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Season Preview: SOL National

March 13, 2013

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

                  Suburban one league
                                                      national conference 

                                                                                 Teams listed in order of last year's finish


Council Rock South (25-3, 13-1)
Notable Losses: Dan Callahan (La Salle), Michael Chaykin (PSU-Abington), Bret DeStefano (1st-team all-SOL National), Brian Donnelly (Rider), Zach Fitzgerald (1st-team), Zak Gross (2nd-team), Jeff Miller (Saint Peter's), Stevie Wright (1st-team)
Key Returnees: Ryan Fleming (2013 LHP - Rutgers), Greg Paprocki (2014 RHP/OF), Will Faccenda (2014 IF/OF), Jake Nevin (2014 IF)

The Golden Hawks snagged silver last year, soaring to the PIAA class AAAA championship game, before getting their wings clipped by La Salle College HS.  Gone are eight seniors from that team who garnered post-season all-SOL National recognition, as well as Greg Young, the only Head Coach that CRS has known.  Young's replacement, Ted Kirner, will turn to Fleming and Paprocki to head up his revamped pitching staff.  Faccenda's speed should allow him to create run-scoring opportunities, while Nevin has a solid approach at the plate coupled with a good feel for playing defense.  6-foot-1, 215-pound 2014 1B Riley Mihalik has good balance and a chance to drive the baseball.  2014s OF Tyler Anderson and IF Sean Whelan, plus 2015 catcher Connor Macaulay, will also get a chance to make their mark on the program.

Bensalem (14-4, 10-3)
Notable Losses: Jesse Dannin (Honorable Mention all-SOL National), Harry Daut (Arcadia), Rob Diamond (Wesley), Zach Hizer (2nd-team), Eric Ruud (Gwynedd-Mercy), Ryan Smith (Honorable Mention)
Key Returnees: Andy Moser (2014 C), Zach Schwartz (2013 OF - Bloomsburg)

The Owls graduated two pitchers and an entire infield worth of seniors who received all-SOL National recognition last season.  Returning Honorable Mention selections Moser and Schwartz (.357 AVG, 20 R, 15 RBI, 9 SB) will be counted upon to step up and lead the offense.

Council Rock North (11-10, 9-5)
Notable Losses: Jake Drossner (Maryland), Chris Ender (Gettysburg), Cal Parker (Honorable Mention all-SOL National), Kevin Teta (Harford CC), Richard Wustholz (Elizabethtown)
Key Returnees: Brett Newman (2013 RHP - Susquehanna), Nate English (2013 RHP), Matt Renck (2014 RHP), Max German (2013 IF - Misericordia), Ryan Baker (2013 OF), Zach Schram (2013 IF), Aden Tully (2014 IF)

A trio of tall RHP -- 6-foot-3 English, 6-foot-2 Newman, and 6-foot-1 Renck -- who combined to hold opponents to a .211 batting average last season will provide coach Matt Schram with a solid foundation on which to build his team.  Renck had a strong sophomore campaign (2.85 ERA, 22 H, 10 BB, 21 K in 27.0 IP) and has shown the ability to be effective at multiple arm angles, while English, who plans to play football at the next level, is a big-game pitcher who led the staff in innings last year.  The athletic Zach Schram returns 100% healthy from a 2012 torn ACL and should stabilize the infield along with 3-hole hitter German (.422 OBP, more BB than K) and returning leadoff man Tully (.291 AVG, 10 SB).

Neshaminy (9-10, 8-5)
Notable Losses: Brendon Smith (2nd-team all-SOL National)
Key Returnees: Justin Andrews (2013 LHP/OF - Monmouth), Cole Creighton (2014 OF), Ryan Sheplock (2014 IF)

Three all-SOL National honorees return among five position player starters for the Redskins.  Andrews and the powerful Creighton grabbed 2nd-team honors, while Sheplock was named Honorable Mention.  Andrews, who also garnered Honorable Mention recognition on the mound, and Creighton provide coach Chris Tenaglia with a pair of southpaws he can count on.  A group of seniors that includes Ron Barossi, Connor Bechtel, Tom Kreiling, Steve Oswald, Cameron Schwab, Clay Snyder, and Joe Ziegler are expected to fill the shoes of nine departed graduates from last season.

