Warner, Jagiela have Souderton all caught up behind the plate
LOWER SALFORD >> Souderton hasn’t had to worry much about the catcher position this spring.
The Indians have two outstanding catchers in senior Carter Jagiela and junior Ethan Warner and even with just one spot behind home plate for them to occupy in a given game, they’ve both maintained a presence in the lineup. While both are effective calling pitches, blocking balls behind the dish and keeping runners in check, they can also swing the bat, so if one isn’t catching on a given day, he’ll still be in the batting order.
Jagiela and Warner have established themselves in the heart of the order by sharing the load behind home for the 8-3 Indians.
“It’s nice having an opportunity to have time off from catching while still being able to get at-bats and hit,” Jagiela said after Saturday’s 9-1 win over Lansdale Catholic. “We’re a hitting team, so the more we can hit, the better.
“You still always have to be ready to catch, it’s something you always mentally prepare for.”
Jagiela is the newcomer, with the senior transferring to Souderton this year after playing the last three years at Dock Mennonite, but he’s fit right in with the Indians this spring. It definitely helps that he’s a Division I talent, having committed to St. Joe’s, but he’s also got the big bat that commands respect and a strong rapport with Souderton ace Will McCausland.
Warner doesn’t have an official D-I offer yet, but he’s certainly on the watch list of a couple programs and has proven to be a clutch hitter this season. In Saturday morning’s win, the junior started at catcher and had a solid day at the plate with a walk, a single and two runs scored less than 24 hours after his clutch hit in extra innings helped Souderton top Pennsbury.
“I don’t like sitting the whole game,” Warner said. “I want to be in the lineup, I love hitting, so even if I’m not catching, I like that we can both still find a way to contribute that way.”
With Saturday being a nonleague game, Jagiela didn’t fill the DH spot as he typically would on a day he’s not catching but he did sub in for Warner late in the game, drawing a walk before his courtesy runner eventually came around to score.
Souderton coach Mike Childs know he’s probably going to pencil the catcher duo in the No. 4 and 5 spots in his batting order. As to which of them will be behind the plate, that depends on who is pitching on a given day.
“I think it’s worked out for both of us,” Warner said. “I have a good idea what pitchers I’m catching and he has an idea what pitchers he’s catching, so we can almost perfect that pitcher.”
It’s also a win-win for keeping the two catchers fresh. The high school season can be taxing, especially in springs like this one that cause reschedules and postponements, so having two capable backstops is an advantage for the Indians.
“To know you have breaks and another guy to back you up is awesome,” Childs said. “Not a lot of teams have that luxury, especially when they both can hit like these guys. They’re usually going to be batting 4-5, I’m definitely lucky this year.”
They play the same position, but the two catchers don’t see it as fighting with each other for playing time. At practice, they work in tandem and spot each other while also giving each other pointers and advice.
Warner agreed having two quality catchers on the roster gives Souderton an advantage and it’s another sign of the depth and wealth of ability the Indians feel they have while getting set for the second half of their season.
“We have talent up and down the lineup, but we also mesh well,” Jagiela said. “When one person starts to hit, we all feel like we’re going to hit. Everybody feeds off each other.”
SOUDERTON 9, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 1
Nonleague games like Saturday’s provide the perfect chance for Souderton to showcase its depth.
After starting the morning by providing a welcome for Harleysville Little League’s Opening Day, the Indians got 19 players into the game and never looked back after taking the lead in the bottom of the first inning. LC struck first on an RBI single by Jack Ferko in the top of the first, but Souderton plated two runs without a hit in the bottom of the frame, drawing a pair of bases-loaded walks to go in front.
Jack Wright, who drew one of those walks, also had an RBI single in the third. Souderton plated two more runs in the fourth on an RBI double by Joey Crecca and a sac fly by Garrett Moyer.
A two-base error by LC in the sixth brought in two more before Souderton wrapped up its scoring on an RBI single by Shanley Wall and RBI double by Justin DiCesare.
SOUDERTON 9, LANSDALE CATHOLIC 1
LANSDALE CATHOLIC 100 000 0 – 1 3 1
SOUDERTON 201 204 x – 9 9 2
2B: S – Joey Crecca, Justin DiCesare.
