2019 Mercury-Area Baseball Preview

Boyertown

Manager: Todd Moyer, 26th season
Last year’s record: 12-4 PAC, 18-7 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Shayne Horrocks, 3B; Nolan Kline, RHP; Colin Maloney; Billy Coleman, C; AJ Kline, RHP; Stephen Cisik, RHP; Chris Davis, SS; Sean Sutterby, LHP; Jared Waldman, LHP/OF. Juniors: Broc Babb, 2B; Gavin Richards, RHP; Mason Kurtz.
Outlook: The Bears are three years removed from a state title and last year won their second PAC championship in three years. Five all-league player will be difficult to replace, but that hasn’t slowed Moyer’s teams before. Expect pitching and defense to once again help this team compete in the league and district. “To some, this season may look like a rebuild,” Moyer said. “But we think of it more as a reload. We lost most of our starting lineup to graduation, but that’s really nothing new. Our expectations remain the same every year and that is to win championships.”

Daniel Boone

Manager: Jason McCord, ninth season
Last year’s record: 3-7 Berks I, 7-11 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Matt Stevens, OF; Chase Lacey, 2B; Josh Piccarreta, OF; Matt Henderson, P; Tim Richard C/P. Juniors: Teagan Duffie, 1B/P; Jeb Kurtz, SS/P; Tanner Vanderslice, C/P/OF. Sophomores: Mikey Gregos, 3B.
Outlook: Boone, which made it to states for the first time in 20 years in 2017, is looking to bounce back after a down year last season. Henderson and Lacey were both All-Berks I honorable mention selections last season. “Good mix of youth and experience needs to mesh into a cohesive unit,” McCord said. “We will need to rely on quantity of arms and find ways to score runs in a very difficult division race.”

Hill School

Manager: Bowen Borgeson, third season
Last year’s record: 6-4 MAPL, 10-7 overall
Players to watch: Juniors: Michael Eze, SS; Michael Rockovich, C/3B/OF; Jack McLaughlin, CF; Sam Putt, Gabe Willman. Freshman: Gilbert Saunders, P/LF.
Outlook: The Blues graduated three first team All-Mid Atlantic Prep League players, but Eze, a first team All-MAPL selection last year, leads a group of returners with experience. After finishing third in the league last season, Hill’s goals include winning the MAPL title and sweeping its series against Lawrenceville. “We have a good crop of returning players who have been with the program for two plus years. The coaching staff is excited about the addition of some new freshmen talent, and we are looking forward to putting a competitive product on the field for every game.”

Methacton

Manager: Paul Spiewak, 16th season
Last year’s record: 12-4 PAC, 16-6 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Will Romano, C; Perry Corda, C; Mike Daddazio, 2B/C; Ricky McDonald, P; Conor Smith, 2B; Zack Griffin, P/INF; Ben Christian, P/INF; Ryan Sheridan, OF; Chris Douglass, P/RF; Logan Rambo, OF; Trevor Rambo, OF/1B. Sophomores: Kevin Trafford, OF.
Outlook: Christian and Griffin give the Warriors two experienced arms, while Corda, Smith and Trafford headline a lineup that returns quite a bit from a squad that fell in the PAC semifinals and District 1-6A first round. “We feel that we are an experienced team at the varsity level, and feel that our returning players will be complemented with some exciting young first year players,” Spiewak said.

Owen J. Roberts

Manager: Greg Gilbert, 22nd season
Last year’s record: 7-9 PAC, 9-11 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Jordan Siket, C; Jack Rinehimer, SS; Ben Samuelson, P; Ryan Sayers, INF; David Bealer, INF; Brad Pryor, P; Casey McGinley, OF; Ryan Walker, 1B; Josh Diamond, 1B; Ben Karpinski, P; Jake Iyoob, OF. Sophomores: Sam Morris, P.
Outlook: The Wildcats were hurt by the injury bug in 2018 and one of the goals is to stay healthy this season as they try to creep back toward the top of a loaded PAC Liberty Division. An experienced senior core returns, including Siket (Kutztown) behind the dish. “As a team we must play together,” Gilbert said. “Consistency on the mound, throwing strikes and being able to put the ball in play offensively will be key factors this season.”

