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Conference Preview: Bicentennial Athletic League

March 10, 2014

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

BAL Independence

Returning all-BAL Independence Honorees
  1st-team 2nd-team Honorable Mention
Bristol '14 C Dylan Evert (UMBC) '14 2B Coilean Malone '15 OF Ryan Bauman
Devon Prep '14 RHP Zach Schellenger
(Seton Hall)
'15 1B Sean Phelan		 '15 C Dominic Hardaway
'14 OF CJ Kohlbrenner		  
Holy Ghost Prep '15 RHP Curtis Staropoli
'15 2B Tim Brennan
(St. Joseph's)		 '15 1B Nick Payesko
'15 OF Ryan Malloy		 '14 C Jack Seibert
(Gettysburg)
Lower Moreland '14 RHP Jordan Pocrass '15 OF Joe Leventhal '14 C Ryan Killion
New Hope-
Solebury		 '14 SS Jake Vesling (Union) '14 RHP David Cherkowsky
'15 3B Spencer Tinkel
(Holy Cross)
'14 DH Joe Stadler		 '14 OF Jack Dougherty

 

  • StaropoliMalloyHoly Ghost Prep brings back a huge chunk of the team that ran through the division and district before succumbing to eventual class AAA champion West York in the state quarterfinals.  At 6-foot-2, loose and gangly, Brennan projects as a pitcher at the next level.  His velo has slowly begun to climb, which will only serve to make his excellent command more effective.  Coming straight off basketball season, it is likely he will remain in the closer role, leaving starting duties to 6-foot-3 Staropoli (right) and, possibly, 6-foot-3 '15 RHP Luke Duris.  On the position player side, Malloy (left) has plus bat speed, Payesko has some left-handed juice, and Seibert is a gamer behind the plate.  The rich got richer too, with the addition of transfer left-handed hitting '16 IF Nolan Jones, who is likely to fill one of the two left-side infield positions.
  • The only class A school in the division, Devon Prep more than held its own last season.  As the top-ranked player in the PA class of 2014, Schellenger should see his fair share of radar guns pointed his way this spring.  However, coach Mark Aquilante certainly has more than a one-man team. Hardaway is a strong receiver with good arm strength and accuracy, plus a solid approach at the plate.  Phelan will contribute on the bump and add some left-handed pop to a line-up that returns eight starters, including Kohlbrenner and '14 OF Chris Bauers (Washington College).
  • VeslingTinkelThe darkhorse in this field is New Hope-Solebury, which featured only two seniors on last year's roster.  Cherkowsky and 6-foot-3 Tinkel (who, like Brennan, projects as a pitcher in college) return as the primary starters, while Vesling, Dougherty and '15 LHP/OF Anthony Vlahovic can be mixed-and-matched out of the bullpen.  Vesling (right), Dougherty, Tinkel (left), Stadler and Vlahovic return to coach Tony Vlahovic's line-up, which only lost two players from last season.

BAL Constitution  

Returning all-BAL Constitution Honorees
  1st-team 2nd-team Honorable Mention
Delaware County Christian   '14 C D.L. Browne (Messiah)
'16 3B Josh Vanmeerbeke
'15 OF Johnny Reese		 '14 OF Gator Grim
Faith Christian   '15 SS Austin Hoover  
Jenkintown '14 RHP Greg Wagner
'14 OF Chris Baird		 '14 RHP Mike McKernan
'16 2B Evan Misinkevitch		 '15 C Aiden Lorenz
Phil-Mont Christian   '16 OF Matt Steiger '14 SS Justin Anthony
Plumstead Christian      

 

  • Delaware County Christian returns a solid portion of their offense, led by Browne and Vanmeerbeke.  The great unknown for Knights coach Jeff Wisnewski is how his young, inexperienced pitchers will adapt to more significant roles.
  • Jenkintown also appears primed for a solid season under coach George Vafiadis with the return of their top two arms in McKernan and Wagner, who also doubles as the keystone partner for youngster Misinkevitch.

BAL Presidents

Returning all-BAL Presidents Honorees
  1st-team 2nd-team 3rd-team
Calvary Christian   '14 C Mark Farley
'14 1B Alexander Bires		  
CFS - The School
at Church Farm		 '14 3B Orion Ramroop
'16 OF Steve Zarycranski		   '14 SS Luiny Monegro
Christopher Dock
Mennonite		 '14 1B Drew Hautzinger '15 3B Seth Frankenfield
'15 OF Evan Trauger		 '16 C Tim DiLoreto
'14 SS Connor McCoach
'15 2B Jimmy Kustra
MaST
Community
Charter		   '15 RHP Bryan Kaelin
'15 RHP Ryan Conner
'14 SS Russ Langdon		 '14 3B Joe Zingo
Morrisville      

 

  • Calvary Christian has been on quite a run, as they have secured a bid to the class A state tournament in each of the past three seasons.  Coach Darrell Benjamin is staring at some serious roster turnover this year, having graduated his top four pitchers and staring at Farley and Bires as the lone line-up holdovers.
  • Prior to Calvary Christian's run of dominance, Christopher Dock Mennonite was the last team to earn the state berth for District I class A.  The Pioneers return the bulk of their offense, as they look to regain their place atop the division.
  • Langdon hit .433 with 20 SB and more BB than K (.500 OBP) for MaST Community Charter last year.  After finding success as sophomores, Kaelin and Conner will anchor the rotation once again this spring.

 

view all conference previews & preseason players of the year by conference

 

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