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By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

The next four days will be devoted to previewing PIAA class 6A, the largest schools in the state, as we wrap up our season preview content, which is running for four 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. The number in parenthesis after each header is the number of state tournament bids allotted to that district or sub-region.

We received inquiries in the past 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 recently 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.

District XI (2 bids)

Top Prospects:
1. Zach McCambley, 2017, RHP, Pocono Mountain East (Coastal Carolina)
2. Kellan Tulio, 2019, LHP, Emmaus
3. Alec Huertas, 2018, RHP, Freedom
4. Austin Mueller, 2017, C, Parkland [Indiana (PA)]
5. Cullan Wadsworth, 2018, OF, Parkland (Longwood)
6. Harsha Bollu, 2017, RHP, Parkland
7. Elias Gross, 2017, IF/RHP, Liberty (Rider)
8. Cameron Hubbard, 2019, OF, Easton Area
9. Adam Smith, 2019, RHP/IF, Parkland
10. Luke Storm, 2020, 3B, Easton Area
11. James Balogh, 2018, RHP/OF, Pocono Mountain East

Parkland had its string of three straight district crowns snapped in last year's district title game, but is well-positioned to make its state tournament absence a short-lived one. Virtually the entire pitching staff returns, led by the RHP duo of La Salle-bound Michael Jenkins (he of the 65-to-6 strikeout-to-walk ratio) and Haverford College-bound Ryan Giovenco. Three others -- junior RHP A.J. Palumbo, King's College-bound LHP Matt Mellinger, and projectable 6-foot-2, 150-pound Smith -- are also back after logging double-digit innings last spring. Coach Kurt Weber's offense has some holes to fill, one of which will be handled by Smith, but has a solid returning core in the switch-hitting Mueller, speedy Wadsworth, and first baseman Mellinger.

The entire pitching staff is back for Pocono Mountain East, fronted by the polished McCambley, athletic Balogh, and live-armed junior RHP Mike Yates, who could transition from closer to starter this spring. Two-thirds of a physical line-up returns as well for coach Matt Loringer, highlighted by Northampton CC-bound infielder Tyler Horvath, Neumann College-bound outfielder C.J. Peechatka, junior infielder Logan Stirr, and sophomore utility Zach Transue.

Virtually the entire roster returns for Emmaus, including a trio of seasoned seniors -- LHP Matt Lanzone and RHPs Todd Moxey (Longwood) and Zack Schrader -- who logged more than twenty innings apiece last spring. Coach Mike Mihalik's line-up graduated just one regular and will again feature Lehigh-bound infielder Eric Cichocki, junior outfielder Evan Marushak, outfielder Moxey, and senior infielder Taden Gery.

The majority of the pitching staff and two-thirds of the line-up return for Stroudsburg, which dropped a tight game to eventual district champ Easton Area in last year's 4A semifinals. Junior catcher Emmett McCauley will manage a pitching staff that won't have all hands on deck until mid-season, but will feature the senior trio of West Chester-bound LHP Nate Kitchell, RHP Brett Yarnall, and Connecticut-bound LHP A.J. Denny. Coach Phil Stokes' offense will be powered by Mercer County CC-bound infielder Beau Breithaupt, first baseman Kitchell, sophomore utility Ben Stokes, and infielder Yarnall.

Nazareth Area will feature a senior-laden roster, led by the two-way contributions of Moravian-bound 1B/RHP Cade Stoneback and RHP/OF/1B Nick Hinkle. Joining them in primary run-production duties will be senior shortstop Kevin Wagner, while Lancaster Bible-bound RHP Noah McMullen is the pitching staff's leading returning innings-eater. Coach Byran Wolf hopes to get midseason reinforcements from senior third baseman Nick Skirtich, who is working his way back from an injury suffered during football season.

There's overhauling a roster and then there's Easton Area needing to replace 17 seniors off last year's class 4A district champ. A pair of returning senior starters, Misericordia-bound infielder Sean Boylan and C/OF Liam Hughes, will set the tone for a revamped line-up that will also feature the plus bat speed of Hubbard and junior 1B/OF Edward Olsen. Coach Carm LaDuca's new-look pitching staff will provide trial-by-fire for a trio of junior RHP in Olsen, Scott Poulson, and Christopher Hess.

Northampton Area is faced with needing to replace two-thirds of its regular line-up, as sophomore outfielder Devon Britton will be among an inexperienced group joining senior holdovers in outfielder Matt Hutchins and the double-play combo of Jared Angerman and speedy left-handed hitting infielder Carson Gantz. Coach Mick Sugra's pitching staff will be fronted by senior RHP Kyle Serman, with senior LHPs Hutchins and Tyler Bennett in position for an increased workload.

