North Penn ready for another run
The North Penn baseball program is building a bit of a dynasty. The Knights have won two state titles in the last three years and are looking to make a run at another in 2016.
It’s not easy, however, to sustain that level of success in high school, especially when playing in the always competitive Suburban One League Continental Conference.
The Knights lost a lot from their 2015 state title team. The entire starting infield and most of the pitching staff are gone from a team that had the best record ever at North Penn — 23-4.
“Hopefully the younger guys learned a lot by watching how that unfolded last year,” North Penn head coach Kevin Manero said, “But it’s a new season. It’s a new team, it’s a different bunch of guys… I think they know the kind of players that came before them and they know what it takes to be successful. It’s their team now and a chance for them to make their own mark.”
A few key members are back. The three returning starters — who played pretty much every inning of every game — are center fielder Mason Nadeau, left fielder Alex Peterson and catcher Matt Marino.
Nadeau, a four-year varsity player and Penn State commit, hit .356 out of the three-spot last year. Peterson, another senior, mans the two-hole in the lineup and hit .329 in 2015. Marino started every game a year ago as a sophomore.
As for the replacements, Manero is excited about some of his young pitchers. The rotation will feature juniors 6-foot-5 right-hander Matt Stevenson and lefty Zach Thomas. Sophomore Danny Kerwin will also make an impact.
“It’s a young pitching staff,” Manero, who is in his fifth year as head coach, said, “but it’s something we think we are going to have in place for a couple of years.”
Other players who will take on bigger roles this season are seniors Greg Kerr and Jake Schuster, junior Nate O’Donnell and freshman shortstop Zack Miles.
After graduating so many seniors from last year’s squad, Manero looks forward to seeing new players step up as leaders.
“This year we are hoping that here in the early part of the season we have some guys that get comfortable as the go-to guys as far as leadership goes,” he said, “and we also hope that people get comfortable in their roles and they go out and they just trust their preparation and believe they belong out there.”
The Knights will need everyone to belong. They went 12-2 in the SOL Continental last year and finished just one game ahead of Central Bucks East and two games ahead of Hatboro-Horsham.
“(The players) all know we are in a very, very tough conference,” Manero said. “Anything you would ever do to look ahead beyond the game that’s in front of you would be a big mistake. There really are no easy games. That’s the thing — we have to go out there and play clean, fundamental baseball… In the long haul, that gets you where you want to be at the end of the season.”
Abington
Coach: David Torresani
Last Season: 13-7, 9-5 3rd SOL National
Key Returners: Aiden Coyle SS, Jack Larini OF, Just Yerkes C, Chris Clewell OF
Archbishop Wood
Coach: Jim DiGuiseppe, Jr. (5th season)
Last Season: 17-6, 12-2 1st PCL Blue, 1st District 12 AAA
Key Returners: Sean Kelly C, Matt Cummiskey SS, Ryan Logan P/OF, Joey Lancellotti P/2B, Sean Hughes P, Kody Cracknell P
Outlook: “Leadership has been outstanding – Very focused group. Pitching is solid with a good mix of upper & underclassmen. Hitting should be solid with good power – looking for consistency and growth throughout the season. Team speed is excellent 1-9 in projected lineup. Defensively we will continue to develop as the season moves along. Very athletic group overall. Looking for key contributors off the bench. IE: pinch hitter, courtesy runner, defensive replacement, etc. Expectations are once again high. We hope to continue our success (115-36 overall, 72-20 PCL with 4 division, 3 district titles and 1 PCL title over the last 7 years) and go deep into the playoffs – for both PCL and PA State.”
Central Bucks West
Coach: Brad Tracy (2nd season)
Last Season: 4-16, 1-13 8th SOL Continental
Key Returners: Matt Peralta CF, Luke Irons OF/P, Thomas Spratt C, Nick Evans 2B/P, Steven Gebre SS, Thomas Philipps 1B
Outlook: “We will compete in every game, play fundamentally sound baseball and be aggressive in all aspects of the game. We have grown as a unit and will play smart, winning baseball.”
