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By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

The next installment of our district previews, which are running for three weeks up to the first official PIAA competition date on March 24, brings us into the home stretch as it starts the final third of the series. Each article includes a list of top prospects from amongst the cohort of schools, as well as write-ups of a number of teams in the cohort.

We received inquiries last year regarding how we decide which teams to detail. A team profiled in the article is less an indication of what type of season we expect it to have and more a function of how much information we are able to compile. For example, if we have not seen a team in person (there are over 600 baseball-playing high schools in the state), stats are not available on-line, and a school district spam filter gobbled up our e-mails to the coach that contained the questionnaire, we might not have enough information to write a full paragraph on that school.

[mouse over pics for player names]

PIAA District III Class AAA Top Prospects

1. A.J. Alexy, 2016, RHP, Twin Valley (Radford)
2. Connor Yoder, 2016, RHP, East Pennsboro (Virginia Tech)
3. Myles Gayman, 2016, RHP, Greencastle-Antrim (Penn State)
4. Kyle Hess, 2018, OF, Donegal
5. Connor Hood, 2016, 3B, Susquehannock (Seton Hall)
6. Matt Brooks, 2016, RHP, Spring Grove Area (Charlotte)
7. Brandon Knarr, 2017, LHP, Eastern York (Notre Dame)
8. Drew Mummau, 2019, IF, Manheim Central
9. Curtis Robison, 2017, LHP/OF, Northern York
10. Scott Leitholf, 2017, RHP, Northern York
11. Nick Lucky, 2018, SS, Cocalico (Coastal Carolina)
12. Jake Wapinsky, 2016, OF, Fleetwood Area (Tusculum)

Class AAA

Sleeper draft prospect Alexy (55.1 IP, 33 H, 19 BB, 56 K) fronts an entirely intact pitching staff for Twin Valley, which will be handled by Susquehanna-bound catcher Alec Ranck and also features junior LHP Colby Hiddeman (41 IP, 34 H, 18 BB, 35 K), York College-bound RHP Casey Fitzsimmons (38.1 IP, 43 H, 20 BB, 26 K), and the junior RHP duo of Zach Rice (20 IP, 21 H, 10 BB, 18 K) and Hunter McInaw (18.2 IP, 27 H, 4 BB, 8 K). Well-rounded junior outfielder Colin Hartey (.293 AVG, 7 XBH, 21 BB vs 17 K, 23 SB) sparks coach Chad Walters' offense, which gets major contributions from Hiddeman (.350 AVG, 12 XBH, 15 BB vs 7 K), Fitzsimmons (.351 AVG, 10 XBH), and Susquehanna-bound second baseman Mitch Carsley (.356 AVG), while junior outfielder Joe Brosious is expected to fill a role as well.

If the adage that "pitching and defense wins championships" holds true, Northern York appears to be in pretty good shape as it returns a whopping 97% of its innings from a deep staff and bulk of a line-up that committed just over one error per game (well above average for the high school level). The junior duo of RHP Scott Leitholf (40.1 IP, 38 H, 12 BB, 41 K) and LHP Curtis Robison (28 IP, 17 H, 14 BB, 42 K) teams with the senior RHP tandem of Jamison Heisey (30.1 IP, 27 H, 6 BB, 21 K) and Nick Sacoman (30 IP, 34 H, 1 BB, 11 K) to form a quartet that averaged better than a 4:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio last season. Outfielder Robison is as adept with the bat (.455 AVG, 7 BB+HBP vs 4 K) as he is on the mound, while first baseman Leitholf (.312 AVG, 6 BB vs 6 K) chips in offensively as well. Coach Brian Robison will also turn to senior shortstop Kenny McKeever and infielder Sacoman to aid in run production for an offense that shouldn't have to score much to win most games.

