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By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

We remain in the west central part of the state, but on the northern border this time, for the third installment of our season preview content, which will run for three weeks up to the first official PIAA competition date on March 24. 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 IX Top Prospects

1. John Matthews, 2016, RHP/SS, Punxsutawney Area (Kent State)
2. Braxton Giavedoni, 2016, OF, Punxsutawney Area (Penn State)
3. Jake Miknis, 2016, SS, DuBois Central Catholic (St. Bonaventure)
4. Adam Bankovich, 2016, C, DuBois Area (Seton Hill)
5. Michael Beimel, 2017, C, St. Marys Area

Class A

DuBois Central Catholic entered district play last year as one of the favorites, but was eliminated in the semifinals just one win away from a a state tournament berth. Two-way performers Miknis and senior RHP/Util Nick Szczerba are back to try to help get the Cardinals over the hump. They will be joined in primary run production by Clarion-bound infielder Ty Bittner and junior C/OF Jack Frank, while sophomore RHP Thomas Grecco and freshman RHP Justin Miknis are also expected to log innings for coach Andy Sayers.

Defending district champ Oswayo Valley will carry a roster that barely gets into double digits this spring, but can count on again getting two-way production from senior Brandon Brabham, sophomore LHP/1B Garren Black, and senior C/RHP Dylan Buchholz. Reinforcements arrived for coach Brad Buchholz in the brotherly tandem of junior Garret and freshman Gavin Babcock, the former of whom was a starter here as a freshman before moving to another school district.

District runner-up Clarion Area will need to move on from the graduation of its staff ace, who logged over 40% of the team's innings last year, with senior RHP Brendan Miller, senior LHP Adrian Weber (17 IP, 16 H, 16 BB, 27 K), and junior LHP Reed Anthony (12.1 IP, 13 H, 6 BB, 16 K) looking to assume larger roles. Leading the charge on the offensive side for coach Rob Jewett will be 2nd-team all-KSAC first baseman Weber (.309 AVG, 14 BB vs 4 K), shortstop Miller (back from an ACL injury that cost him his junior season), sophomore 1st-team infielder Spencer Miller (.393 AVG, 12 SB), sophomore third baseman Cameron Craig (.312 AVG), and outfielder Anthony (.421 AVG in part-time duty).

As if needing to replace four of its top seven hitters wasn't enough, Elk County Catholic also lost a fifth to transfer. Junior catcher Dan Stauffer (.431 AVG, 11 BB vs 8 K) and junior utilityman Brad Dippold (.388 AVG, 13 BB vs 8 K) do return for their third year as starters, while seniors Ross Brennen (31.1 IP, 18 H, 18 BB, 28 K) and Alex Dattoli (12 IP, 13 H, 2 BB, 5 K) are the only holdovers on the staff to have logged double-digit innings last spring.

All but one line-up regular returns for Brockway Area, which also graduated just seven innings from last year's roster. Outfielder Anthony Isabella (.395 AVG) led the team in hitting as a junior. Senior LHP Corey Carr (39 IP, 34 H, 25 BB, 58 K) is back as the staff ace and should contribute with the bat as well.

Otto-Eldred is going with a youth movement in coach Jame Thomas' eighth season. Sophomore RHP Sawyer Drummond and freshman LHP Chase Sebastian will front the pitching staff, while Drummond and senior catcher Heath Stewart will power and offense that is likely to miss junior third baseman Seth Drummond due to a knee injury suffered during football season.

Under first-year Union coach Angelo Salvo, senior catcher Cole Morris (.395 AVG, 16 SB) will spark an offense that graduated only three regulars, and will also shepherd a pitching staff once again fronted by senior Hank Murphy (33 IP, 39 H, 17 BB, 32 K), with freshman Reice Saylor expected to carve out a significant role for himself.

Class AA (forms a sub-region with District VIII)

Despite the graduation of its staff ace, who was also named the 2015 Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference MVP, defending sub-region champ Cranberry Area welcomes back two-thirds of its starting line-up, including two senior all-KSAC performers in catcher Austin Rex (3rd-team) and 3B/RHP Brendan Zerbe (2nd-team infielder; 3rd-team pitcher). Junior LHP/OF Nolan Brannon and senior OF/RHP Evan Lutz will also make a two-way impact for coach Patrick Irwin, while senior first baseman Tyler Gustafson will continue as a primary run producer and senior RHP Tylor Ziegler will soak up innings.

