Prep Baseball Report

2016 PIAA Class AA State Tournament Preview



By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

And then there were sixteen. The first round of the 2016 PIAA Class AA state tournament starts tomorrow at various sites across the state. Below is a preview of each participating team (listed in bracket order, separated by first-round match-up) with notes on players to watch and how each team's season has progressed.

Notes:
X-Y before a school name = District-Bid (e.g. 3-2 is the runner-up from District III).

If multiple districts are listed before a school name, those districts combined to form a sub-regional to determine that bid.

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12-1 Neumann-Goretti Saints (16-6)
Last year's state runner-up wasn't challenged at all for this bid, their fourth straight. Offense is young and not as potent as previous versions following significant losses to graduation, but still features the college-bound trio of outfielder Brian Verratti (West Chester), third baseman Nicky D'Amore (Wagner), and first baseman Lou Testa (Rowan College at Gloucester County). The pitching staff boasts more experience, as the RHP duo of Ethan Pritchett (Wagner) and Jeff Ciocco (Western Kentucky) lead a group that allowed three runs or less 16 times, including every game of a current nine-game win streak. 

3-2 Lancaster Catholic Crusaders (17-6)
Young, talented roster than got over the hump after falling short of a state berth last season. Outside of the district title game, all losses came vs 3A/4A schools (and went 5-5 overall against schools in the two largest classifications). Sophomore LHP/1B Dillon Marsh, a Wake Forest commit, serves as the staff ace and top power source on offense. Seton Hill-bound Bayley Jamanis and a quartet of juniors -- speedy on-base machine Bryan Downey at the top of the order, plus shortstop Mitch Eck, catcher Tyler Peters, and outfielder Brayden Clair in the middle -- have bolstered the offensive effort as well.

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2-1 Northwest Area Rangers (13-5)
Cruised through the first three rounds of the district tournament by a combined score of 32-8 before a dramatic, nine-inning win over WVC Division 3 rival Hanover Area, with which the Rangers split their regular-season series. The ace of the pitching staff is junior Brian Hardiman, who started three of four games in district play, logging 17.2 of the team's 30 innings. A quintet of seniors -- Eric Evans, Brandon Reno, Andrew Bobrick, Doug Campbell, and Bryce Harrison  -- hold down the top five spots in the line-up and provide the bulk of the run production.

4-1 North Penn-Mansfield Tigers (17-5)
Junior J.P. Shaw has been the engine on the mound (41.2 IP, 21 H, 16 BB, 65 K) and at the plate (.413 AVG, 14 XBH) for the team that dethroned district bully Loyalsock Township in the tournament semifinals last month. Not bad for a squad that thought it would be playing in 1A when the season started, only to find out that miscounted enrollment numbers as part of their co-op meant that they should have been in 2A this year and last. Sophomore Kipp Hillson (.484 AVG, 12 BB + 7 HBP) provides a spark and serves as a bullpen ace (21.2 IP, 22 H, 9 BB, 19 K), while sophomore Brendan Hill (.424 AVG, 11 BB vs 4 K) is also among a group of seven line-up regulars who have each drawn more walks than strikeouts.

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1-1 Devon Prep Tide (14-7)
The 2014 1A state champ has now won the 2A district title the past two seasons. A line-up powered by Lehigh-bound third baseman Tony Gallo (.424 AVG) will feature five underclassmen in the state tournament -- including the sophomore pair of utilityman Tyler Wright and catcher Luke Piontek -- and received a boost from the late-season return of Lehigh-bound shortstop Matt Bevilacqua. Gettysburg-bound RHP Danny Brace and sophomore RHP Nick Ramanjulu will likely draw the bulk of the mound work as long as the Tide is still flowing.