Cheltenham
Coach: Craig Stein (1st season)
Key Returners: 9-11, 5-9 6th SOL American
Returning Starters: Josh Ryan SS, Joel White P, Jacon Petrisko P, Alex Haasz C
Germantown Academy
Coach: Tim Ginter (1st season)
Last Season: 9-16, 2-8 6th Inter-Ac
Key Returners: Emmett Harkins P, Max Schwartz IF, ZJ Zabinski P, Bill Brittingham 1B, Vince Capone IF, Ben Werkheiser IF, Dan Zamarin OF, Jake Dianno C
Lansdale Catholic
Coach: David Scott (3rd season)
Last Season: 5-12, 4-7 4th PCL Blue
Key Returners: Nick Smalley 3B/P, Ryan Quigley OF/P, Ryan McSorley SS, Andrew Smith OF/1B, James Scarcelli 2B
Outlook: “Expectations are high with 6 returning starters and experienced pitchers returning. Our record will be dictated by how far our pitching can carry us. Defensively, we should be solid. We’ll need contributions from everyone in the lineup if we are going to be successful offensively.”
Lower Moreland
Coach: Tony Martino (1st season)
Last Season: 4-16, 3-11 5th Bicentennial Independence
Returning Starters: Joe Benvenuto, Richard Rhoads, Dylan Mood, Pat Furphy, Joe McCreesh
Norristown
Coach: Rich Campbell (3rd season)
Last Season: 6-12, 6-8 4th SOL American
Key Returners: Reggie Collins 2B/SS, Tom Detwiler 3B/P, Charles Grello C, Terell Dale OF/RP
Outlook: “We are extremely optimistic about the upcoming season based on our offseason voluntary program and some incoming players like freshmen Dom Proietto at 1B, Tyler Gorman at 2B and Juniors P Nick Edling, and Tyler Pastella.”
North Penn
Coach: Kevin Manero (5th season)
Last Season: 23-4, 12-2 1st SOL Continental, District 1 AAAA runner-up, State AAAA champions
Key Returners: Mason Nadeau CF, Alex Peterson LF, Matt Marino C, Kadar Namey 3B, Greg Kerr 1B/DH, Jake Schuster 1B/DH
Outlook: “The Knights will have plenty of new faces in the 2016 lineup to replace 15 graduating seniors. In an always tough conference and district, no game will be easy in 2016. The Knights are excited about a lot of new, young talent coming up this season and plenty of veteran players who will get their shot to start everyday for the first time. The 2016 roster contains a strong mix of upperclassmen and under classmen, plenty of speed, and some strong bats. As always though it will come down to making good pitches and making the routine plays. The Knights are excited about the talented group of players who will be competing for innings on the mound and in the field.”
Plymouth Whitemarsh
Coach: Chris Manero
Last Season: 6-12, 5-9 7th SOL American
Key Returners: Dutch Reardon C, Bonnor Burke OF, Matt Cooper P
Pope John Paul II
Coach: Josh Hartline (1st season)
Last Season: 9-12, 8-10 6th PAC
Key Returners: Billy Hitman C, Christian Wagner CF, Luke DeLeo SS, Rich McGarry 3B/P, Andrew John P, Ryan Schwab 3B/P
Upper Dublin
Coach: Ed Wall
Last Season: 13-9, 12-2 T-1st SOL American
Key Returners: Justin Horn SS, Cole Swiger OF, Conor McFadden 1B, Thomas Juelke C
Upper Merion
Coach: Matt Mitchell
Last Season: 2-16, 2-12 8th SOL American
Returning Starters: Jarrett Quinn P, Jay Picariello P, Matt Callahan OF
Upper Moreland
Coach: Ken Irwin
Last Season: 12-9, 8-6 3rd SOL American
Key Returners: Connor Casey SS, Paul Ciampoli 2B, Joe Bates P, Christian Leighton 3B/DH, Nick DeLucas OF
Wissahickon
Coach: John Bernhardt (1st season)
Last Season: 14-6, 12-2 T-1st SOL American
Key Returners: Alexander Tappen 3B, Matt Shilling P/IF, Blake Rappaport UT, Logan Willans P