In Pleasant Valley coach Jeff Lazowski's first season, he will be able to lean on a trio of college-bound players in RHP/IF Kieran Kearns (Penn State Harrisburg), RHP/IF Brett Hardy (East Stroudsburg), and P/Util Dakota George (Penn State Greater Allegheny), along with junior outfielder Brent Beck.

East Stroudsburg South must replace five regular position player starters and two of its top three pitchers from last season. Junior LHP Danny Gallagher is poised to assume the role of ace, while sophomore RHP Braydan Mitchell should see his role expand significantly. The senior tandem of outfielder Dakota Kross and 1B/OF Jake Cirillo are the only returning everyday players, while sophomore catcher Matt Lares had a solid half-season debut as a rookie.

District XII (2 bids)

Top Prospects:
1. Andrew Cossetti, 2018, C, La Salle (St. Joseph's)
2. Joe Miller, 2018, LHP, La Salle (Penn)
3. Colin Scanlon, 2017, LHP, St. Joseph's Prep (La Salle)
4. Luke Gutos, 2018, IF, St. Joseph's Prep (College of Charleston)
5. J.T. Gosweiler, 2017, RHP, St. Joseph's Prep (Iona)
6. Hunter McGarvey, 2018, C, La Salle
7. Eric Marasheski, 2018, IF, La Salle
8. Gavin Moretski, 2019, RHP, La Salle
9. Marquise Wood, 2018, OF, Roman Catholic
10. Jeffrey Manto, 2017, C/IF, St. Joseph's Prep (Villanova)

Despite graduating more than a half dozen significant contributors (and losing one very talented sophomore transfer), most of whom are now on a college roster, La Salle still has plenty of pieces in place to be a strong contender for the district crown. Cossetti is as talented as any catcher in the state, with a strong, accurate arm, good receiving ability, above average raw power, and solid strike-zone discipline. Helping him push runs across the plate will be Lafayette-bound infielder Michael Landry, scrappy Tufts-bound outfielder Michael Chiaradonna, steady, versatile C/3B McGarvey, left-handed hitting junior outfielder Anthony Cossetti, and slick, switch-hitting Marasheski. A trio of committed arms -- Kutztown-bound RHP Zach Moretski, Widener-bound RHP Kade Jones, and the live-armed Miller -- will comprise the rotation, with McGarvey poised to serve as a bullpen stopper.

Last spring's post-season push for St. Joseph's Prep took a big hit following an injury to Gosweiler, but the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder with a heavy, mid-80s fastball is healthy to begin this season. He'll join 6-foot-5 Scanlon, who has shown good pitchability and an ability to really spin his breaking ball, and competitive Chestnut Hill-bound RHP Pat Woltemate to form a more than capable trio atop the Hawks rotation. Junior catcher Logan Kellerman controls the game well behind the dish, while an experienced line-up also features Manto, junior outfielder Luke Donophon, toolsy junior shortstop Gianni Arici, and talented transfer Gutos.

As an inexperienced line-up that graduated six multi-year starters sorts itself out, Roman Catholic should, nonetheless, find itself competitive in most games it plays behind the solid rotation combo of Millersville-bound RHP Aidan Welch and Lock Haven-bound RHP Santino Nave'. The outfield duo of the athletic Wood and senior Shane Flaherty provides a spark atop the line-up for coach Anthony Valucci, who could be compelled to find playing time for sophomores Brian Williams and Tamir Brooks, and freshman Blaise Faiola.

Coming off a Philadelphia Catholic League regular-season title and state tournament appearance, Father Judge must replace its dominant staff ace and four line-up regulars. An offense that could feature a number of underclassmen will be powered by physical senior left-handed hitting outfielder Christian Lutz and junior outfielder Billy Kelly. Junior RHP Steve Leopold is one of three staff holdovers who logged double-digit innings last year and could ascend to the top of coach Kenny Devenney's rotation.

Olney Charter comes into 2017 having won the Philadelphia Public League's first district title in decades. Younger players will be counted on to fill big holes, including freshman RHP Jian Fargas joining the senior tandem of LHP Kenny Cruz and RHP Estanly Tejada atop the pitching depth chart. Senior shortstop Bryan Maria, plus junior outfielders Christian Gomez and Shawn Vega project as the primary run producers for coach Dan Karlyn.

Central graduated six line-up regulars and its top four pitchers, leaving coach Rich Weiss with a lot of question marks heading into the season. Sophomore Blake Mayberry and senior Danny Holdsman are among the few holdovers with significant at-bats and innings under their belts.

Season Preview Content