After inheriting a young squad and guiding them to a state tournament berth, Spring Grove Area second-year coach Kevin Stiffler will be staring at a familiar line-up card this spring, as he has only two major contributors to replace. Brooks (65.6 IP, 101 K) will again be a workhorse on the mound, while junior LHP Jon Sager and junior RHP Logan Miller return after logging double-digit innings last season. The athletic Brooks (.329 AVG) also sparks the offense, which will get significant contributions from sophomore outfielder Trent Baker (.379 AVG), senior third baseman Caleb Ruth (.267 AVG), junior catcher Derek Hoiles (.304 AVG), and junior outfielder Cameron Sterner (.260 AVG, 12 SB).

After falling one win short of a state berth last season, Greencastle-Antrim returns the bulk of its roster this spring. The veteran pitching staff will be led by the senior RHP trio of Gayman (26.1 IP, 32 K), Derek Measall (54 IP, 33 H, 12 BB, 54 K), and Matt Kline (42.1 IP, 31 H, 17 BB, 32 K). Coach Eric Shaner will roll out a senior-laden line-up as well, with catcher Quin Ambeault (.362 AVG), outfielder Bailey Parker (.339 AVG, 10 SB), plus the above-mentioned pitching trio (who hold down the infield when not toeing the rubber) serving as primary run producers.

Rookie East Pennsboro coach Tyler Comp inherits a talented, experienced pitching staff that includes Millersville-bound LHP Drew Miller (39 IP, 27 H, 15 BB, 52 K), Yoder (35 IP, 9 H, 26 BB, 57 K), sophomore LHP Dalton Miller (25 IP, 26 H, 12 BB, 18 K), and junior RHP Chris Horst. Four of the top five hitters from last season return as well, in the persons of outfielders Drew (.311 AVG) and Dalton (.300 AVG), first baseman Yoder (.383 AVG), and senior outfielder Zach Wertz (.370 AVG).

Defending district champ and state semifinalist Donegal graduated its top three hitters, but welcomes back five line-up regulars in the fleet-of-foot sophomore tandem of Kyle Hess and shortstop Dale Houser, plus the senior trio of outfielder Ethan Hess, catcher Chris Beaudoin, and third baseman Derek Mohr. Coach Chris Miller's pitching staff is less settled, with 71% of last year's workload to replace and Messiah-bound Ethan Hess (34 IP, 20 H, 9 BB, 31 K) the only holdover to have logged more than 6.1 innings. Senior LHP Collin Brown, plus sophomore RHPs Kyle Hess and Dawson Magar are expected to assume larger roles this spring after getting only a handful of innings last season.

A seasoned Daniel Boone Area club is looking to take the next step (or two) following a district quarterfinal appearance last spring. Junior catcher Brendan Rivoli (.343 AVG, threw our ten of fourteen would-be basestealers), one of only two underclassmen named to the all-Berks team, will anchor the line-up along with York College-bound first baseman Bryce Stout (.375 AVG, 10 SB) and junior shortstop Joey Moyer (.351 AVG, 10 SB), both all-Berks Division I honorees. Two all-Berks Division I honorable mention selections -- Widener-bound 3B/RHP Bryant Schwoyer and senior OF/RHP Sean Bologa -- return as two-way contributors. The pitching staff will also feature senior RHPs Jordan Goodrich and Zach Brightbill, giving coach Jason McCord four holdovers who logged at least 19 innings last season.

Shippensburg Area must replace its staff ace, but does return three other pitchers -- Frederick CC-bound RHP Teagen Staver (40.2 IP, 36 H, 12 BB, 30 K), Shepherd-bound RHP Noah Auman (29.1 IP, 26 H, 13 BB, 22 K), and junior RHP Zach Barnhart (12.1 IP, 11 H, 1 BB, 4 K) -- who helped lead it to a Mid-Penn Colonial title. Coach Nathan Rosenberry's line-up was significantly depleted by graduation and will lean on senior 1st-team all-Mid Penn Colonial outfielder Cole Friese (.423 AVG, 18 SB) to again spark an offense that hopes to get mid-season reinforcement from junior infielder Brock Dull, who will be sidelined at the start due to injury. Junior third baseman Matt Frick and senior 2B/OF Brandt Swartz are the other returning starters, while junior utilityman Colten Zeigler and senior outfielder Zane Hershey are expected to assume larger roles.