12-2 MaST Community Charter Panthers (13-7)
Young team that has only two seniors on the roster. Finished second behind 1A juggernaut Christopher Dock Mennonite in the Bicentennial Athletic League Presidents Division before rolling through the Philadelphia Public League's top two 2A teams to earn this bid. Pitching staff is led by strike-throwing juniors Kyle Wenclawiak (50.1 IP, 51 H, 16 BB, 65 K) and Greg Wenclawiak (41.2 IP, 44 H, 14 BB, 49 K), while junior Matt Carter (.419 AVG, 10 XBH, 18 SB) has been the top offensive producer. Quick glance at their schedule reveals the epitome of a team that beat the teams they should beat and lost to the teams to which they might be expected to lose. Can't totally overlook this squad, however, as they dropped a one-run decision during league play to their first round opponent here, while they also have extra motivation following a heartbreaking, 11-inning loss in the state first round last year.

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3-1 Oley Valley Lynx (19-4)
First state tournament appearance since 2011 comes on the heels of the program's seventh all-time district title. Half of losses came vs a strong 3A Twin Valley team. Pitching staff that is fronted by Albright-bound RHP Matt Fisher, and also gets contributions from senior RHP Sebastian Williamson and sophomore LHP Gavin Blankenbiller, has allowed two runs or less 15 times. The junior duo of catcher Tyler Wentzel and shortstop Peter Vaccaro team with infielder Fisher and Potomac State-bound outfielder Williamson for primary run production duties.

11-1 North Schuylkill Spartans (19-4)
The preseason district favorite did as expected, riding its senior southpaw trifecta of Bobby Grigas (56.2 IP, 27 H, 18 BB, 58 K), C.J. Steinhilber (37.1 IP, 27 H, 23 BB, 38 K), and Rutgers-bound Tevin Murray (34.2 IP, 26 H, 26 BB, 48 K) to this berth. The offense, led by Murray (.397 AVG, 8 XBH) along with the junior duo of Richie Zahodnick (.378 AVG, 8 XBH) and Chris Burke (.319 AVG, 14 BB vs 7 K), has held up its end of the bargain as well, scoring at least five runs eighteen times.

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5-1/6-1 Bishop McCort Catholic Crushers (19-5)
Following an ominous 0-3 start to the season, the Crushers found their perennial contender form (they earned four straight 1A state tournament berths from 2011-14) and were scarcely challenged the rest of the way. The bulk of the staff's innings have been logged by the senior RHP tandem of Nick Beblar (37 IP, 29 H, 20 BB, 47 K) and Billy Wilson (32 IP, 26 H, 21 BB, 31 K), along with sophomore LHP Brett Seitz (31.1 IP, 32 H, 15 BB, 41 K). An offense that gets production up and down the line-up (four regulars have double digit steals; composite 138 BB+HBP vs 115 Ks) is highlighted by senior Blake Wade (.347 AVG, 11 XBH), senior Logan Wade (.333 AVG, 17 SB), junior Chris Miller (.378 AVG, 10 SB), and junior Boston Bradley (.302 AVG, 22 BB+HBP vs 6 K, 13 SB).

7-3 Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles (14-6)
First state tournament appearance since 2013 when they were in 3A. Nearly 90% of the pitching staff's innings have been logged by the trio of senior RHP Nick Riggle (52.2 IP, 39 H, 20 BB, 54 K), sophomore RHP Jerry Volpe (37 IP, 46 H, 12 BB, 21 K), and senior LHP Josh Beck (24.2 IP, 29 H, 10 BB, 22 K). Allowed five runs in four games in the WPIAL tournament. The line-up is highlighted by a quartet of seniors: outfielder Riggle (.486 AVG, 11 SB, 8 BB vs 4 K), C/1B Ryan Roell (.476 AVG, 13 XBH), catcher Stephen Kazalas-Kelley (.441 AVG), and shortstop Dylan Procopio (.383 AVG).

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10-1 Fairview Tigers (16-3)
Had a nine-game winning streak to start the season and have won seven of their last eight. Offense is hitting .353 as a unit with only one line-up regular below .300 and four at .400 or better: junior outfielder Ryan Cedzo (.490 AVG), senior catcher Mike Connell (.444 AVG, 9 XBH), junior OF/1B Chris Hudson (.424 AVG, 9 BB vs 6 K), and junior infielder Zack Peterman (.400 AVG, 9 BB vs 4 K). Strike-throwing senior mound duo of LHP Ben Coffman (30 IP, 23 H, 9 BB, 40 K) and RHP Nolan Green (19.1 IP, 14 H, 4 BB, 18 K) could pick up extra work, as LHP Cedzo (25 IP, 9 H, 8 BB, 52 K) has not pitched since mid-May and is unavailable for the state tournament.