Pennsbury (6-14, 5-9)
Notable Losses: Paul Gosselin (Mercer County CC), Tyler Pennett (Honorable Mention all-SOL National), Marc Sands (PSU-Abington), Zach Sharp (Lackawanna College)
Key Returnees: Brandon Garrett (2013 RHP/Util - Rhode Island), Joe Sabatino (2013 LHP - Philadelphia U), Dan Kliesh (2013 RHP/IF - Misericordia), Jake Lindahl (2013 IF), Brendan Campbell (2014 IF), Justin Jacko (2014 OF)

A senior-laden pitching staff, led by Honorable Mention all-SOL National selection Garrett and followed by college-bound Sabatino and Kleish, will be a strength for coach Joe Pesci this spring.  The Falcons have a sophomore- and junior-heavy line-up that will see the athletic Garrett, also an Honorable Mention honoree as a utility player, bounce around the field and fill an number of positions throughout the season.

Harry S Truman (5-14, 4-10)
Notable Losses: Dave Blount (Gwynedd-Mercy), Dalton Lester (RHP/IF)
Key Returnees: Shane Monahan (2013 RHP/IF), Scott Jensen (2013 RHP/1B), Devon Bowker (2013 IF - Mercer County CC), Devin McDermott (2013 C), AJ Slezosky (2013 RHP/Util)

The Tigers return seven starters from a year ago, including six seniors.  The offense will be led by Honorable Mention all-SOL National selections Monahan (.392 AVG, 11 RBI) and McDermott, while Jensen (.319 AVG, 11 RBI) and Slezosky (.281 AVG, 6 SB) will contribute to the run-production as well.  Monahan (4.53 ERA, 21 K in 29.1 IP) and Jensen (3.82 ERA, 6 BB, 15 K in 25.2 IP) will front the pitching staff.  Coach Jeff Vitale will also rely on a number of 2014s - OF Joey Schiotis, 3B Zack DiMeglio, and OF Mark Nusser.

William Tennent (6-13, 4-10)
Notable Losses: Jim McNally (Montgomery County CC)
Key Returnees: Brett Kozlowski (2014 IF), Chuck Delagol (2013 RHP), Brandon DiBona (2013 OF - Chestnut Hill), Mike Wasserleben (2013 RHP/IF), Vinnie Case (2014 OF), Ben Zeitz (2014 C)

First-year head coach Rick Penecale welcomes back with opens arms four players who received post-season recognition last year.  DiBona (1st-team all-SOL National), a starter since his freshman year, and Case (Honorable Mention) topped the batting average chart at .453 and .449, respectively.  Wasserleben (2nd-team) was a primary RBI guy, while 6-foot-1, 190-pound Delagol (Honorable Mention) returns to lead the pitching staff.  Kozlowski's glove and versatility make him highly valuable to the Panthers, while Zeitz hopes to replace McNally, the only starting position player from last year's team to graduate.

Abington (3-17, 2-12)
Notable Losses: Kris Carr (King's College), Mike Collins (Honorable Mention all-SOL National), Sean Gannon (2nd-team)
Key Returnees: Eric Tidwell (2013 IF/RHP), Sean Gallagher (2013 3B/RHP), Nick Bein (2015 C), Trey Guaglionona (2013 OF/3B)

An infield that boasts ten combined years of starting experience will be the strength of coach Dave Torresani's team this spring.  6-foot-2, 170-pound Tidwell comes back from an injury-plagued junior season looking to establish himself as one of the top shortstops in the league.  He will team with 6-foot-2, 180-pound clean-up hitter Gallagher to form a solid defense on the left side.  In addition, Guglionona returns after leading the Galloping Ghosts in hitting last year.  Bein is expected to shepherd an inexperienced pitching staff that will be looking for someone to step up and assume the role of ace.

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