llow @pbrpennsylvania

By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

Today marks the first installment of our season preview content, which will run for four weeks up to the first official competition date for PIAA schools on March 24. That calendar doesn't apply here, as independent schools are not beholden to the PIAA calendar and some start play in just a couple of weeks.

PAISAA Top Prospects

1. Michael Siani, 2018, OF/LHP, Penn Charter (Virginia)
2. Shane Muntz, 2017, C/RHP, Malvern Prep (Wake Forest)
3. Joe Lancellotti, 2017, RHP/OF, Penn Charter (North Carolina)
4. Chris Newell, 2019, OF/LHP, Malvern Prep (Virginia)
5. Kyle Virbitsky, 2017, RHP, Espiscopal Academy (Penn State)
6. Brady Devereux, 2018, RHP, Malvern Prep (Wake Forest)
7. Billy Corcoran, 2018, RHP, Malvern Prep (Pittsburgh)
8. Colten Smith, 2019, RHP, Germantown Academy
9. Jeff Extor, 2020, LHP, The Shipley School
10. Brendan Cellucci, 2017, LHP, Penn Charter (Tulane)
11. Jayvien Sandridge, 2018, LHP, Mercersburg Academy (Virginia Commonwealth)
12. Jack O'Reilly, 2019, IF/RHP, Episcopal Academy (Notre Dame)
13. Christopher Alleyne, 2017, SS, Springside Chestnut Hill (Maryland)
14. Matt Gorman, 2017, RHP, Penn Charter (Harford CC)
15. Matt Daller, 2017, 3B/RHP, Malvern Prep (Rhode Island)
16. Aidan Frye, 2018, RHP, Springside Chestnut Hill
17. Sam Siani, 2019, OF, Penn Charter (Duke)
18. Cole Dumont, 2019, RHP, Episcopal Academy
19. Connor Offshack, 2020, IF/RHP, Malvern Prep
20. Adam Holland, 2017, OF, Penn Charter (Rutgers)
21. Tommy Toal, 2017, IF, The Haverford School (La Salle)
22. James Gabor, 2017, OF, Penn Charter (Georgetown)
23. Justin Meyer, 2018, IF, The Haverford School (Richmond)
24. Isaiah Payton, 2018, IF/RHP, Episcopal Academy (Penn State)
25. Beau Lowery, 2018 , LHP, Mercersburg Academy

Inter-Academic League

Malvern Prep
Class of 2017 College Commits: IF Will Burgess (Tufts), IF/RHP Matt Daller (Rhode Island), RHP Jimmy Kingsbury (Villanova), OF Nick Li (Johns Hopkins), C/RHP Shane Muntz (Wake Forest), OF Vince Sposato (Ursinus), RHP Jalen Wade (Cincinnati)
Class of 2018 College Commits: RHP Billy Corcoran (Pittsburgh), RHP Brady Devereux (Wake Forest)
Class of 2019 College Commits: OF/LHP Chris Newell (Virginia)

Another year, another deep staff for the Friars. With roles still to be determined, Corcoran, Kingsbury, Wade, and Devereux should log the bulk of the work for a group that returns 80% of its innings from last year, but will be without the services of Muntz, whose fastball reaches into the low-90s and who will focus his attention on managing the pitching staff this spring. Keep an eye on sophomore right-handed pitcher Tristan Corcoran to potentially pick up some of the available work.

The line-up graduated four major contributors, but returns the power bats of Daller and Muntz, along with the steady play of Li, Sposato, and Burgess. Devereux and senior infielder Billy Wolfe could carve out a more regular roles after seeing part-time duty last year. A talented group of underclass position players is headlined by the athletic Newell, sophomore infielder Charlie Andress, and freshman IF/RHP Connor Offshack, all of whom would see early varsity action on many teams, but could be eased into the mix in a program this deep.

Penn Charter
Class of 2017 College Commits: LHP Brendan Cellucci (Tulane), RHP Alex Cohen (Army), OF James Gabor (Georgetown), RHP Matt Gorman (Harford CC), OF Adam Holland (Rutgers), RHP/OF Joe Lancellotti (North Carolina), OF Steve Lorenz (Susquehanna), IF Dom Toso (Bucknell)
Class of 2018 College Commits: OF/LHP Michael Siani (Virginia)
Class of 2019 College Commits: OF Sam Siani (Duke)

A pitching staff that was already set to feature the polished Gorman and enigmatic Cellucci in the rotation, with the elder Siani coming in to lock down the back end of games, got a huge boost with the addition of aggressive, live-armed Lancellotti (an Area Code Games participant whose low-90s fastball touched 94mph last summer), who transferred in from Archbishop Wood after exhausting his PIAA eligibility. Cohen and physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior RHP Justus Sanders provide plenty of additional depth.

Seven position player starters return, with Lancellotti's power bat being inserted in the middle of the line-up. Toso and senior shortstop Brenden Pell provide solid defense on the left side of the infield, while Holland could shift from outfield to second base this spring to help alleviate an outfield log jam that includes the left-handed hitting quartet of the Siani brothers, Lorenz, and fleet-footed, long-striding Gabor.

The Haverford School
Class of 2017 College Commits: IF David Hogarth (William & Mary), C/1B Bryan Hyland (Cornell), IF Tommy Toal (La Salle)
Class of 2018 College Commits: IF Justin Meyer (Richmond)

The 2016 PAISAA tournament champs bring back all but one position player starter, highlighted by the around-the-horn, college-bound quartet of third baseman Meyer, shorstop Hogarth, second baseman Toal, and first baseman Hyland, who could end up shifting behind the plate this spring. Junior outfielder Isaiah Winikur has the ability to impact games with his legs.

