Colonial League East baseball preview: Notre Dame-Green Pond tops contender list
Notre Dame-Green Pond struggled down the stretch in 2018. The Crusaders plan to avoid a repeat while pushing for the Colonial League baseball identity this season. With four-year starter Steven Luke central to a deep pitching team of workers, Notre Dame-Green Pond heads the listing of Colonial League East Division contenders. Palisades and Saucon Valley are a part of the Crusaders as teams that should challenge for a league playoff berth. Here’s a study of the Colonial League East, with league play slated to start March 25. The most intriguing team, Palisades, gained the Colonial League East during the remaining year by protecting down combatants. The Pirates surrendered 3.6 runs in keeping with sport and restrained groups to 3 or fewer runs in 17 instances in 23 video games.
Palisades graduated a couple of all-Colonial League infielders and pitchers from its 2018 crew. Can its returning players excel at run prevention once more? Four distinction-makers 1. Steven Luke, Notre Dame-Green Pond. He posted a zero. Ninety-seven ERA while placing out seventy-five batters in fifty-eight innings as a junior. He additionally slugged .623. 2. David Platt, Palisades. As a junior, the right-hander earned a niche in The Morning Call’s all-vicinity 2d group. He will pitch at Division I Indiana next year. 3. Tyler Joseph, Moravian Academy. The junior has already dedicated themself to the Army. He became a Colonial League 2nd-crew pick out as a software participant in the remaining season. 4. Mike Leh, Wilson. He earned a Colonial League second-group reputation as a distinctive sophomore hitter.
Two questions to remember: 1. Will any of the brand-new coaches land in Colonial League playoffs? Brandt Godshalk (Bangor), Matt Suarez (Pen Argyl), and Steve Wagner (Wilson) provide almost half the division’s group of new coaches. None of the groups that modified coaches qualified for the league tournament remaining season or completed with a triumphing file. 2. Will a department transfer assist Moravian Academy? The Lions went 0-18 in Colonial League play while competing in the West Division last season. They hop to the East this season with eight returning starters, a few of whom performed for a boy’s basketball crew that excelled this winter. Team tablets BANGOR Coach: Brandt Godshalk (first season). Last 12 months: 6-15 ordinary, 5-12 Colonial League. Impact gamers: Sr. 3B-P Kevin Manz; Jr. OF-P Ethan Saxe; So. SS Rein Farensbach. Key to success: Godshalk would like to peer the Slaters to enhance their mental durability as they appeared to rebound from an ultimate-vicinity end in 2018.
MORAVIAN ACADEMY Coach: Chris Eckman (eighth season, 30-99). Last year: 2-18 universal, zero-18 Colonial League. Impact players: Sr. OF-P Zack Russell; Sr. OF-P Casey Shane; Jr. P-OF Ethan Buck; Jr. OF-C P.J. Scarperi; Jr. C Will Bingham; Jr. 2B-P Gabe Ytkin; Jr. 3B-P Tyler Joseph; Jr. INF-P Jagger Hornik; So. P-INF Abel Saft. Key to success: The Lions need some hands to emerge to assist a lineup with lots of enjoyment. NOTRE DAME-GREEN POND Coach: Mike Bedics (14th season, 186-106). Last year: 14-8 average, eleven Colonial League. Impact players: Sr. P-INF Steven Luke; Sr. OF Ryan Gibki; Sr. INF-P Nick Vonelli; Sr. P-OF Ben Gormley; Sr. P-INF Rich Mueller; So. INF Josh Herman; Jr. INF-OF Jake Yurkovitch; Jr. OF Patrick Benolken. Key to success: The Crusaders need a more steady offense to supplement a pitching staff that must assist them in contending for a Colonial League name.
