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Conference Preview: Lackawanna Interscholastic Athletic Association

March 11, 2014

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

                                      liaa

LIAA Division 1

Returing LIAA Division 1 All-Stars
'14 RHP Dave Manasek, Abington Heights (Fordham)
'14 C Robbie Nardelli, Valley View (Stony Brook)
'14 3B/RHP Collin Ferguson, Valley View (Hartford)
'15 OF Jake McCarthy, Scranton (Virginia)
'14 DH Nick Ivanoff, West Scranton

  • Abington Heights returns two of the top pitchers in the district in low-slot Manasek and bulldog '15 RHP Tyler Ksiazek, who authored a CG shutout in the district championship game as a sophomore. Ksiazek, an athletic infielder with above average speed and quick hands at the plate, will also lead an offense that returns six starters from the district title tilt, five of whom hit over .300.
  • Valley View boasts the ability to match AH pitch-for-pitch when they run Ferguson and stud '16 RHP Max Kranick (Virginia) out to the bump. Max and his older brother, '14 OF Connor Kranick, are the top returning hitters. Nardelli is an agile backstop who helps control the running game.
  • Scranton has an ace of their own in solidy-built '15 RHP Colin Maldonato, who will be joined on the staff by '14 RHP Kraigen Rasalla (King's College). McCarthy, the top position player prospect in District II (and one of the top in the state), is a true athlete who can impact the game at the plate, on the bases, and in the field.
  • '14 C Nick Preston (Wilkes) will be charged with shepherding a budding star at Scranton Prep in 6-foot-4, 225-pound '16 LHP Tyler Stafursky.

 

LIAA Division 2

Returing LIAA Division 2 All-Stars
'15 C Gus Martin, Honesdale
'14 SS Matt Rivera, Delaware Valley (Georgia Highlands)
'14 DH Jonathan Portugal, Delaware Valley

  • Delaware Valley will be strong up the middle with Rivera captaining the infield and '14 OF Joe Addvensky (Widener) covering ground in center. They will be joined by Portugal and '15 IF Justin O'Dell in the line-up. '15 RHP/IF Tim Volavka is the top returning pitcher on the staff and provides a solid glove on the infield when not toeing the rubber.
  • After two years of running out veteran clubs, North Pocono coach Brian Jardine has a mostly inexperienced group with which to work this spring. '14 OF Randy Darrow and '14 2B JJ Dombrowski will provide offensive production and senior leadership for a line-up that could feature a number of '16s, including C Matt Fisch (a solid defender and varsity starter as a freshman) and OF JP Walsh (who is also a starter on the basketball team). Competitive '15 LHP Tyler Fisch will front the pitching staff.
  • '14 IF/RHP Alec Babyak returns as the top arm and bat for a Wallenpaupack Area squad that will feature eight seniors, including C Mike Henry, OF David Ortiz, and OF Sam Vargas. '15 RHP/IF John Pillar will have an opportunity to make an impact as well for coach Todd Schmalzle.

 

LIAA Division 3

Returing LIAA Division 3 All-Stars
'14 C James Blevins, Lakeland (Scranton)
'15 1B Brian Roche, Riverside

  • The starter as a sophomore for District II class AA runner-up Mid Valley, '15 C Alex Varaksa returns to help develop an inexperienced pitching staff.
  • '14 C Steve Mascaro and '14 1B Robert Donovan are the lone line-up holdovers from class A state semifinalist Old Forge.
  • Blevins and 6-foot-2, 195-pound '15 1B Shane Rivenburgh will anchor the line-up for Lakeland. '16 RHP/3B Sean Pittack saw quality innings and at-bats as a freshman, while Rivenburgh contributed on the bump for coach Larry Piccini last season as well.

 

LIAA Division 4

Returing LIAA Division 4 All-Stars
'15 C Cooper Rosiak, Lackawanna Trail
'14 1B/P Matt Flynn, Lackawanna Trail
'14 3B Justin Hartman, Montrose
'14 SS Matt Lewis, Montrose
'14 OF Matt Laubach, Blue Ridge
'14 P/SS Nick Dudock, Elk Lake
'14 Util Colby Thomas, Mountain View
'15 Util Christian Miller, Susquehanna Community

  • Battery-mates Flynn and Rosiak will try to get Lackawanna Trail over the hump in class A, after a well-played, but heartbreaking, 1-0 loss in last year's district championship game. The return of '15 SS Liam Dougherty should provide an additional boost to an offense that brings back five starters.
  • A veteran Mountain View team returns Thomas, '14 SS Noah Pepper, and '15 LHP/OF Chris White as stalwarts. Younger players such '16 IF Sam Flannery, '16 OF/RHP Deon Faramelli, and 6-foot-2, 230-pound '17 Zeb Feduchak may all get an opportunity to contribute from coach Ernie Griffis as well.

 

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