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By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

Today marks the eighth installment of our season preview content, which will run 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. Today's grouping includes 3A schools from the northeastern quadrant of the state.

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 II (2 bids)

Top Prospects:
1. Jake Hodorovich, 2019, RHP, Lakeland
2. Matt Hayes, 2018, 1B, Lakeland
3. Brainy Rojas, 2017, SS, Elmer L. Meyers
4. Justin Gohsler, 2019, RHP, Mid Valley

Coming off a disappointing first-round district loss last spring Lakeland welcomes back every major mound contributor, plus two-thirds of its regular line-up, as it looks to earn its first state tournament berth since back-to-back district titles in 2013-14. Hayes has big raw power from the right side and is a good athlete for his physically developed, 6-foot-3, 220-pound build. Harford CC-bound IF/OF Jordan Art, along with the junior tandem of infielder Nico Piraino and IF/C Dom Verrastro also return to pace coach Larry Piccini's offense. Penn State Harrisburg-bound LHP Brad Richards, live-armed Hodorovich, and RHP Art are back atop the pitching rotation after logging nearly 80% of the staff's innings last spring.

Holy Redeemer welcomes back virtually every significant contributor from last season, led by the experienced mound threesome of seniors Tony Molitoris and Jordan Choman, plus junior Sean Wills, atop a pitching staff that will be managed by junior catcher Thomas Borum. Just one line-up regular must be replaced, with hulking junior first baseman Mykolas Bozentka potentially poised to join a group that includes top of the order sparks in junior shortstop Tucker Ell, senior third baseman Cade Flanley, and senior second baseman Tim Cavanaugh.

Following one-run losses in three straight district title games, Hanover Area will look to get over the hump this spring behind seven seniors, many of whom are multi-year starters. Coach Mike Zapotoski's pitching staff is a bit in flux following the graduation of one of his three big innings-eaters and the questionable health of his returning staff ace. That leaves the bulk of the early-season work to junior RHP Brett Stevens and a committee of otherwise inexperienced hurlers. Steady junior shortstop Matt Clarke, junior OF/IF Mike Piscotty, senior utility Kyle Kowalski, and Keystone College-bound first baseman Austin Gately will anchor the line-up.

Mid Valley must find a way to replace four of its top five offensive performers, as well as its staff ace. Senior C/RHP R.J. Gouldsbury will be the Spartans bellcow at the plate and on the mound. Two other senior two-way performers -- OF/LHP Aaron Polon and IF/RHP Brandon Wallo -- will also have a big impact, while lanky 6-foot-2 Gohsler and senior infielder Lucas Demian will be called upon by coach Ryan Kropa to replace some of the graduated production.

Two-thirds of the regular line-up returns for Wyoming Seminary, led by the junior duo of catcher Michael Oravic and first baseman Justin Negron, along with the senior tandem of infielder John Kehl and outfielder Roy Phillips. The latter two are expected to pull double duty at the top of the rotation for coach Brian Kaschak, who will also tap sophomore RHP Zane Nardone for additional innings.

District IV (1 bid)

Top Prospects:
1. Thomas Schultz, 2019, RHP, Mount Carmel Area (Vanderbilt)
2. Hunter Webb, 2018, OF, Loyalsock Township
3. Andrew Malone, 2017, LHP, Loyalsock Township (Mount St. Mary's)
4. Logan Ott, 2020, OF/LHP, Montoursville Area
5 Gage Anzulavich, 2018, RHP/1B, Warrior Run
6. Zack Murray, 2018, RHP, Hughesville

Virtually the entire roster returns for Montoursville Area, which was one win away from a state tournament berth last spring. The senior two-way tandem of RHP/Util Brycen Mussina, who is headed to Lafayette to play football, and 1B/RHP Mitchell Rothrock will lead the way offensively and on the mound. Senior RHP Abdi Rodriguez will also log innings on a staff managed by Wilkes-bound catcher Nolan Ott. Keep an eye on rookie Logan Ott and sophomore IF/RHP Gabe Phillips to impact the Warriors' program for years to come.

North Penn-Mansfield returns a majority of the roster that earned a district title and suffered a heart-breaking state quarterfinal loss to eventual champ Neumann-Goretti last spring. Mansfield-bound RHP J.P. Shaw will front the rotation one final time, while senior RHP Carl Dinger and junior RHP Kipp Hillson are back to play major roles again. First baseman Shaw and shortstop Hillson also spark the offense, which will again count on major contributions from senior outfielder Joel Whittaker, junior outfielder Brenden Hill, sophomore catcher Dylan Williamson, junior outfielder Dylan Wesneski, and Dinger.

An experienced roster is at the disposal of first-year Loyalsock Township coach Zac Martin. Poised to reprise his role as staff ace is Malone, who exhibits above average command of his arsenal and who will also contribute heavily with the bat and man first base when not on the mound. Joining him in the rotation are a pair of RHP in junior Logan Edmonds and senior Aaron Raemore. Webb is a physical, highly-regarded football player with an easy stroke and good power. A trio of seniors -- utility Michael LaPoint, and outfielders Alden Mileto and Larry Van Stavoren -- will also factor heavily in the offensive production.

