Hard-hitting Neshaminy baseball hopes to win this season with pitching, defense
LANGHORNE – While Neshaminy might have slapped 18 runs across the plate in a scrimmage with Bristol yesterday (Wednesday, March 23) on the Warriors’ home field, ironically, it’s not the hitting that has Redskin baseball fans all abuzz.
“All of us take a look at it and say you know what, that’s probably our biggest asset – our pitching staff,” said Neshaminy head coach Chris Tenaglia. “Those guys have a lot of confidence and they think they’re going to make a run this year. They’re putting a lot of pressure on themselves to go out and produce.”
The pitching staff for the ‘Skins is led by a pair of seniors in T.J. Arneo and Andrew Alvino along with classmate Billy Meyer, who recently transferred to the school from Conwell-Egan Catholic.
For his part, Arneo closed out three wins for the Suburban One League (SOL) National/Bicentennial baseball team that captured the 2015 Carpenter Cup championship. Alvino, a lefthander, was also a pitcher for the SOL National/Bicentennial all-stars who claimed the first Phillies Carpenter Cup Baseball title for Pennsylvania since 2011.
Meanwhile, Meyer was a pitcher for the Philadelphia Catholic League’s (PCL) Carpenter Cup team. And the Skins also have juniors Zach Boop and Evan Matthews waiting in the ‘pen.
Offensively, while Neshaminy might be missing a half-dozen players from last season including First Team All-Suburban One National League (SOL) catcher Kyle Skeels (Coastal Carolina), the Skins bring back plenty of firepower in 2016.
A lot of that was on display in Wednesday’s scrimmage with the Warriors, who were outpaced 18-2 by the visitors.
Missing a man like Skeels, who was named Atlantic Region honorable mention by PerfectGame.org after hitting .375 with 21 runs scored and 18 RBI in 2015, might be tough on any team, unless you’re the Redskins, who have senior Mike Burns stepping into the backstop.
The catcher for the Yardley Post 317 team that captured the last season’s Lower Bucks American Legion championship, Burns will make sure Neshaminy fans don’t miss Skeels too much. In four at bats vs. Bristol, Mike was officially 1-for-1 with a sixth-inning single, two RBI, two walks and a pair of runs scored. His only out was a sac-fly he crushed to right field that was promptly gobbled up by Bristol outfielder Adrian Ellerbe.
“I believe he’s one of the best defensive catchers in the area, for sure,” said Tenaglia. “And he swings the bat, too.
“But, it’s his leadership that he should be able to bring this year that we’re counting on, especially defensively, behind the plate.”
The ‘Skins are coming off a 4-10 season (in the SOL National, 7-13 overall) and haven’t made districts since 2013. Tenaglia says the current group is looking to rectify that and they’ve shown it in their offseason work regimen, he says.
Neshaminy has always hit the ball, this much we know. The ‘Skins performed poorly in the field last year however and that’s what more than likely cost them a trip to the postseason.
“We looked at the last year and we know that it was obvious that we struggled last year, defensively,” said Tenaglia. “These guys know it too so they’ve been busting their butts all winter long.
“Hopefully, it pays off for us.”
Once again, Neshaminy has plenty of power in its lineup starting with Burns and moving on to seniors Eddy Parry and Billy Ritchey, a second team All-SOL National selection in 2015.
Ritchey started off his day with a pop single over second base that kept a 2-run rally going in the first inning. He continued with a 2-run single up the middle in the second, a frame that saw six ‘Skins cross the plate. In the sixth, he hit a single to left field and scored a run in another six-run inning for Neshaminy.
“We came out today and we swung the bats pretty good,” said Tenaglia. “It’s nice to come out, especially early like this in the good weather, and be able to hit the ball fairly hard.
“The hope is to get some confidence and get yourself in a rhythm.”
For his part, Parry went 2-for-2 with a walk, a pair of RBI and a run scored. Eddy started his day with a standup double to left field in the first inning that scored a run and continued the Skins’ onslaught with a single to left field that put his team on top, 7-0, midway through the second inning.
“I think we’ll be OK swinging the bats,” said Tenaglia. “We’ll score our share of runs, I’m sure.”
If Neshaminy can put that offense together with a mistake-free defense and near-flawless pitching, the ‘Skins could be a dangerous foe to face this year in the SOL National division.
“Things have got to fall into place for us,” said Tenaglia. “We’ve got a lot of good problems to have because, up and down our lineup, there’s a lot of talent where guys are deserving of getting on the field and playing because they can all produce.”
“Us as a coaching staff, we have to find a role for everybody and where they’re going to fit and help us the most.”
The season starts at 3:45 p.m. today (March 24) for the Skins, who will travel to Warrington to face Central Bucks South. The Titans, who are under the direction of former Archbishop Wood pitching coach Brian Klumpp, finished 6-8 in the SOL Continental Conference last year.
Non-league play continues with a matchup against 2015 District 1 qualifier CB East March 29 on the Patriots’ home field. The league and the home opener takes place Thursday, March 31 against Bensalem.
There is a slight change in Senior Night festivities for Neshaminy. For the past five years, the ‘Skins have taken on the Warriors in a non-league matchup at Middletown Community Park. But Bristol has a prom scheduled that night so instead, Neshaminy will take on defending District 1-AAAA champion Council Rock North.
The season wraps up May 17 at Council Rock South and the District 1-AAAA Tournament begins exactly one week later.
The Skins have every intention of playing in it.
NOTES: Recent Neshaminy graduate Jordan Angjelo (Class of 2015) is pitching this season at Gwynedd Mercy University and outfielder R.J. Boop (2015) is playing at Penn State Harrisburg.
Contact the author at ssherman@21st-Centurymedia.com or @BucksLocalSport on Twitter
