web1_TTL050215Berwick-HazletonBB_2.jpg

WVC Baseball Preview: Teams gear up for competitive league season

web1_TTL061315RedeemerSB_1.jpg

WVC Softball Preview: State runs could be challenging for Holy Redeemer, Nanticoke

DIVISION 1Coughlin2015 WVC Record/Finish: 2-11, Fifth place; Lost in district openerState classification: 3ACoach: Moe RodzinakHome field: Hilldale Park, North Main Street, Plains TownshipOutlook: Coughlin is coming off one of its toughest seasons in recent memory, as the Crusaders scored just 19 runs in 13 league games in 2015. Some more experience at the plate should help turn that around this spring as Coughlin returns hitters like Leroy Fettig, T.J. Wozniak and Chase Nowak. On top of that, every pitcher who made a mound appearance during WVC play is also back, including starters Nowak and Jacob Lupas. The hope is that the pitching can set the tone while the bats round into form in the early going. Coughlin has gotten a spark from young players the last two years as both Nowak and Wozniak played varsity ball as freshmen.Crestwood2015 WVC Record/Finish: 6-7, Third place; Lost in district openerState classification: 3ACoach: Tony CaladieHome field: Mountain Post Legion, Church Road, Rice TownshipOutlook: Crestwood was one of just a few WVC teams to hit north of .300 as a team last season &#8212; third in the entire league behind only Wyoming Valley West and Hazleton Area. Leading the returning group is leadoff man Derek Distasio at shortstop. Players who also hit well, albeit with fewer at-bats, include Tim Kindler and Jim Graves. Kindler led the squad in hitting a year ago. They&#8217;ll all have a chance to produce more with the graduation of fixtures like Curt Yenchik, Chase Jones, Tyler Jones and Jared Witner. The Comets are looking for better numbers on the mound in 2016 and will have veteran arms like senior Matt Mickowski available to them.Hazleton Area2015 WVC Record/Finish: 11-2, Second place; Lost in district finalsState classification: 4ACoach: Gino CaraHome field: Antinozzi Field, East 22nd Street, HazletonOutlook: The Cougars are coming off a terrific stretch that was fueled by last year&#8217;s senior class. Eight of the nine hitters in the lineup for last May&#8217;s district title game have graduated, leaving holes to fill this season. But that one starter who returns happens to be Dante Biasi, the 2014 league MVP. The Penn State-bound left-hander can top 90 on the gun and also hits well north of .400 at the plate. Hazleton has another Division I prospect in second baseman Randy Pineda (Maryland-Eastern Shore) who will team with fellow senior Jordi Arias in the middle infield. Replacing players like Joe Baran, Dave Klein and Chris Panzarella won&#8217;t be easy, but Hazleton tends to rise to the occasion.Pittston Area2015 WVC Record/Finish: 4-9, Fourth place; Lost in district quarterfinalsState classification: 3ACoach: Paul ZaffutoHome field: Primary Center, Rock Street, HughestownOutlook: As usual, the Patriots seemed to find a spark in the district tournament and are hoping that the experience benefits a large and productive junior class. Long-time coach Paul Zaffuto doesn&#8217;t have last season&#8217;s leading hitter (Mike Delaney) and top pitcher (John Fagotti), but the overall roster looks to be deeper. Kyle O&#8217;Fier has come through at the plate and at shortstop while C.J. Pisack led the Patriots in RBI during league play. Both Tyler Jackson and Joe DeLucca started multiple games on the mound last year and figure to lead the rotation with Fagotti gone. Zaffuto said improved conditioning for the program could make a noticeable difference.Wyoming Valley West2015 WVC Record/Finish: 12-1, First place; Won district title; Lost in state finalsState classification: 4ACoach: John MiliusHome field: Spartan Stadium, North Gates Avenue, KingstonOutlook: A grounder up the middle in the bottom of the seventh last June came that close to delivering a state championship to Valley West. A year from now, when the PIAA classifications expand, the Spartans (446 male enrollment) won&#8217;t have to face much larger schools like North Penn (1,564) and Parkland (1,256) in states. But that doesn&#8217;t mean they can&#8217;t make another run at it this year. Reigning MVP Ryan Hogan (St. John&#8217;s) has terrorized pitchers and has a supporting cast that includes Maryland recruit Justin Vought and returning all-stars Justin Montalvo and Tyler Yankosky. Pitching will be key, as it will be tough to replicate the run that departed ace Billy Gregory went on last year.DIVISION 2Berwick2015 WVC Record/Finish: 7-6, Second place; Lost in district quarterfinalsState classification: 3ACoach: Brian PinterichHome field: North Berwick Field, Heights Road, BerwickOutlook: Go figure &#8212; it&#8217;s the first year that the Bulldogs have the advantage of a turf field to use in the preseason and the weather has actually cooperated. But Berwick isn&#8217;t complaining. A year ago at this time, the team wasn&#8217;t sure if it would get to play any home games at all, as work on the new venue lasted into May. Things should be much more normal this time around. Dependable pitcher Jordan