prep BASEBALL All-American Conference Preview

RED TIER

Beaver Local

Coach: Bill Sattler, 2nd year, 12-9.

2009 record: 12-9.

Returning letterwinners: P/SS Travis Lynch, Sr. (.362 batting average, 2-0 pitching record); P/1B Nathan Sanford, Jr. (3-3 pitching record); Inf. Jordan Fetty, Sr. (.363 batting average); P/OF Tyler Snodgrass, Sr. (3-1 pitching record).

Promising newcomers: P/3B Ryan Smith, soph.; C Blake McLaughlin, soph.; 1B Kameron Kosek Jr.

Players not returning: P/1B Andrew Kidd (.389 batting average), 2B Shawn Mercer (.358 batting average), 3B Nick Marshall (.338 batting average), C Dustin Sprouse (.257 batting average), P/OF Bo Ibbs (.323 batting average).

Team’s outlook: Three of the top five pitchers return is a strength, while replacement of six of eight position players is a weakness. Key to success is good defense to back up strong returning pitching.

League rank: Canfield, Poland, Niles, Howland.

Canfield

Coach: Matt Koenig, 5th year, 95-15.

2009 record: 18-3, 7-1 All-American Conference.

Returning letterwinners: 1B Nick Reinthaler, 2B Brock McGivern, SS Brett Cooper, 1B/3B Justen Vrabel, P/OF Matt Harmon, P/3B Dan Calai, P/OF Joe Hoelzel, OF Kyle Vaclav, P Kyle Kesner, P Ron Sullivan, C Tom Calhoun, 3B/2B Nick Benson.

Promising newcomers: P/OF Ben Angelo, soph., C Anthony Ross, soph.

Players lost to graduation: First-team all-state Dan Banna, honorable mention all-state Jared Turocy.

Team’s outlook: Solid pitching and 12 returning lettermen. Strength is three seniors who lettered as sophomores.

League outlook: Canfield, Poland, Howland, Niles, Beaver Local.

HOWLAND

Coach: Bob Thompson.

2009 record: 13-13, 2-6 AAC.

Returning letterwinners: Joey Aulizia, Eric Doan, Dan Lageson, Chris Leiby, Matt Preston, Adam Shrodek, Tyler Trill, Brendan O’Brien, Brandon Neilan, Josh Davis, Domenic Termine.

Top newcomers: Cody Kirk, Nick Marino, Corey Hickman, Chris Maze.

Team’s outlook: The Tigers have a very good chance of winning the All-American Conference Red Division. This will be one of the better teams the school has had in the last few years. An 18-plus win season and a much desired conference championship are possible.

Poland

Coach: Richard Murray, 7th year, 106-52.

2009 record: 19-8.

Returning letterwinners: P/3B/OF Shawn Gariel, SS/2B Phil Lipari, P/2B Dom Defelice, CF Jim Bobran, P/OF/1B John Price.

Promising newcomers: C Brian Helbley, OF/P Chris Cosentino, 1B/P David Bobby, 3B/2B/P Clay Cooper.

Players lost to graduation: Matt Pitzulo, Trent Vallinger, Ross Lopez, Ryan Rovnak, Nick Elliott, Zack Custer.

Team’s outlook: Losing seven starters from last season, and overall inexperience, will be the biggest weakness. Pitching and defense will highlight the team’s strength.

WHITE TIER HUBBARD

Coach: Brian Bosheff, 6th year, 80-40.

2009 record: 16-10, AAC White Tier champion; Div. II district runner-up.

Returning letterwinners: CF Tommy Jackson, SS Todd Gasior, 3B Bo Slemons, P/3B Matt Shelton, 1B Dan Helsel, C Tim Schiraldi, 2B Mike Lopuchovsky, RF Kory Hopkinson, DH Mike Starr, OF Cole Crawford, Inf. Justin Rosile, P Jarrod Seech, LF Zach Palumbo, P Scott Thomas, C Andrew Hover, OF Tyler Duez, P Zach Merrell.

Recognition: First-team All-AAC players Jackson, Gasior, Slemons, Shelton, Schiraldi; honorable mention All-AAC Helsel.

Promising newcomers: P Robert Vargo, freshman.

Team’s outlook: Experience, infield depth are positives. They need to find a No. 2 pitcher behind Shelton.

League outlook: Eagles should contend for a league title, but getting out of district will be difficult with Poland, Canfield, Mooney, West Branch, Niles.

