2015 HS Team Preview: Orchard Park

Thu March 19, 2015


Dan Cevette
Director, New York

As the High School baseball season quickly approaches, PBR NY will be previewing teams across the state over the next month. We will also be out scouting the High School season providing NY with the most in-depth amateur baseball coverage possible. To do this we have hired nine scouts, spread across the entire state to give players the platform they deserve to be seen.

High School: Orchard Park
Class: AA Section VI
Head Coach: Jim Gibson
Last Years Record: 18-3

List Your Top Returners:
Andy Sipowicz, RHP, (2015)
Brandon Nicholson, SS, (2015)
Jeff Palczewski, 3B, (2016)
Ben Wereski, LHP, (2016)
Jake Woodrich, CF, (2016)
Jacob Lewis, RHP, (2016)

Key Loss From 2014:
Dave Hollins, SS, Buffalo News Player of the Year

Biggest Matchup This Season:
Williamsville North, Lancaster, Clarence

Coach Gibson’s Outlook For 2015:           
We return seven starters from last year and all of our pitchers but we lost SS Dave Hollins who was WNY player of the Year, and two-time All WNY left fielder Ryan MacCarrick. They hit 3 and 4 in out line-up. SS Brandon Nicholson was a second team all WNY player last year as a second baseman and moves to short this season. RHP Andy Sipowicz has signed to play at Canisius College next year and junior Jeff Palczewski has started since his freshman year.

PBR’s Take
We have seen every player named above more than once over the past year. This team is deep, full of talent/experience, and in Upstate NY there’s not many programs that keep churning out solid rosters like Orchard Park. The sleeper on Orchard Park’s roster, in our opinion is Jeff Biddle, RHP, (2015). He’s long (6-foot-3) and lean-highly athletic. I’ve seen him on the mound up to 85 mph but command has always been enemy No. 1 – If he’s figured it out he could make a serious impact.

As for the rest of the crew – Sipowicz is a strong bodied RHP who we have seen up to 86 mph with late life, and good feel for a plus curveball. Nicholson is the definition of scrappy and is an all-around-solid player. Wereski is a LHP who hovers around 80-82 mph but can pitch, plus he shows signs for more in the tank. Woodrich does his job well. He’s extremely quick, tracks balls in the outfield as good as anyone, and makes consistent contact from the left-side. Palczewski has stated to become a special player at the corner. Strong arm, very good runner, and shows power signs at the plate. Excited to see these guys do battle this spring.

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