Norristown

Manager: Jack Sturgeon, third season
Last year’s record: 1-15 PAC, 1-16 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Nick Chiodo, P/1B; Dom Proietto, P/1B/OF; Matt Hahn, 3B/P/OF; Pat O’Brien, INF; Tyler Gorman, SS/P. Juniors: Elijah Levine, C; Christian Freas, CF/P.
Outlook: Proietto, a Kutztown commit and first team all-league section, leads a group of seniors made up of three-year starters that give the Eagles an optimistic outlook this year after winning one league game in the last two seasons. “Most of our seniors are all three-year starters so we should start to see some good team progress,” Sturgeon said. “Our pitching should be one of our strengths and if we can get our defense to make the routine plays on a consistent basis, we should be in most games.”

Perkiomen Valley

Manager: Ryan Hinkle, seventh season
Last year’s record: 10-6 PAC, 13-8 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Tyler Strechay, P/IF; AJ Hansen, IF; Connor McShea, OF; Kyle Bohannon, IF/DH. Juniors: Brendan Shayer, C.
Outlook: The Vikings lost three college players in Mike Gama (Cabrini), Brock Helverson (West Virginia) and Joe Gorla (Lehigh), but PV still returns plenty of talent from a team that won a district playoff game last season and went to the district semifinals two seasons ago, including Strechay (West Virginia), Hansen (Villanova) and Bohannon. “Tyler Strechay will be at the top of the pitching staff, and other players will look to step into key roles to help fill losses to graduation from the pitching side of our game,” Hinkle said.

Perkiomen School

Manager: Ken Baker, 30th season
Last year’s record: 17-9 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Carlos Torres, P; David Smith, P/INF; Chris Pow, 2B. Sophomores: Zach Smith, INF/P.
Outlook: Perkiomen graduated three starters after winning its 24th straight league title and making a trip to the PAISAA semifinals. Pitching depth and defense will be the strengths of the team as Torres (Lehigh), David Smith (La Salle) and Zach Smith (West Point) highlight a strong staff. “Hitting will be a key,” Baker said. “We have struggled at the plate the last couple of years, but if we can hit we will be strong.”

Phoenixville

Manager: Neil Herman, fourth season
Last year’s record: 14-2 PAC, 17-5 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Luke Bagley, P; Trip Shoemaker, OF; Colton Brown, INF; Devon Goryl, INF; Dylan Clark, 1B; Justin Blakey, OF. Juniors: Ethan O’Donnell, OF; Brandon Fink, UT; Dylann Crammer, INF. Sophomores: Jason Bilotti, P.
Outlook: After a trip to the PAC title game and first round District 1-5A exit, the Phantoms graduated seven players currently playing college, including Mercury All-Area Player of the Year Kevin Cushing (Cornell). However, after an undefeated division record last season, they have enough talent returning to make them the Frontier Division favorites once again until someone knocks them off. “Fortunately we bring back some experience on offense and defense,” Herman said. “The young pitchers have done a good job so far this offseason filling the void of losing most of our pitching to graduation. There are some question marks, but if this team comes together as a family, they have the ability to do well.”

Pope John Paul II

Manager: Josh Hartline, fourth season
Last year’s record: 7-9 PAC, 8-10 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: John Wagner, OF; CJ McCafferty, IF; Brett Leighton, P/SS; Jack Cossa, RHP. Juniors: Tyler Petery, IF.
Outlook: The Panthers ended their season third in the PAC Frontier Division last season and dropped their District 1-4A opener to eventual champ Lower Moreland in a one-run contest. PJP graduated all four of its all-league players from last season, but will look to seniors like Wagner, McCafferty, Leighton and Cossa to get them into the Frontier Division race that should be fun to follow this season. “We will look to bounce back after a disappointing year,” Hartline said. “We have talent, but not much experience. The league is very difficult, week in and week out, and we hope to be in the hunt at the end.”

Pottsgrove

Manager: Jamie Nash, fourth season
Last year’s record: 5-11 PAC, 7-12 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Colin Templin, 1B/3B; Cameron Mowery, P; Garrett Heft, OF; Kyle Fehnel, OF. Juniors: Ethan McMonagle, SS/P; Ethan Edelson P/3B.
Outlook: The Falcons saw a three-win improvement from 2017 to 2018 and will look to take another step forward this year, getting into the division race. Pottsgrove ended last season on a four-game winning streak and hopes to carry that momentum into 2019. “With the majority of starters returning from last season and bringing a season of varsity experience, we are looking to take the next step towards competing at a high level with the talent in the league,” Nash said. “This season we have plenty of quality arms, depth at multiple positions, and a hard working group of players dedicated to putting Pottsgrove baseball back on the map.”

