Tri-County Baseball League
Preview
By Ted Meixell
Of The Morning Call
The
Gabelsville Owls and the Limeport Bulls went at it seven times last year.
When
it was over, the Owls had won four (by an aggregate 29-26), the Bulls three.
The Owls' fourth, 4-1 on August 19 at Fegely Stadium, gave them their second
straight Tri-County League championship.
The
league has dropped from 13 teams to 12, but just about every team appears to
have improved.
CETRONIA LONGHORNS
Manager -- George Horn.
Last
Year -- 16-14
Position Players -- Returnees: Jon DiBonaventura .446; Luke Bricker .424;
Jeremy Warmkessel .412; Mark Jarrell .378; Ruben Santos .333; George Horn
.322; Jon Williams .300; Newcomers: Bill Fatzinger .386; Dave Lutte .420;
Brian Polaha .287.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Mike Coll 3-0; Steve Graff 4-3; Warmkessel 3-2;
Newcomers: Dave Arndt 5-3.
Outlook -- DiBonaventura leads potent attack.
GABELSVILLE OWLS
Manager -- Mike "Doc" Moyer.
Last
Year -- 26-4
Position Players -- Returnees: Rodney Miller .468 (co-league batting champ);
Shawn Betz .427; Dave Pence .413; Matt Danner .395; Bob Graber .386; Ed
Reilley .375; A.J. Bohn .361; Jeff Evans .333; Greg Gilbert .283; Newcomers:
Mitch Schueck; Jared Trout; Kyle Fisheroski.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Betz 7-2, led league; Justin Konnick 5-1; Matt
Eisenhard 5-0; Lew Chillot 3-0; John Guisseppe 3-0; Newcomers: Trout, John
Eidle.
Outlook -- Unquestionably the team to beat.
ICC PIRATES
Manager -- Mike Brosious.
Last
Year -- 20-10
Position Players -- Returnees: Josh Mohlmann .444; Cory Schneck .388; Brent
Fehnel .374; Brian Martin .373; ; Newcomers: Chad Waelchli; Eric Ruff; Len
Melton; Jason Mohap; A.J. Perachi; Nolan Neiman.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Scott Stewart 6-2; Ryan Lindley 4-0; Eric Baran 3-3;
Marty Rowan 2-3; Newcomers: Dan Bingman; Nick Evangelist (Louisburg N.C. ;
Sean Holden (LV Black Diamonds, 6-2 in 1999).
Outlook -- Can compete for title.
JORDAN CREEK GATORS
Manager -- Dave Snyder.
Last
Year -- 15-15
Position Players -- Returnees: Shawn Cadden .429; Sid McKenzie .387; Frank
Johnson .381; Juan Lopez .357; Tony Toth .344; Fabian Acevedo .305; Phil
Torcivia .318; Newcomers: None.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Cadden 5-6; John Ziegler 3-2; Acevedo 2-4; Rick Krieg
1-1; Tom Golden 2-1; Newcomers: Ryan White.
Outlook -- Could squeeze into playoffs.
LEHIGH TOWNSHIP BREWERS
Manager -- Shawn Andrews.
Last
Year -- 18-12
Position Players -- Returnees: Steve Smull .386; Todd Greb .357; Brandon
Leslie .357; Charlie Torres .356; Jose Medina .351; Omar Torres .304; George
Gillespie .297; Shawn Andrews .288; Matt Smull ,236; Newcomers: Jeremy
Bartha .388; Eric Schmitt .356; Pat Higgins .229.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Josh Friebolin 5-5; Mike Petrucci 4-2; Sean McNamara
4-1; Keith Strohl 1-0; Newcomers: Justin Hilgert 4-3; Dylan Dando 4-0.
Outlook -- Team that had solid playoff season in 2000 has added quality
depth.
LIMEPORT BULLS
Manager -- Scott Heppenheimer.
Last
Year -- 27-3
Position Players -- Returnees: Pete Remaly .468 (co-league batting champ);
Steve Unger .424; Jon Michael Vito .420; Joe Pochron .410; Glenn Kushma
.402; Jeff Erie .381; Joe Ricapito .344; Kevin Kershner .340; R.J. Sides
.368; Sean Donchez .367; Pat Lane .333; Dan Witt .312; Newcomers: Nick
Remaly .456; Pat Hollander.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Chad Arnold 5-1; Pat Toner 6-0; Randy Baer 4-1; Clay
Fitch 4-0; Chris Parcell 2-0; Mark Wojciechowski 2-0; Newcomers: None.
Outlook -- Will be in title hunt..