Mount Carmel Area welcomes back two-thirds of its position player regulars, but must replace its top two innings-eaters this spring. Stepping into the role of ace is the live-armed, high-upside Schultz, who logged nearly 30 varsity innings as a freshman. Also slated to pick up some of the more than 80 available innings is a pair of junior RHP -- Tommy McDonald and Cam Britt -- who received limited varsity action last spring. Schultz will slot in at shorstop when not on the mound, and will be joined in primary run production duties by senior outfielder Austin Reed, sophomore outfielder Johnny Ayers, and junior catcher Blair Wagner. Keep an eye on a pair of freshmen -- RHP/IF Tommy Reisinger and catcher Logan Willis -- to dip their toes in the varsity water as well.

Looking to build off a strong campaign, Warrior Run will be able to roll out a trio of experienced RHP in 6-foot-5, three-sport star Anzulavich, junior Luke Burrows, and senior Tyler Leighow. A first basemen when not on the mound, Anzulavich will power coach Harold Raup's offense, along with senior third baseman Noah Showers, sophomore shortstop Brayton Rowello, and senior C/OF Michael Muffy.

Danville Area coach Devin Knorr employed a true pitching staff last season, as six individuals logged double-digit innings. Four of them return this spring, led by the senior southpaw duo of Braeden Fausnaught and Hunter Marcheski, with the sophomore RHP tandem of Brandon McGaw and Shane Kozick poised to assume larger workloads. Junior outfielder Alex Robenolt sparks the top of the line-up, while shortstop McGaw and third baseman Kozick should transition from part-time to regular position player duty.

Central Columbia coach Kirk Seesholtz will be staring at a familiar line-up card this spring, as just one player departed via graduation. A trio of seniors -- Lebanon Valley-bound C/3B Matt Grozier, OF/P Garrett Barilar, and IF/RHP Zach Boyd -- will set the tone for the offense, along with sophomore outfielder Justin Thivierge. A youthful pitching staff will feature the sophomore RHP tandem of Ky Seesholtz and Dominic Coombe, plus junior RHP Cole Hock.

First-year Hughesville coach Chris Kish is tasked with replacing ten graduates off last year's roster. The revamped pitching staff will include the projectable 6-foot-2 Murray, senior LHP Brittin Balliet, and junior RHP Mike Hill. The new-look line-up will feature senior IF/C Ryan McClain, senior infielder Conner Kepner, junior outfielder Matt Myers, and junior C/1B Jared Snyder.

District XI (1 bid)

Top Prospects:
1. Casey Rother, 2018, C/RHP, Tamaqua Area
2. Reggie Crawford, 2019, LHP, North Schuylkill
3. Steven Luke, 2019, RHP/C, Notre Dame Green Pond

Coming off a season in which it fell one win shy of a district title and state tournament berth, Notre Dame Green Pond returns virtually its entire pitching staff, led by Luke,  plus seniors Brandon Moffitt and Jarod Herman, each of whom logged at least 35 innings last season. Luke could hold down third base when he's not toeing the rubber or behind the dish, with senior infielder Austin Kaulius, junior catcher Shane Beyer, and senior outfielder Brett Foulke joining him as primary run producers.

Coming off a district title and state semifinal appearance, North Schuylkill must replace its three primary pitchers, who combined to log nearly 80% of the team's innings last spring. A pair of sophomore southpaws, Brandon Rockwell (the only holdover who pitched more than seven innings last season) and 6-foot-3 three-sport athlete Crawford, are poised to ascend the depth chart. East Stroudsburg-bound catcher Chris Burke will shepherd the young rotation and power an offense that returns more than half its regulars. Joining him again in the line-up will be senior shortstop Richie Zahodnick and senior outfielder Bobby Wagner, while transfer junior C/IF Aaron Bolinsky could make an immediate impact for coach Nick Brayford.

Tamaqua Area will be breaking in a host of inexperienced players this spring, following the graduation of three of its top four pitchers and five of its most productive position players. Junior RHP Thaddaeus Zuber is the only pitching staff holdover to have logged more than four innings last spring, while 6-foot-5, 200-pound Rother has the build and arm strength (FB up to 87 mph) to develop into a workhorse. Marywood-bound outfielder Daylon Barron, infielder Zuber, and catcher Rother are the lone healthy returnees to the regular line-up.

With five regular starters and three of his top four pitchers departed via graduation, Palmerton Area coach Mike Svetik has some reloading to do coming off a district title and state quarterfinal appearance. Senior RHP Garrett Perschy, the only holdover on the staff to have logged more than 13 innings last season, should ascend to the top of the rotation, where he will be followed by junior RHP Brody Boehler and senior RHP Jared Mooney. Perschy and Mooney will also spark the offense, along with senior outfielder Silfies.

Catasauqua welcomes back seven of nine position player starters, led by the junior quartet of catcher Zack Bilder, infielders Corey Raysley and Andrew Brett, and outfielder Cam Ritter. Coach Steve Bradley's pitching staff will be fronted by the senior RHP tandem of Rodney Berger and Collin Hawk.

Northern Lehigh coach Greg King will roll out an inexperienced roster this spring. A trio of two-way players -- sophomore RHP/IF Luke Eitner, junior LHP/1B Gio Colon, and senior C/RHP Jake Kistler -- are among the few who saw varsity action last year, while senior outfielder Austin Hemingway could provide a boost in his return from injury.

In Pen Argyl Area coach Jordon Hildabrant's first season, he will lean on the two-way production of Joe DePaolo and Alejandro Santiago, with Ben Messinger picking up innings and additional offensive production coming from Logan Ruppert and Chris Billiard.

Season Preview Content