Preseason Preview: Germantown Academy (Inter Academic League)

Fri January 18, 2013

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Germantown Academy finished the 2012 season with a record of 20-8-1 and tied for 2nd place in the ultra-competitive Inter-AC League. The Patriots return four starters and four pitchers with significant game experience for 2013. Head Coach Tyler Stampone feels the strength of this year's team lies in its senior leadership and the depth of position players. While the Patriots roster is going to have plenty of youth, Stampone feels that the quality of the young players and the competition within the program for playing time will ultimately be a plus.

JALeading the youth movement for the Patriots is Class of 2015 SS/RHP John Aiello. Aiello is a 6-foot-2, 195-pound switch-hitter who comes off a freshman season in which he hit .348. He also went 5-3 on the mound with a 2.79 ERA in 47.2 innings of work. Aiello is the No. 4 ranked player in the PA Class of 2014 and No. 22 in the PBR combined rankings.

Following is a look at those who should make significant contributions to the Patriots success in 2013:

Class of 2013

  • Rob Gorman - 5-foot-10, 200-pound OF who hit .312 in 2012 with a .500 on base percentage
  • Bobby Flood - 6-foot, 205-pound C/IF who had a .413 on base percentage in 2012
  • Matt Dale - 5-foot-10, 165-pound RHP/IF went 2-0 with a 1.86 ERA last season

Class of 2014

  • Zeke Zabinski - 6-foot-1, 190-pound OF/C who hit .250 a year ago
  • Logan Sneed - 6-foot-1, 180-pound RHP/IF went 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 33.1 innings of work

Class of 2015

  • Ryan Calhoun - 6-foot, 215-pound C/IF who transferred from LaSalle College HS. Calhoun is ranked No. 13 in PA Class of 2015 and No. 80 in PBR combined rankings.

Junior IF Jake Ernst, sophomore RHP/INF Ryan DeWalt, freshman RHP/INF Emmett Harkins and freshman LHP/OF Billy Brittingham will also compete for innings and at bats.

The Patriots will have something very special to play for in addition to an Inter-AC League Championship and a potential Pennsylvania Independent Schools Championship. Exactly one year ago today (1/18/12), freshman Bobby Taggart was diagnosed with cancer. A year later, Taggart is out of his wheelchair, attending voluntary workouts and inspiring his teammates to great things.

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