Lakeview

Coach: Ron DeJulio Jr., 2nd year.

2009 record: 8-12.

Returning letterwinners: CF Logan Massacci, LF Darren Hamilton, P/1B Josh Pryor, 1B/P Justin Masterka, C Anthony Franco.

Promising newcomers: SS/P Kevin Arnold, 3B Shane O’Connor.

Players not returning: Robert Franks, Mike Pasternak

Team’s outlook: Hard work will have to make for inexperience as the team is young.

League rank: Hubbard, Struthers, Lakeview, Liberty, Salem

LIBERTY

Coach: Gary Knittle, 3rd year, 7-26.

2009 record: 6-13.

Returning letterwinners: P/IF Joe Tamarkin, P/IF Nate Fader, C/IF Ryan Halicki, P/OF Brian Venable, C/IF John Lucic, OF Nick Walley, P/OF Aaron Karson, IF Justin Stanovcak, P/IF Jared Wiesen.

Promising newcomers: P/OF Mike Bentz, P/1B Mark Seals, IF Vinnie Gutierrez, P/PF Michael Muamis, P/IF Justin House.

Players not returning: Mark Stanovcak, Austin Eppstein..

Team’s outlook: The team returns nine players, including seven juniors. Experience and a strong pitching rotation will be the team’s strength.

League rank: Hubbard, Liberty, Struthers, Lakeview, Salem.

SALEM

Coach: Aaron Alejars, 4th year, 22-47.

2009 record: 4-17.

Returning letterwinners: P/1B Nick Lesky, Sr. (three-year letterman); 2B/P Dan Gagnon, Sr. (two-year letterman, .397 batting average); C/P Nick Balsley, Sr.; 3B/P Randy Wyand, Sr.; OF/P Alex Whinnery, Sr. (two-year letterman); OF Cody Holland, Sr.; 1B/P Ken Saltsman, Jr.

Promising newcomers: SS/2B Mike Resbeck, Jr.; C/Inf./OF/P Charles Shrontz, Jr.; P/Inf. /OF Kyle Costal, Jr.; SS/OF Josh Knox, soph.; 3B/P Jon Fortney, soph.

Players not returning: Dan Fortney (first-team AAC).

Team’s outlook: Strengths are work ethic, attitude, baseball sense and experience. Weaknesses are pitching depth andpower hitting.

League rank: Hubbard, Struthers, Lakeview, Liberty.

BLUE TIER Champion

Coach: Tim Cope, 8th, 211-94.

2009 record: 15-9.

Returning letterwinners: SS Billy Yortz Sr., C Ricky Yauger, Jr., P Shane Brown, Jr., P Colton Greathouse, Jr.; P Greg Culp, Jr.; P Kris Karr, Jr.

Recognition: Yortz (first team all-conference)

Promising newcomers: OF Tyler Cykor, Jr.; OF Steven Bush Jr.; OF Kyle Skaggs, soph.; OF Dakota Coulter, soph.; OF Zack Hayslett, Jr.; P Corbin York, soph.; 2B Trevor Ross, Jr.; Dominic DeMartini, Sr.

Players lost to graduation: Scott Bailey (first-team AAC), David Palm (first-team AAC), Tommy Stroup (first-team AAC), Derek Summer (first-team AAC).

Team’s outlook: The Blue Tier champion and regional runnerup Golden Flashes lost six key seniors. Pitching should be a strong point, but young players an uncertainty.

League rank: Campbell, Girard, Champion, LaBrae, Newton Falls, Brookfield.

Girard

Coach: Jason Johnson, 4th year, 48-23.

2009 record: 14-6.

Returning letterwinners: P/IF Joe Augustine, OF Tallen Birmingham, P/IF/OF Joe Cavalier, OF Michael Floravit, 1B/3B Aaron Jennings, P/1B/3B Ryan Racketa, IF Dante Delbene, P/OF Brandon Hunkus, P/1B Patrick Rhodes, P/3B Kyle Richey, C Ryan Trimber, P/1B/3B A.J. Weibel.

Promising newcomers: IF/OF Mat Pagano. P/IF Rick Cavalier, P/OF A.J. Devore, P.IF Dan Graziano, P/1B/3B Jim Melfi.

Players not returning: 2B Tony Cardiero, C Daniel Gantey, P Ryan Kirkpatrick, OF Nate Sell.

Team’s outlook: The team is deep, fast and “baseball smart,” Johnson said. Defense could be a weakness.