7-2 Neshannock Lancers (19-3)
The defending state champs are back at it again, with their only losses against 2A schools coming to WPIAL champ and Section 5 rival Riverside (split regular-season series, dropped WPIAL title game 1-0 in nine innings). Harford CC-bound RHP Frankie Fraschetti (67 IP, 47 H, 21 BB, 74 K) and California of PA-bound RHP Richie Serignese (48 IP, 50 H, 11 BB, 43 K) have reprised their roles as co-aces of a staff that allowed more than three runs in a game just three times all season. The middle of the diamond defense also sparks the offense: second baseman Serignese (.354 AVG, 7 XBH, 14 BB vs 8 K), his double-play partner in Mercyhurst Northeast-bound Jason Swope (.362 AVG, 20 BB vs 2 K), junior catcher Brandon Scheidemantle (.290 AVG, 15 BB vs 7 K), and junior center fielder Danny Welker (.400 AVG, 7 XBH).

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7-1 Riverside Panthers (20-2)
Pitching staff has recorded shutouts in half of its games this year, including four straight in the WPIAL tournament, and has allowed more than two runs in a game just four times. Three-headed, strike-throwing monster includes Tiffin-bound RHP Michael Boswell (61 IP, 25 H, 15 BB, 86 K), lanky, 6-foot-5 junior RHP Adam Jeannette (36 IP, 28 H, 5 BB, 37 K), and Penn State DuBois-bound LHP Vince Loccisano (35.1 IP, 21 H, 6 BB, 33 K). Balanced offense is highlighted by sophomore Austin Dambach (.382 AVG, 10 XBH, 14 SB), senior Jason Dambach (.418 AVG, 8 SB), and West Virginia Wesleyan-bound Kolby Wolf (.487 OBP, 19 BB, 6 HBP).

6-2 Central Scarlet Dragons (17-7)
Mundane 5-4 start to the season, but finished on a 12-3 spurt. Junior-laden offense that is averaging over four steals per game is sparked by the athletic duo of Alex Hoenstine (.407 AVG, 7 XBH, 28 SB) and Chase Smith (.324 AVG, 9 HBP, 13 SB). Leading hitter Josh McKnight (.413 AVG) hasn't played in nearly a month, but sophomore Brady Niceswoger (.393 AVG) has filled in admirably. Presumptive staff ace McKnight's services have been missed on the mound since mid-April as well, but four others have logged at least 16 innings, led by Jarret Imler (51 IP, 43 H, 19 BB, 28 K) and Cordell Bowser (37.1 IP, 35 H, 12 BB, 18 K).

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8-1/9-1 Moniteau Warriors (16-3)
Have won 11 of their last 12 games, with the only loss during that span coming by a 1-0 score. Pitching staff has given up more than three runs just five times all season, with Slippery Rock-bound RHP Derek Boben (46.1 IP, 29 H, 20 BB, 66 K) fronting a quintet that has each logged double digit innings. Line-up has seven regulars hitting over .300, highlighted by sophomore Jake Jewart (.360 AVG, 18 BB vs 8 K, 16 SB), Boben (.327 AVG, 11 BB+HBP vs 4 K), and senior Zach Adamson (.366 AVG, 10 BB vs 5 K).

10-2 Girard Yellow Jackets (16-6)
Enters the state tournament having won eight of last ten games, with the only two losses during that stretch (and three of their losses on the season) coming against district champ Fairview. The Waynesburg-bound infield tag team of Vince Monico (.418 AVG, 9 BB + 8 HBP vs 3 K, 10 SB) and Brenden Kohan (.447 AVG, 12 XBH, 10 SB) are the top offensive contributors. The pitching staff boasts four members who have logged at least 22 innings, led by Mercyhurst Northeast-bound Nate McKenrick (57.2 IP, 43 H, 5 BB, 47 K) and his fellow senior strike-throwing RHP Ryan Lehman (37 IP, 35 H, 6 BB, 31 K).