All-Delco Baseball: Carroll’s Tozzi, Bonner-Prendie contingent show strength of Catholic League
In addition to Player of the Year Kevin McGonigle of Bonner-Prendergast, the All-Delco team includes:
Roman Tozzi, Archbishop Carroll: The senior southpaw was masterful on the mound for the Patriots, pitching to a 5-1 record and 1.65 ERA. He registered 45 strikeouts in 34 innings on the way to earning All-Catholic League recognition. Tozzi hit .333 with seven doubles and 14 runs scored in only 33 at bats. He also swiped five bases. Tozzi will continue his baseball career at Barton College.
Michael Anderson, Bonner-Prendergast: The senior pitcher/first baseman was the bulldog of the Friars’ excellent rotation and superb cleanup hitter. He went 7-0 with 1.89 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 40.2 innings for a Bonner-Prendergast team that advanced to the PIAA Class 4A semifinal round and captured the Catholic League championship. Opponents hit a paltry .211 against Anderson. The All-Catholic League selection batted .362/.485/.600 with three homers, eight doubles and 25 RBIs. Anderson will take his talents to Rhode Island.
Kevin Henrich, Bonner-Prendergast: The senior pitcher was the co-ace of the Friars’ pitching staff. He worked into the fifth inning, striking out five and allowing one run in the Catholic League final against Archbishop Wood. Henrich ended the year with an 8-0 record, a 1.19 ERA and 60 strikeouts over 47 innings. Opponents hit a measly .207 against him. On offense Henrich contributed a .286 batting average, six doubles and 10 RBIs. He will continue his career at North Alabama.
Ryan Wootten, Garnet Valley: The senior pitcher was the ace of the Central League champion Jaguars, who advanced to the quarterfinal round of the District 1 Class 6A playoffs. He was brilliant on the mound, pitching to a 7-0 record with a 1.82 ERA, 63 strikeouts and only 12 walks. He spun a complete game gem in the Jaguars’ first district playoff game, a 1-0 win over Downingtown West. Wootten was a unanimous selection on the All-Central League first team. He will continue his playing career at Seton Hall.
Alex Pak, Strath Haven: The junior pitcher/outfielder had a sensational year on the hill and at the plate for the Panthers, who returned to the District 1 Class 5A final for a second straight season. Pak emerged as co-ace with senior Mike Valente, pitching to a 4-2 record and a 2.40 ERA. He threw the ball well in the district championship game (3-2 loss to Upper Dublin) and in the first round of the PIAA playoffs (5-4 loss to Archbishop Wood). Voted team MVP and first-team All-Central League, Pak was the Panthers’ top hitter with a .375 average, five home runs and 28 RBIs.
Chris Zupito, Upper Darby: The junior has been one of the best pitchers in Delaware County since the start of the 2021 season. After earning second-team All-Delco honors a year ago, he was excellent on the mound for a rebuilding Royals team that managed only three wins. He led the league in strikeouts (67) during the regular season on the way to garnering a spot on the All-Central League first team. Despite lacking a solid defense behind him, Zupito ended the year with a 2.45 ERA. He sparkled in the Carpenter Cup Classic in June when he tossed three innings of two-hit ball, allowing one unearned run and striking out five in Delco’s 8-6 loss to Inter-Ac/Independents. Zupito also contributed a .410 on-base percentage with three doubles and a home run. He led the Royals in runs scored (12), walks (11) and stolen bases (four).
Josh Dell’Arciprete, Delco Christian: The senior shortstop is an All-Delco selection for a second consecutive year. While the Knights stumbled to a 6-9 overall record, Dell’Arciprete produced all year and carried an offense that otherwise struggled to generate runs. He slashed a ridiculous .524/.615/.724 with 22 hits and 19 RBIs in only 15 games. He belted nine doubles and swiped 10 bases without being caught. Delco Christian coach Jeff Wisnewski said: “Basically our offense consisted of our (Nos.) 1 and 2 guys getting on base so Josh could drive them in (19 RBIs in 15 games) and then repeat when we came to the top of the lineup again. Without Josh in the lineup we would have won maybe two games.” Dell’Arciprete will continue his career at Eastern University.
TJ Cadden, Episcopal Academy: The junior shortstop was the top performer for the Churchmen, who placed second in the Inter-Ac League and finished with a 16-4 overall record. Cadden hit .329 with a .425 on-base percentage and an .897 slugging percentage. He collected five doubles, a home run, 13 RBIs, 20 runs scored and 14 stolen bases. The All-Inter-Ac honoree batted .400 against league competition. Cadden, who was a member of the Upper Providence Little League team that made it all the way to the Mid-Atlantic tourney in 2017, is a standout player for the Churchmen and garnering plenty of interest on the recruiting trail.
Dillon Can, Marple Newtown: The senior shortstop was the engine for a Tigers team that claimed third place in the District 1 Class 5A tournament and advanced to the PIAA playoffs. Can set the tone at the top of the order, posting a .410 batting average with four home runs and 26 RBIs. He recorded 32 hits and a 1.196 on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Can also pitched well in big spots, especially in relief. He picked up the save in a 3-1 win over West Chester East to send Marple to states. Bound for New Jersey Institute of Technology, Can also earned first-team All-Central League honors.
Austin Cannon, Bonner-Prendergast: Despite his youth, the sophomore outfielder is one of the top all-around players in the county. A five-tool talent, Cannon has been a starter for the nationally ranked Friars since the beginning of his freshman year. He was brilliant for the Friars in 2022, hitting .407/.543/.1.010 with 33 hits including three doubles, a triple and two homers en route to earning All-Catholic League honors. Cannon had 24 RBIs, 22 runs scored and eight stolen bases.
Cody Grande, Springfield: The senior outfielder was the MVP of a Cougars team that managed a 13-8 record and reached the district tournament for the first time since 2017. Grande, a second-team All-Delco last season, was an easy choice for All-Central League honors after hitting .465 with a .519 on-base percentage. He tied the single-season school record for hits with 33, a mark that was set last year by teammate and All-Delco Zach Tropiano. A four-starter and team captain, Grande had 27 RBIs, 22 runs scored, seven steals and only three strikeouts in 71 at bats.
Joey DeMucci, Bonner-Prendergast: The most complete catcher in Delco was a senior leader for a Friars team that went 26-2 overall. The future Monmouth University Hawk was named the Catholic League’s MVP and Offensive Player of the Year and helped lead the Friars to their first league title in more than a decade. DeMucci slashed .409/.480/.625 with two homers, 13 doubles, 31 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He also led all Friars with 14 stolen bases.