Despite the graduation of three pitchers, Fords coach Bob Castell has two experienced arms returning in senior RHP Tyler Dunbar, who threw an 8-inning, complete game shutout in last year's tournament title game, and junior LHP Grady Nance. Meyer was also employed out of the bullpen and could pick up more innings this spring as well.

Springside Chestnut Hill
Class of 2017 College Commits: SS Christopher Alleyne (Maryland)

The Blue Devils welcome back virtually their entire line-up, sparked by the fast-twitch, switch-hitting Alleyne. A crew of seniors will again fill out the middle of the order, including infielder Jack Cucinotta (committed to Gettysburg for football), the slugging duo of outfielder Ian Diaz and first baseman Daniel Shubert, and outfielder Matt Hoffman.

Exhibiting command and pitchability, coupled with a mid-80s fastball, the competitive junior RHP Aidan Frye returns to front the rotation. Cucinotta, Diaz, Hoffman, and even Alleyne should also find themselves again toeing the rubber throughout the spring.

Episcopal Academy
Class of 2017 College Commits: C/OF Dylan Everly (Elizabethtown), LHP Cameron Van Hoorebeke (Lehigh), RHP Kyle Virbitsky (Penn State)
Class of 2018 College Commits: IF/RHP Isaiah Payton (Penn State)
Class of 2019 College Commits: IF/RHP Jack O'Reilly (Notre Dame)

The Churchmen welcome back the bulk of their production from a group that should be together for a couple more years, as only four seniors will dot the roster. 6-foot-5 Virbitsky will again front a towering pitching staff, which will also rely on Payton, 6-foot-3 O'Reilly, and 6-foot-3 Dumont, while hoping to get a healthy season out of 6-foot-6 Van Hoorebeke, who missed almost the entirety of his junior spring.

O'Reilly, Payton, and Virbitsky will anchor the infield and power coach Mike Hickey's offense, which will also receive contributions from the outfield trio of seniors Alex McLaughlin and Everly, plus junior Adam Robinson, while Van Hoorebeke could chip in at DH.

Germantown Academy
Class of 2017 College Commits: IF Vince Capone (St. Joseph's), C/OF Jake Dianno (Middlebury), RHP Nick Picariello (West Chester), C/OF Ben Werkheiser (Rowan)

Following a six-game improvement in coach Tim Ginter's first season, the Patriots will now turn to the quartet of seniors listed above to lead the way for a roster that will rely heavily on the 2018 and 2019 classes. Headlining the younger group is sophomore Colten Smith, a 6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher who, in a brief relief appearance we saw last year, threw every fastball (which sat 82-84, topping at 85 mph) with intent to put a hole in his catcher. Joining him to front the pitching staff is Picariello, who, despite his short stature, also features a mid-80s fastball that is complemented by his ability to spin and command a quality breaking ball.

On the offensive side, Werkheiser and Dianno each bring a physical presence to the line-up that should be sparked by Capone, who has shown a good approach and ability to repeat his swing while routinely making solid contact.

Other Independents

After sending twelve players off to college baseball the past two seasons, perennial contender Perkiomen School will have a more youthful look this spring. Two-way performers are aplenty for veteran coach Ken Baker, who will turn to Brandeis-bound OF/RHP Josh Cruz, 2018 RHP/IF Nick Guadarrama, and 2019 IF/RHP David Smith for all-around production. Guadarrama could become an intriguing follow as a 6-foot-5, 205-pound three-sport athlete. Bolstering the line-up will be 2018 C/3B Naty Urbina and 2018 C/OF Sam Glavin.

The Shipley School could turn out to be the rare Friends School League team to make some noise in the PAISAA tournament this spring. A returning group of pitchers includes ace senior RHP Jack Dougherty, plus junior RHPs Blake Rodack and Gerard Sweeney. Line-up holdovers include third baseman Sweeney (who is verbally committed to Lehigh), outfielders Dougherty and speedy sophomore Evan Johnson, infielder Rodack, and senior catcher Darian Pass. Reinforcements have also arrived for coach Bryan Bendowski in the persons of two junior transfers -- OF/LHP Cole Humes and IF/RHP Ian Humes -- and high-energy, live-armed freshman LHP Jeff Extor.

Coming off a PAISAA semifinal appearance, Mercersburg Academy welcomes back the 6-foot-4, 225-pound Sandridge and junior RHP Dylan Bartlett to log major innings. Internal reinforcements may also come from Lowery, assuming the 6-foot, 220-pounder, who began throwing again in October, doesn't suffer any setbacks in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.

First-year coach Bowen Borgeson of The Hill School inherits a roster that should be quite stable for a couple of years. The pitching staff will be fronted by junior LHP Luke Allain with support from sophomore RHPs Charlie Hogan and Brennan Keil. The offense will be sparked by a trio of juniors -- catcher Danny Monzo, and outfielders Allain and Max Putt -- along with senior infielder Jack Baughman.

A pair of Haverford College-bound seniors -- RHP/3B Thomas Primosch and SS Garrett Melby -- will set the tone for a Germantown Friends squad that welcomes back eight starters. Two more seniors -- LHP Sam Istvan and RHP Joseph Block -- return after logging significant mound time for coach Tim Gunn, while junior infielder Alex Mirage and senior first baseman Ben Mass will also aid in run production.

Season Preview Content