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New York State Games Preview: Downstate Region

June 21, 2016

By RYAN J. McDONOUGH
New York staff

Downstate Manager Phil Schnorr brings a 21-man roster to Prep Baseball Report’s 2016 New York State Games comprised of players from the region as well as some from the states of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Playing centerfield and leading off for Downstate will be David Kale from Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York.

“The kid flat-out flies. He runs like a deer,” said Schnorr. “He’ll hopefully hit in the leadoff spot and set the table for the guys in the middle of the batting order.”

Joining Kale in the outfield will be James Weisman, who also doubles as a pitcher.

“He has good speed, as well as being able to drive the ball to the gaps and utilize his speed, hopefully getting doubles and triples,” said Schnorr.

The squad’s middle infield will be one if its strengths. Playing second base will be Justin Pacheco, a junior from Loomis Chaffee School in Connecticut. According to Schnorr, he is a strong fielder with a great arm who can drive the ball at the plate.

His double-play partner at shortstop will rotate between two juniors, Krishan Weber and David Reynoso – both of whom will also pitch. Weber led all starters on his team at Edgemont High School with a .434 batting average, 26 RBI, 10 doubles and two home runs. Reynoso led his Walter Panas High School squad with a .373 average, six RBI, five doubles and a round-tripper.

“He’s had exit velocities off a tee recorded at 90 miles per hour,” said Schnorr on Reynoso. “He’s a strong kid with a very good arm and is very athletic.

“Physically, he’s very similar to Pacheco. We should be very strong up the middle,” he concluded.

But, the heart of the team’s power will come from first baseman Ryan Hanrahan, a junior from Brunswick School in Grennwich, Conn.

“He has the potential to drive the ball to the gaps and hit in the middle of the order,” said Schnorr of his first baseman, who is getting Division I looks. “We’re going to be looking for him to drive the ball. He probably has the best power on the team.”

On the mound, Downstate will get innings from Anthony “A.J.” Gonzalez, who just completed his sophomore year at Carmel High School. According to Coach Schnorr, Gonzalez hovers around 80 MPH with his fastball and the right-hander mixes in curveballs and sliders.

Another arm hurling around 80 MPH, David Yourke, will also get time on the hill. A junior from Monsignor Farrell High School in Staten Island, N.Y. Yourke is a left-hander who has good size at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds.

Rounding out the pitchers for Downstate are six arms from Pennsylvania, four of which from Bishop Shanahan High School in Downington, Pa., about 30 miles west of Philadelphia. Danny DiBeneditto, Nick O'Day, Austin Odell and Kenny Kunzman from Bishop Shanahan are all scheduled to make starts for Downstate.

“The pitchers from Philly are supposed to really attack the zone and have good fastballs and hopefully light up the radar guns,” said Schnorr.

Ryan Gerenser from Avon Grove High School in West Grove, Pa. and Jack Kochanowicz from Harriton, Pa. round out the Pennsylvania pitchers. Gerenser went 2-1 with a 1.47 ERA in six appearances on the mound this season. Kochanowicz joins Kunzman as the only members of the class of 2019 featured on Downstate.

“Overall, the pitching should be well rounded, and I think we should have a good showing up there,” said Schnorr with confidence of his staff.

Readers can view the complete Downstate roster by scrolling down here. Readers can view the team’s prospective pitching matchups here.

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