Pottstown

Manager: Geoff Thomas, second season
Last year’s record: 2-14 PAC, 3-16 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Jeremy Adams, 2B; Daulton Mullen, SS. Juniors: Jacob Eagle, 1B; Brandon Gebhard, P; David Hicks, P; Josiah Wiggins, OF.
Outlook: The Trojans will once again compete in Class 4A at the district level alongside PJP, where they will try to compete for one of the six district playoff spots. Wiggins was an all-league performer a year ago. Junior hurlers Hicks and Gebhard will be play a major role in Pottstown’s success. “If our pitching can keep us in ballgames we will without a doubt be competitive,” Thomas said. “Our players and coaches have been working very hard this off-season to prepare the team for success. We are looking forward to the season and can’t wait to get started.”

Spring-Ford

Manager: Jamie Scheck, third season
Last year’s record: 14-2 PAC, 18-4 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Chase Simmons, OF; Ben Wilchacky, OF/P; Mark McNelly, INF; Jake Skrocki, P; Hunter Curley, IF/P; David McCurry, OF/P; Jake Romeu, C. Juniors: Cooper Webb, P.
Outlook: The Rams won the Liberty Division and earned the No. 2 seed in districts in 2018, but lost their only two postseason games, falling to Boyertown in the PAC semifinals and Avon Grove in the second round of districts. Simmons, Wilchacky and McNelly return to the lineup as all-league selections from a season ago, while Skrocki will lead the pitching staff. “We lost a lot of offense from last year’s senior group as well as one of our top pitchers,” Scheck said. “We need some players to fill in key spots that haven’t seen much varsity time. We have great team speed and a lot of depth and numerous positions including pitching. We feel our defensive is improved from last year.”

Upper Perkiomen

Manager: Frank Mercon, ninth season
Last year’s record: 4-12 PAC, 5-14 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Justin Wornham, SS/P; Hunter Gooch, P; Lance Templeton, C; Macauley Swenk, P; Nick Medveckus, 1B/2B; Cam McKeehan, 1B/OF; Don States, P. Juniors: Dave Kilroy, 1B; Pat Mininger, OF.
Outlook: The Indians return five starters and four other varsity players from a year ago, including Wornham, a first team all-league selection heading to Jefferson University next year. Upper Perkiomen has the look of a team ready to leap back into the Frontier division race if some of their young arms come along. “As always we approach winning one game at a time, never looking ahead,” Mercon said. “Every year we want to be competitive and try to make districts along with a potential league final four berth.”

Upper Merion

Manager: Matt Mitchell, eighth season
2018 Record: 8-8 PAC, 8-8 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Matt Choi, P/SS; Nick Marino, OF; Sal Costello, C; Anthony Swenda, SS; Geoffrey Draayer, OF; Justin Tornetta, OF. Juniors: Zach Hooven, 3B/P; Marc Clayton, C/INF; Dale Clayton, INF. Sophomores: Brandon Colong, P/INF.
Outlook: The Vikings finished behind a dominant Phoenixville squad for second in the Frontier division a year ago. Marino, a four-year starter who has had his season end due to injuries during the past two seasons, and the other seniors should help Upper Merion score runs. Like most of the league, the key will be how the backend of the Vikings’ rotation holds up. “We have several guys that should also have very successful seasons at the dish and have a solid core of senior leaders,” Mitchell said. “Our pitching staff after Matt Choi is relatively young and inexperienced but shows potential. “

West-Mont Christian

Manager: Charis Felton and Ben Clarke, first season
Last year’s record: 7-8 overall
Players to watch: Seniors: Tyler Fox, SS/P. Juniors: Micah Hallman, C; Chase Malenke, INF. Freshman: Aaron Stein, P/SS.
Outlook: The Wings lost in the Atlantic Coast Christian Athletic Conference championship game and hope to once again compete for the title and improve on their fifth place finish in the Tri-County League, gunning for a playoff spot this year. Lacking a ton of experience, Felton and Clarke will rely on underclassmen like Stein, who helped the middle school team win the ACCAC title a year ago, to make an immediate impact along upperclassmen like Fox, Hallman and Malenke. “The team must learn to trust and listen to their first-year coaches and each other,” Felton said.