LOWER NAZARETH CARDINALS
Manager -- Mike Cunningham.
Last
Year -- 1-28
Position Players -- Returnees: Pat Cunningham; Heath Faust; Eric Sakovics;
Nate Condomitti; Shawn Freed; Terry Hoff; Todd McCurdy; Matt Wicoff; Jason
Yeager; Jay Orwig; Matt Tonay; Newcomers: Mike Bracco; Barry Brodt; Brian
Hoffstadt; Jeff Lazowski; Todd Litts; Mason Messinger; Angelo Nickolosy;
Scott Shebelsky; Don Snyder; Bill Sakovics; Chris Kishbaugh.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Condomitti; Dan Nauman; Wicoff; Yeager; Newcomers:
Mike Strechay; Bob Shupp; Lazowski; Snyder; Bracco.
Outlook -- If nothing else, Cards will have everyone outnumbered.
MILFORD PIONEERS
Manager -- Don Rosenberger.
Last
Year -- 2-27
Position Players -- Returnees: Steve Smugeresky .362; Jerame Curry .333;
Mark Jones .333; Andrew Torres .315; Ron Hack .311; Andy Rinehimer .304; Joe
Hoxta .286; Tim Barlok .278; Joe Bubba III .242; Joe Bubba Jr.; Newcomers:
Pete Mendez; Rod Schmitt; Jason Marakovits; Kevin Geist; Alex Wolf; Dan
Tone.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Rinehimer; Hoxta; Bubba III; Jose Lugardo; Newcomers:
Edwin Negron; Jerry Kresge; Chris D'Amilo; Jason Lendvay.
Outlook -- Could make playoff run.
NORTHERN YANKEES
Manager -- Jason Strunk.
Last
Year -- 8-22
Position Players -- Returnees: Kenny Hock .411; Mark Davis .410; Strunk
.404; Bob Breitfeller .369; Brandon Youngkin .328; Bob Simock .375; Brad
Domitrovitsch .289; Newcomers: Rob Gontkosky; Jud Frank; Paul Woodling; Mike
Drumbore; Mike Palos; Shawn Arrington.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Simock; Gordy Kocher; Strunk; Newcomers: Gontkosky;
Frank; Christian Fretz; Scott Bolasky.
Outlook -- Much improved, maybe even a contender.
SOUTH WHITEHALL SERPENTS
Manager -- Bruce Sokol.
Last
Year -- 10-19
Position Players -- Returnees: Jason Press .469; Todd Schmalzle .319; Chuck
Mondschein .295; Will Flores .275; Josh Oscavich .276; Eric Csencsits; John
Hymans .275; Gene Dieter .333; Newcomers: Jay Rothenhausler; Brian Spadt;
Kevin Geist.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Joel Carl 2-3; Matt Kuronya 4-2; Adam Hoffman; Sokol;
Kurt Trumbauer 2-0.
Outlook -- Hope to contend.
TRI-CITY FLEETWINGS
Manager -- Bob Fatzinger.
Last
Year -- 22-8
Position Players -- Returnees: Matt Hlay .439; Brendan Witkowski .427; Matt
Marcks .412; Ben Swatsky .404; Paul Santay .403; Justin Godusky .360; Teague
Fatzinger .315; Jeremy Arner .315; Scott Garger .287; Newcomers: Dave Toth;
Nick D'Amico.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Josh Gunkle 4-2; Dennis Kinney 5-1; Matt Hlay 4-1;
Ray Ganser; Jim Messick 2-1; Ryan Driscoll 3-0; Newcomers - - Ryan Boyle;
Ryan Palos.
Outlook -- Legit title contender.
UPPER PERK CHIEFS
Manager -- Bob Gehringer.
Last
Year -- 12-17
Position Players -- Returnees: Todd Schulberger .452; Julio Acosta .391; Ben
Mills .397; Jeff Moyer .365; Tom Hawkins .344; Bob Gearinger .341; Matt Rush
.306; Derek Keller .265; Lee Pridie; Scott Reeder; Jon Yeakel; Blake Saeger;
Steve Rush; Newcomers: None.
Pitchers -- Returnees: Moyer; Rush; Mills 3-2; Schulberger 2-2; Ryan Van
Rossum; Hawkins 2-0; Pridie; Newcomers: Pete Organski; Mike Brennan; Scott
Gehringer (St. Joseph's).
Outlook -- Chiefs are young, talented.
ted.meixell@mcall.com
From The Morning Call --
May 12, 2001
Copyright
© 2001,
The Morning Call
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