Sub-region runner-up Moniteau graduated six primary offensive contributors, including three 1st-team all-KSAC honorees, so will turn to Slippery Rock-bound Derek Boben, a 2nd-team selection as a pitcher (42.1 IP, 25 H, 18 BB, 57 K) and infielder (.380 AVG, 12 BB vs 3 K, 10 SB), and fellow 2nd-team senior infielder Anthony Marterella (.418 AVG, 7 BB vs 3 K), who also contributes on the mound (18.2 IP, 19 H, 4 BB, 12 K), to power the offense and lead the pitching staff.  Sophomore Jake Jewart and junior Lake Pry are also slated to log innings for coach Russ Martin, who will ask senior catcher Zack Adamson, sophomore catcher Wyatt Geibel, junior outfielder Josh Adamson, and senior third baseman J.J. Waid to pick up some of the offensive slack.

Former Brookville Area coach Bruce Ferry returns to guide the Raiders after a long layoff. Senior LHP Wyatt Shaffer will be joined by junior RHPs Ben Reitz and Jordan Tosh atop the pitching staff, wihle senior catcher Kyle Dunkle, senior outfielder Logan Thrush, and sophomore outfielder Tyler Park will spark the offense. On a roster with limited numbers this spring, a pair of multi-sport freshmen -- Util/RHP Bryan Dworek and outfielder Trenton Gilhausen -- could make an impact immediately after stepping off the hardwood.

Class AAA (forms a sub-region with District VIII)

District bully Punxsutawmey Area lost a 1-0 game to eventual state champ Knoch in the first round of last year's state tournament. This district title has essentially evolved into a birthright for the Chucks and the senior duo of Matthews and Penn State Dubois-bound LHP Lance Pennington (did not pitch in 2015 due to injury) intend to keep it that way. Those two (Pennington was able to compete as an outfielder last year), rejoin Giavedoni (.532 AVG, 20 XBH) and junior catcher Joey DiPietro in coach Mike Dickey's line-up.

In his 45th year at the helm, Clearfield Area coach Sid Lansberry is tasked with replacing seven graduates from last year's line-up. Junior shortstop Will Myers and junior outfielder Tommy Hazel are the lone returning starters and will look to get support from a group that includes senior first baseman Brandon Orsich, sophomore third baseman Marcus Luzier, and freshman OF/C Ty Bender. Senior 2nd-team all-Mountain League RHP Orsich is the lone experienced returner on a staff that will also feature RHPs Myers, Hazel, and sophomore Jacob Sorbera.

The members of St. Marys Area young core now have at least a year of experience under their belts on which they can build. Coach Tony Azzato's offense should be markedly improved, as top returning run producers Beimel (.305 AVG) and senior infielder Hunter Fantechi (.345 AVG) will be supplemented by junior shortstop Jeff Wehler (transfer from Elk County Catholic where he hit .415). In addition, junior OF/C Aaron Piccolo (.550 AVG, 6 BB+HBP vs 2 K) looks to get in a full season after missing half of last year with a broken kneecap, while sophomore outfielder Tim Beimel (.294 AVG) should improve on a solid rookie campaign. The biggest step forward will need to come from the Flying Dutchmen pitching staff, however, which combined to walk more than it struck out last season. Youth is on their side, as sophomore RHPs Jared Groll and Tim Beimel, plus freshman LHP Nate Beimel, will join RHP Fantechi in logging significant innings.

Class AAAA (forms a sub-region with Districts VI, VIII and X)

A full season out of Bankovich (.444 AVG, 6 BB vs 5 K), who did not play his first game until May 7 last year will bolster a solid offensive core for sub-regional runner-up DuBois Area. Other leading hitters returning from last year include juniors Braden Paulinellie (.323 AVG, 10 BB vs 5 K) and Drew Bankovich (.340 AVG, 15 BB vs 10 K), as well as senior Zach Sloan (.400 AVG, 7 BB+HBP vs 3K). The staff ace graduated, but the Beavers welcome back juniors Collin Read (30.2 IP, 36 H, 7 BB, 7 K) and Nick LaBrasca (22 IP, 24 H, 7 BB, 12 K), each of whom logged significant innings last spring.

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