Wed March 20, 2013
By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting
The BCIAA has shuffled its alignment, going from a four-division set-up to three divisions of six schools each. The new divisions are as follows:
Division I
Division II
Division III
Returning all-berks honorees
Overall All-Berks
Divisional All-Berks (by 2012 Division)
college bound
Brandywine Heights - Hunter (Pittsburgh)
Daniel Boone - Reina (Morehead State)
Exeter Township - Richie (Widener), Sarlat (Kutztown)
Kutztown Area - Gernert (West Chester)
Wilson - Bainbridge (Old Dominion), Ravel (Kent State)
berks bytes
With many of the key contributors from last season gone, Reina will assume even more of the offensive burden for Daniel Boone Area. Coach Jason McCord couldn't ask for a better leader-by-example for his young squad, as the mighty-mite, switch-hitter is a high-energy baseball rat who hit .406 with a .537 OBP, 19 R and 19 SB. Reina will run his fastball into the mid-80s, while teaming with 2014 OF/RHP Zach Heffner, 2014 1B/LHP/OF Doug Schilling, and a host of other unproven arms on the Blazers pitching staff. Lacey is a three-sport athlete just beginning to translate his athletic tools into baseball skills.
Coach Chris Hole will rely on a balanced line-up in his second year at the helm of the Governor Mifflin program. DePaul is a three-sport speedster who posted a .494 OBP as a junior. Wysocki, 2014 RHP/3B Tanner DeLucia, and 2015 OF/C Niko Hulsizer are expected to provide some thump in the middle of the order. 2014 C/RHP Doug McFarland will handle a Mustangs pitching staff led by DeLucia, the son of 10-year MLB veteran, Rich DeLucia. 6-foot-1, 200-pound 2015 RHP/Util John Catchmark is an intriguing prospect who has good sink on his fastball and some deception in his delivery.
Led by the senior duo of Ravel and Bainbridge, Wilson is in prime position to push for a BCIAA title and make a run in the PIAA tournament. With his loose arm, plus CB and solid CH, Ravel posted eye-popping numbers (8-1, 1.00, 28 H, 16 BB, 87 K in 63 IP) during a season in which he also hit .326 with a .473 OBP. Bainbridge was unable to pitch last year due to a shoulder injury, but contributed mightily with the bat (.353 AVG, .476 OBP, .706 SLG). Gaynor is a quality athlete who hit .341 with a .420 OBP as a sophomore. Smith hit .338 and led the team in runs scored, while Fegley grinded out a .439 OBP on the strength of 12 BB against only 1 K on the season.
Despite having no seniors on his roster, Antietam coach Matt Burkhart will still have a seasoned group with which to work this spring. He will count on four juniors who have been starting for the Mounts since their freshman year among eight returning position players. They will be led by Miller, who hit .375 as a sophomore, and Esser, who hit .327 while going 4-1 with a 3.37 ERA, 18 BB, 47 K, 3 SV in 35.1 IP his freshman year.
Trying to generate enough offense while navigating the jump from AA to AAA will keep Oley Valley coach Rick Harrison busy this season. Luckily, he can turn to Distasio, the only sophomore selected to the overall all-Berks team, who is coming off a season in which he hit .540 with 10 XBH, 28 RBI, 14 R, and a .620 OBP. Armed with a mid-80s fastball, Distasio will be joined on the Lynx pitching staff by Pelko and Fesi.