DiValerio (St. Joseph&#8217;s) is back for his senior season as one of the most accomplished arms in the league. Gone is one of the league&#8217;s top hitters in Zach Andress, but the Dawgs have some talented youth, led by Jared Marshman, who was second on the team in hits as a freshman.Dallas2015 WVC Record/Finish: 6-7, Third place; Lost in district quarterfinalsState classification: 3AHome field: High school, Conyngham Avenue, DallasCoach: Ken KashatusOutlook: Plenty of positive signs for the Mountaineers, who return seven of nine hitters from last year&#8217;s postseason lineup. Right at the top of the list is standout catcher Dave Simpson, an all-star who hit .432 in league play while handling a successful pitching staff. Charles Giacometti and Aaron Yurko (Millersville) were both above .300 at the plate. Ace Jordan McCrum is gone, but Lee Eckert and Yurko were both solid in their multiple starts last season. The bats of McCrum and A.J. Sweppenheiser will be missed, but the Mounts have experience from players like J.D. Barrett, Christian Wargo and Ryan Martin to compensate.Lake-Lehman2015 WVC Record/Finish: 1-12, Fifth place; Lost in district openerState classification: 3ACoach: Brian GorskiHome field: High school, Old Route 115, Lehman TownshipOutlook: The Black Knights have won just eight league games since being bumped up a division in 2013. Looking to lead a turnaround in 2016 is the heart of the order &#8212; seniors Zach Brucher and Tyler Kolb have both been dangerous at the plate. Brucher hit .400 as a junior and led the team in RBI and extra-base hits to boot. Juniors Noah Gorski, Mike Sikora, and Garrett Weston all started in the playoffs. Workhorse pitcher Adam Simmonette has graduated, but the Knights have six other arms who saw time a year ago. Senior Tommy Williams has the most returning innings and started multiple games along with Kolb.Tunkhannock2015 WVC Record/Finish: 5-8, Fourth place; Lost in district quarterfinalsState classification: 3ACoach: Gary CusterHome field: High school, West Tioga Street, TunkhannockOutlook: Tunkhannock&#8217;s youth movement has grown up, as the Tigers return the vast majority of their roster from 2015, looking to charge back up the division standings. Senior Cody Brown has been a fixture at the plate and on the mound the last two seasons and this one figures to be no different. Brown, Brett Hughes and Connor Hulslander all got plenty of work as pitchers last year. Other returning starters in the lineup include Brett Soltysiak, Bob Gilpin, Brian Muckin and Lane Ceccarelli. With that experience comes a more aggressive approach at the plate for a team looking to boost its batting average from a year ago.Wyoming Area2015 WVC Record/Finish: 11-2, First place; Lost in district semifinalsState classification: 3ACoach: Ron MustoHome field: Atlas Field, Erie Street, West PittstonOutlook: Musto&#8217;s second stint at his alma mater began with a bang, winning a division title and taking a talented Valley View squad to the brink in the district semifinals. A chunk of that lineup has graduated, including all-stars Joe Gavenonis, Zach Lopatka and Evan Musto. But talented infielder Cory Lescavage (Bloomsburg) is back after being one of the league leaders in RBI while also providing strong defense. Lescavage made just a short cameo on the mound in 2015, but he&#8217;ll be making starts there this season along with Josh Kopcza, who didn&#8217;t allow an earned run during WVC play. Senior Tyler Dougherty can team with Lescavage to form a strong defensive tandem up the middle.DIVISION 3GAR2015 WVC Record/Finish: 2-12, Eighth place; Lost in district openerState classification: 2ACoach: Vito PasoneHome field: Coal Street Park, Coal Street, Wilkes-BarreOutlook: Plenty of familiar faces return for GAR as Robbie Shinal, Austin Yelland, Jeremy Erhardt, Ben Marte, Simon Peter and Gerson Peralta are back in the mix. The Grenadiers do, however, lose Sean-Paul Williamson, who anchored the team as the leader in hitting and RBI as well as being the ERA leader as a pitcher. Yelland will get the nod as the top arm this year after finishing strong in 2015. Noah Edwards and Chris Kolativa also have mound experience as starters and relievers. One focus for the GAR staff, however, will be to cut down on a walk total that was highest in the league a year ago. Quarterback Garry Kroll has rejoined the program for his senior year.Hanover Area2015 WVC Record/Finish: 12-2, First place; Lost in district finalsState classification: 2ACoach: Mike ZapotoskiHome field: High school, Sans Souci Parkway, Hanover TownshipOutlook: The Hawkeyes&#8217; incredible WVC win streak may have finally ended in 2015, but the program&#8217;s reign atop the division did not. Expected to take a step back after losing much of its lineup, Hanover Area very nearly won that elusive district title anyway as Kyle Kowalski, John Morgan, Jake Peters, Kyle Windt and Austin Gately all stepped up. So the bar has once again been set high for the Hawks, who return eight of their nine hitters from last spring&#8217;s title game &#8212; missing only all-star shortstop Christian Pack. There are still questions to answer at