Daily Local News All Area Baseball Team
First Team
Infield
TIM HAFTL, Sr., Oxford — The Hornets’ senior hit a lusty .438 with 32 hits, 17 runs scored to go along with 13 RBI from the leadoff position. Haftl also banged out two home runs and stole 15 bases for the Ches-Mont American Division champion Hornets.
OWEN RECTOR, Sr., Oxford — The Hornets’ senior hit .401 with 24 hits, scored 16 runs with 14 RBI and a fielding percentage of .1000 and an OBP of .450 for the Ches-Mont American Division champions.
DEAN O’NEILL, Sr., West Chester Henderson — The Warriors’ senior batted .390 with 21 hits, scored 18 runs and banged out five home runs for the Ches-Mont National Division champions.
KEVIN WHEELER, Sr., West Chester Henderson: The Warriors’ leadoff man, Wheeler hit .380 with 27 hits, 12 stolen bases and he scored 31 runs for the Ches-Mont National Division champions.
DYLAN GRIM, Sr., West Chester Henderson — Grim was the number five hitter for the Warriors and he batted .361 with 22 hits, 19 RBI for the Ches-Mont National Division champions.
Outfield
TREY TIFFAN, Jr., Malvern Prep — The Friars’ junior slugger batted a lusty .444 with 36 hits, five home runs and an OBP of 516 for the Inter-Academic League champions.
JAYDEN SMITH, Sr., Malvern Prep — The Friars’ leadoff man batted .484 with 15 stolen bases, 36 hits and scored 37 runs with 23 RBI for the Inter-Academic League champions.
R.J. RICKABAUGH, Sr., Coatesville — Besides being the best defensive catcher in the Ches-Mont league, the Red Raiders’ slugger hit .352 with two home runs, 18 RBI and had an .OBP of 513.
Designated Hitter
TIM DICKINSON, Jr., Malvern Prep — The Friars’ junior hit .306 with 14 RBI, 23 runs scored with seven extra base hits and an OBP of .444 for the Inter-Ac League champions.
Pitcher
JACKSON SNYDER, Sr., West Chester Henderson — The Warriors’ pitcher compiled a 7-1 record with an ERA of .1.36 and struck out 74 batters in 46 innings for the Ches-Mont National Division champions.
CHARLES OSCELL, Jr., Malvern Prep — The tall Friars’ right-hander compiled a 5-2 mark with 44 strikeouts in just 36 innings for the Inter-Academic League champions.
Second Team
Infield
SIMMI WHITEHILL, Sr., Bishop Shanahan
MIKE JASZSECK, Soph., Downingtown West
DYLAN HEYDUK, Sr., West Chester East
BRAYDEN GREGG, Soph., Avon Grove
Catcher
ROB WEER, Sr., Avon Grove
Outfield
BEN BOLHOUSE, Jr., Kennett
JAKE STEWART, Jr., Coatesville
TREVOR DOSENBACH, Jr., Avon Grove
Designated Hitter
JAKE McCARTER, Sr., Bishop Shanahan
Pitcher
LUC RISING, Jr., Downingtown East
OWEN CROWE, Jr., West Chester Rustin
Honorable Mention
Bishop Shanahan: Andrew Noone; Coatesville: Alex Kuehn; Conestoga: Shane McCullen; Devon Prep: Jake Kennedy; Downingtown East: Jake Schultz; Downingtown West: Josh Morse, Cooper Young; Great Valley: Danny Carr, Naveen Naryananan; Malvern Prep: Tague Davis: Oxford: Joey Kelly, Connor Reilly, Danny Wyatt, Connor Booth, Landen Rozich; Unionville; Nick Diehl; Westtown: Jake Diaz; West Chester East Jack Maguire; Brett McCartney, Eric Lintelman; West Chester Rustin: Nick Covis.
Coach of the Year
LUKE MCNICHOL, West Chester Henderson — The most successful coaches any sport are the ones who pay attention to detail, with no nuance of the game too small. This season the West Chester Henderson baseball team was the most prepared, motivated and talented team in the Ches-Mont National Division, winning its second straight championship.
The Warriors were the top seed coming into the District 1 6A playoffs and advanced to the quarterfinal round of the PIAA tournament with a sparkling 23-3 record. For leading this group to all of these accomplishments is the reason Henderson’s Luke McNichol has been chosen as the Daily Local News Baseball Coach of the year.
McNichol and his teams have always paid the most attention to all the little things in baseball that add up to winning season. This season was McNichol’s 35th season at the helm the program, and the 2022 Warriors had a memorable season as they were one of the favorites all season to win a second PIAA crown.
McNichol always has the Warriors ready to play and his team simply will not beat themselves. It has been that way for 35 years and it is something the Warriors’ boss is known for. A true baseball man.