Replacing two 1st-team Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2 all-star pitchers won't be easy, but Lampeter-Strasburg still has an experienced senior duo of Colin Eckman (22 IP, 28 H, 17 BB, 17 K) and Garrett Groshong (33 IP, 35 H, 11 BB, 19 K) on which it can lean for innings. The senior quintet of Collin Shank (1st-team honoree) Ben Rhodes, Connor Brown, Andrew Hay, and Devon Weiant will lead coach Keith Martin's offense.

Virtually the entire pitching staff that posted a better than 3:1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and more than half the regular line-up, return for Eastern York. Hill-bound Colby Shimmel (44 IP, 37 H, 9 BB, 53 K), Knarr (43 IP, 24 H, 25 BB, 95K), and senior RHP Brandyn Fry (21.2 IP, 38 H, 12 BB, 24 K) were one of the best trios in the state by the numbers, while Hood-bound RHP Tanner Shore provides depth and could see his role increase. If an offense that was held to three runs or less in five of seven losses can take a small step forward, the Golden Knights could make some noise. Shimmel (.477 AVG, 13 BB vs 5 K), Fry (.321 AVG, 11 SB), and Knarr (.300 AVG) power the offense as well, while Philadephia U-bound Mitchel Winter and freshman Bren Taylor will be needed to help account for the loss of Matt Taylor, who moved out of state.

Honorable mention all-YAIAA all-star Hood (.458 AVG) and Delaware Tech CC-bound infielder Dustin Babaie (.309 AVG) will lead a young Susquehannock offense for coach Tim Hare, who will look for sophomore utilityman Alec Kramer, junior 1B/OF Chase Summers, and sophomore third baseman Josh Bobbitt to step into more prominent roles. An experienced, but still relatively young in its own right, pitching staff is predominantly intact with the return of Hood (38.1 IP, 39 H, 14 BB, 44 H), the sophomore RHP duo of Jake Mahan (30 IP, 36 H, 23 BB, 19 K) and Bobbitt (13 IP, 17 H, 4 BB, 16 K), and Babaie (15.2 IP, 7 H, 11 BB, 13 K).

Wyomissing Area hopes to push for a division title and district berth on the strength of its senior-laden pitching staff, which landed three RHP on last year's all-Berks Division III teams: 1st-teamers Ledwin Nunez and Derrick Eberhart, and honorable mention Kenny Rodriguez, the latter two of which are committed to Lackawanna. Coach Zach Milch's offense is a little more up in the air, but will be sparked by junior shortstop Brandon Westwood.

Bishop McDevitt welcomes back two of its top three pitchers in Gwynedd Mercy-bound Joey Mione (49.2 IP, 27 H, 21 BB, 50 K) and his fellow senior RHP Bret Bitting (29 IP, 28 H, 5 BB, 13 K), while the junior RHP duo of Joe Pensiero and Mike Cross are expected to assume larger roles for coach Steve Groff. The line-up has some big holes to fill and will lean on Coppin State-bound catcher Cole Gerula, junior infielder Jamie Wrabel, senior outfielder Mike Mowery, and junior outfielder Jake Leibig for run production.

Eight percent. That's how many of the innings return from last year's West Perry Mid-Penn Capital championship club that did not give up more than three runs in a game all season (and that happened only three times). Coach Jeff Sanno will turn to the inexperienced senior duo of RHP Drayton Koser and LHP Ethan Lesher to soak up innings. The Mustangs line-up is a little more stable with five returning starters including middle of the diamond anchors in 1st-team all-Mid-Penn Capitol outfielder Lesher (.357 AVG, 20 SB), 1st-team shortstop Scott Messner (.364 AVG, 12 SB), junior catcher Cameron May, and junior second baseman Michael Chiccini.