the plate, but pitchers Kevin Rimmer and Kowalski were both strong last year, with the latter tossing a nine-inning one-hitter in the district semifinals.Holy Redeemer2015 WVC Record/Finish: 8-6, Fourth place; Lost in district quarterfinalsState classification: 2ACoach: Chris RitsickHome field: Hollenback Park, North Washington Street, Wilkes-BarreOutlook: A very large senior class departs for the Royals, including hitters Jason Hoggarth, Drew Semanek and Matt Dacey along with pitchers Keaton Dolan and Conlan McAndrew. The good news is that Redeemer does a good job of getting different players in the lineup each year, so part-timers from a year ago like Cade Flanley, Michael Conway and Rob McClay aren&#8217;t coming in cold. And the Royals should get a big boost from Tim Cavanaugh, who hit .436 to lead the team last season. On the mound, Tony Molitoris showed his stuff with a strong district tournament performance against Hanover Area, going the distance while not allowing an earned run.Meyers2015 WVC Record/Finish: 5-9, Sixth place; Lost in district openerState classification: 2ACoach: Matt SkrepenakHome field: Gibby Field, Gordon Avenue, Wilkes-Barre (Barney Farms)Outlook: The Mohawks were one of the youngest teams in the league a year ago with just one senior starter in O.J. Almonte. With another year under the belt for players like Ryan Gilgallon and Colin Pasone, Meyers is building up once again. Both players are used to success, having gone into the state tournament in basketball and wrestling, respectively. Gilgallon, Pasone, Keith Ostrowski and Kenny Macko all made multiple starts on the mound last season with Gilgallon leading the pack. A new name to keep an eye on is middle infielder Brainy Rojas, a junior whose name has popped up as a rising prospect by scouting services.MMI Prep2015 WVC Record/Finish: 8-6, Fifth place; Lost in district semifinalsState classification: ACoach: Sean McLaughlinHome field: MMI Athletic Complex, Cedar Street, FreelandOutlook: The Preppers will look to take the next step in their development under a new coach. Former Hanover Area assistant Sean McLaughlin takes over the smallest program in the area. But that smallest program is only two years removed from a district title and narrowly missed a return trip to the finals last spring. MMI will have to replace its best two hitters from 2015 &#8212; Jared Dasher and Sam Harman &#8212; but top pitcher Ed Herbener (Bloomsburg) is back to lead from the mound. McLaughlin has helped build a consistent program before while on the Hawkeyes staff. As fate would have it, the Preppers and Hawks will face off on WVC opening day on Monday.Nanticoke2015 WVC Record/Finish: 8-6, Second place; Lost in district semifinalsState classification: 2ACoach: Dean MyersHome field: High school, Kosciuszko Street, NanticokeOutlook: The Trojans made a statement in the postseason last year by knocking off two-time district champ Lakeland before falling to eventual winner Montrose in the semis. Leading the charge this season will be Kyle Pokrinchak, who is coming off a strong 2015 at the plate as well as on the mound to establish himself as one of the league&#8217;s top players. Fellow pitchers Joe Olszyk and Josh Benscoter have graduated, but hitters like Alec Norton, Steve Kreitzer and Matt Labenski return. After spending the past few seasons playing in Honey Pot, Nanticoke will be back at the high school this spring as the team looks to challenge for a division title once again.Northwest2015 WVC Record/Finish: 8-6, Third place; Lost in district openerState classification: 2ACoach: Lou DiPasqualeHome field: High school, Thorne Hill Road, ShickshinnyOutlook: It was the Rangers who ended Hanover Area&#8217;s historic WVC win streak last April and Northwest has the hitters to make noise once again this spring. Seniors like Eric Evans, Andrew Boberick, Brandon Reno, Reese Godfrey and Bryce Harrison form a core that should keep the Rangers competitive once again. Evans is entering his fourth season as a starter and led the team in hitting as a junior with Reno and Boberick not far behind. Northwest does lose two pitchers in Derrick Price and Scott Ungvarsky who 30-plus innings a year ago, meaning that Godfrey will now step into the No. 1 role. Austin Ford took over as the starting catcher at the end of last year as a freshman.Wyoming Seminary2015 WVC Record/Finish: 5-9, Seventh place; Lost in district openerState classification: 2ACoach: Brian KaschakHome field: Nesbitt Stadium, Schuyler Avenue, KingstonOutlook: All but a few players return from a 2015 Blue Knights team that saw a noticeable improvement in run production. Junior Alexandre Sabourin, senior Stefan Olsen and sophomore Michael Oravic are all coming off strong showings at the plate along with junior Johnny Kehl. Coach Brian Kaschak will also have plenty of arms to choose from after nine returning players made at least one appearance in league play last year. Kehl and Sabourin logged the most innings and starts while Roy Phillips and Ryan Touey also made multiple starts. Other full-time players returning include Sam Sweitzer, Caleb Jerome and Justin Negron.

2016 WVC BASEBALL PREVIEW