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Conference Preview: District 6 Class A

March 24, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

With the start of the high school season getting started we have been previewing conferences around the state leading up to opening day. In addition to a look at the top teams we will also highlight some of the top prospects in each conference.

           district 6 - class a

Preseason Favorite

Bishop McCort (20-5)

The Crushers have won a state title (2012) and advance to the state quarterfinals (2013) in the past two seasons. This year's version of Bishop McCort baseball may just be the deepest roster with the greatest amount of experience of the past three years. The Crushers are the prohibitive favorite to win the District 6 title and to make a bid at winning another state title.

 

Preseason Co-Players of the Year

LHP/OF Nathan Neiderhiser & RHP/SS Justin Vardian, Bishop McCort HS (Class of 2014)

NeiderhiserNeiderhiser is the reigning PBR District 6 Class AA Player of the Year. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound LHP/OF went 5-2 on the mound with a 1.76 ERA over 51.2 innings of work in 2013. Neiderhiser struck out 75 hitters and held opponents to a .209 batting average. When not on the mound, the Youngstown State recruit was a mainstay in McCort's outfield. The left-handed hitter put up impressive offensive numbers as well. Neiderhiser hit .423 with eight doubles, two triples and a home run. Most importantly, Neiderhiser was a run producer. He was directly involved in roughly 25% of the runs that the Crushers scored on the season with 24 RBI and 28 runs scored. McCort (20-5) scored 213 runs as a team in 2013. 

Justin VardianOf the 25 pitchers to throw a bullpen session at the Elite Prospect Showcase six were uncommitted seniors. That number very quickly became five, as RHP Justin Vardian (Bishop McCort) committed to Penn State within hours after the completion of the event. The 6-foot, 175-pound righty, ranked No. 32 in the PA Class of 2014, created a stir by sitting 88-89 with a very loose arm. He stayed within himself and showed good late life to his fastball thrown from a high 3/4 arm slot. Vardian also commanded three complimentary pitches. His 11/5 curveball showed 11/5 rotation at 75 mph, his 78 mph slider showed good late bite and his 76 mph changeup showed arm side run at near fastball arm speed. The righty, who went 6-1 on the hill as a junior, represented Pennsylvania at the Super 60 Pro Showcase in Chicago in January.

 

Top Prospects

bishop carroll

Scott Lucas, 2B/RHP (Class of 2015)
Raymond Watt, RHP/IF (Class of 2016)

bishop guilfoyle

Derek Cursio, LHP/OF (Class of 2015)

bishop mccort

Jeremy Adams, RHP/2B (Class of 2014, Westmoreland CC commit)
Brad Coleman, RHP/3B (Class of 2014, Pitt-Johnstown recruit)
Ethan Neiderhiser, RHP/IF (Class of 2014)
Nathan Neiderhiser, LHP/OF (Class of 2014, Youngstown State recruit)
Alex Sobecky, 1B/OF (Class of 2014, Allegany CC commit)
Nemo Trexler, OF (Class of 2014)
Justin Vardian, RHP/SS (Class of 2014, Penn State recruit)

blacklick valley

Cory Villa, 2B/RHP (Class of 2015)

claysburg-kimmel

Nathan Musselman, 3B (Class of 2014)
Nic Fickes, C (Class of 2014)

conemaugh valley

Blake Furman, RHP/3B (Class of 2014)
Corey Kalinyak, 2B/C (Class of 2014)
Anthony Verno, OF (Class of 2014)
Kaleb Riehl, 1B/LHP (Class of 2015)

ferndale

Isaiah Sajatovich, OF (Class of 2014)
Zach Beneke, INF/C (Class of 2015)
Taylor Kinsey, INF/RHP (Class of 2015)

glendale

Tyler Potutschnig, RHP/SS (Class of 2014)

homer center

Bryan Buzi, C (Class of 2014, Mt. Aloyisius commit)
Kolby Skultety, OF (Class of 2014)
Andrew Gaydosh, RHP/2B (Class of 2014)
Ean Lee, SS/OF (Class of 2015)

juniata valley

Kordell Collins, 2B (Class of 2015)
Bryce Hensor, 2B/SS (Class of 2017)

penns manor

Lucas Kowalski, OF (Class of 2014)
Luke Ruddock, 1B (Class of 2014)

portage area

Bailey Kerch, LHP/1B (Class of 2014)
Mike Bryja, RHP/1B (Class of 2015)
Brandon Vocco, C (Class of 2015)
Luke Dividock, RHP/OF (Class of 2016)

saltsburg

Steve Richards, 3B/RHP (Class of 2014)
Doug Pollack, 2B (Class of 2016)
Tanner Yard, OF/C (Class of 2016)

williamsburg

Austin McMonagle, RHP (Class of 2014)

 

view all conference previews & preseason players of the year by conference

 

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