To say that West York Area was gutted by graduation would be a mild understatement, as the Bulldogs must replace 100% of their innings pitched and two-thirds of their regular position player starters, including the line-up's 1-5 hitters. As if that wasn't enough, successful skipper Roger Czerwinski moved on and the reins have been handed to Scott Erickson to manage the roster overhaul. Sophomore outfielder Colton Kubicki (.325 AVG, 13 BB vs 9 K) is the leading returning hitter, while senior outfielder Evan Zinn and senior first baseman Tyler Seiffert are the other returning starters. LHP Kubicki and RHP Seiffert are expected to compete for innings, while senior RHP Brandon Sheffer, freshman LHP Justin Wetzel, and the sophomore pair of catcher Anthony Kahley and infielder Robbie Bertuccio should also get the chance to make an impact.

A solid trio of senior pitchers -- LHP Adam Kipp, Towson-bound Kody Reeser (honorable mention all-YAIAA), and SUNY Maritime-bound LHP Brady Dolan -- should team to keep Northeastern in ballgames this spring. The Bobcats could make a push to contender status if coach Andrew Sreboski's offense, which was held to three runs or less in seven of ten losses last season, can take a step forward behind senior catcher Devin Blymire, senior outfielder Jonah Latshaw, junior utilityman Alex Raymond, and Kipp.

Despite graduating the top two on its staff depth chart, state quarterfinalist Manheim Central has three experienced pitchers returning to pick up the extra work in the sophomore LHP duo of Taylor Rohrer and Bryce Eberly, plus senior RHP Chad Neely, who combined for a line of 75.2 IP, 92 H, 33 BB, 36 K. Senior third baseman Kevin Starner is the one position player regular back for coach Matt Huber, who will turn to rookie shortstop Mummau, junior second baseman Tyler Lyons, and junior catcher Tyler Lutz to fill valuable roles.

A dearth of seniors at Fleetwood Area leaves a relatively young roster for coach Rolland Green to coax along. Wapinsky will provide leadership at the plate and on the mound, where he will be joined atop the rotation by a fellow all-Berks Division II honoree in junior LHP Ryan Scepansky. Junior RHP Bryce Hawkins and sophomore RHP Ryan Miller are also expected to soak up innings, while other offensive contributors will include senior second baseman Aaron DeWald, senior first baseman Duncan Cahalan, sophomore outfielder Luke Emge, junior third baseman Jeremiah Jarboe, and junior catcher Alex Link.

Despite the loss of its top two innings-eaters, Palmyra Area still has three holdovers who logged double-digit innings last season: junior RHP Isaac Blatt (23.2 IP, 15 H, 4 BB, 11 K), senior RHP Tyler Julian (13.1 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 4 K), and junior LHP Braden Vernet (17 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 8 K). Coach Tim Gingrich will lean on junior outfielder Carl Reigle and senior 2nd-team Mid-Penn Keystone outfielder Evan Hollowell to provide the offensive spark.

Middletown Area has won its opening round district game each of the past two seasons as the 16th and final team to make the bracket. If the Blue Raiders are to eek their way into the post-season again, they must find a way to replace ten departed seniors, including a 1-2 rotation punch who combined to log nearly 75% of the team's innings. Senior RHPs Brandon Harper and Noah Zimmerman, plus junior RHPs Jimmy Fitzpatrick and Johan Sanchez-Padilla, will all get a much bigger bite at the apple. Millersville-bound 1B/OF Harper, C/SS Fitzpatrick, infielder Zimmerman, and sophomore SS/C Blake Jacoby will be tasked with sparking a revamped line-up for coach Steve Shuleski.

