rinaldi, senior first baseman.
Haverford High – Jimmy Wright, senior shortstop.
Haverford School – Grayson Walker, senior pitcher/designated hitter; Aidan Welsh, junior pitcher.
Lower Merion – Matt Rinaldi, sophomore shortstop; Alex Gibbon, senior second baseman; Ilan Tauber, junior pitcher.
Radnor – Owen Lewandowski, senior pitcher; Jimmy Sweet, senior pitcher.
Shipley – Fran Turner, sophomore outfielder/catcher; Nate Panzer, sophomore pitcher/infielder.
– Archbishop Carroll did not submit an All-Main Line baseball nomination ballot.