Senior RHP Travis Wickard (44.1 IP, 53 H, 14 BB, 31 K) returns to front an otherwise gutted Boiling Springs (11-9) pitching staff that will have senior RHPs Hunter Breon and Nick Rosario, plus freshman Tayven Kelley jockeying for innings behind him. The Penn State Altoona-bound trio of 1st-team Mid-Penn Colonial shortstop Breon (.403 AVG, 17 SB), 2nd-team catcher Rosario, and first baseman Hunter Goshorn will team with Wickard for primary run production duties in coach John Breon's line-up.

As Littlestown works to replace the middle of its order, first-year coach Larry Baumgardner can turn to a pair of 1st-team YAIAA Division III all-stars -- senior shortstop Brady Topper (.327 AVG, 12 BB vs 11 K; only one error on defense) and junior outfielder Jacob Owings (.373 AVG) -- to anchor his line-up. Senior C/OF Lucas Schuman will have a hand in shepherding an unproven pitching staff that includes sophomore RHP Alex DeHass, and junior RHP Brandon Pittinger and Jacob Beal, as it awaits the uncertain return of junior RHP Russell Livesay (42.2 IP, 44 H, 24 BB, 36 K) from hand surgery.

Two-thirds of the regular staring line-up returns for Gettysburg Area, featuring four players who stole at least eight bases and led by junior infielder Michael Tempel (.355 AVG, 7 BB vs 4 K), an honorable mention YAIAA all-star, junior infielder Ethan Ketterman (.338 AVG), and senior first baseman P.J. Cosden (.312 AVG, 14 BB vs 10 K). Hood College-bound LHP Cosden and RHP Tempel are the lone returning pitchers for coach Ryan Brady to have logged more than six innings last year, while Ketterman will have an opportunity to soak up some of the 70% of innings that departed via graduation.

With the vast majority of its offense gone, Bermudian Springs will turn to senior infielder Colby Smith (.290 AVG) and junior outfielder Hunter Rang (.281 AVG) to steady the line-up while their unproven teammates get acclimated to game action. RHP Smith and LHP Rang are the lone returners to have logged double-digit innings last year for coach Eric McClintic. Keep an eye out for freshman RHP/C Tyler Reinert to make an impact early in his career.

Could be a rebuilding year ahead for Conrad Weiser, which will roster only five upperclassmen with significant varsity experience. Junior RHP Christian Burrus (30.2 IP, 33 H, 21 BB, 21 K) is the lone pitching staff holdover to have logged more than 6.2 innings last season, while sophomore RHP Jeremy Reimenschneider, junior RHP Connor Coldren, and transfer senior RHP Jeremiah Stoltzfus should all get opportunities to toe the rubber. Coach Robert Tranquillo will be remaking his offense as well, with senior 1B/C Tyler Hoss, outfielder Burrus, shortstop Coldren, sophomore second baseman Carter Williams, and senior third baseman Devon Drexel all being counted upon to fill the massive void created by graduation.

A young roster awaits first-year Kennard-Dale coach Blake Knecht, who will ask a trio of sophomore RHP -- Ethan Phillips, Mike Lizzi, and Brian White -- to play valuable roles behind senior RHP Dustin Harden. Senior catcher Trevor Jacobs will be responsible for shepherding the young staff and will power the offense along with junior shortstop Ben Lowe.

Season Preview Schedule

3/2 - PAISAA
3/3 - PIAA District V
3/4 - PIAA District IX
3/5 - PIAA District VI
3/6 - PIAA District IV
3/7 - PIAA District X
3/8 - PIAA District III (Class A & AA)
3/9 - PIAA District VII (Class A)
3/10 - PIAA District VII (Class AA)
3/11 - PIAA District II
3/12 - PIAA District XI
3/13 - PIAA District I (Class A, AA & AAA)
3/14 - PIAA District III (Class AAA)
3/15 - PIAA District VII (Class AAA)
3/16 - PIAA District I (Class AAAA)
3/17 - PIAA District III (Class AAAA)
3/18 - PIAA District VII (Class AAAA)
3/19 - PIAA District XII