Pitching will lead the way

By MIKE KILROY Eagle Staff Writer

March 23, 2007 Last Updated: March 23, 2007 01:14 PM High School

It very well could be the Year of the Hurler.

Several area high school baseball teams seem to be loaded in the pitching department, with not just one bona fide ace, but several.

Perhaps no team is more pitching rich than Seneca Valley, which can trot out a quartet of solid arms, led by junior ace Cory Mazzoni.

Last year, the right-hander won four games and had a sub-3.00 earned run average.

"He throws 92 (mph) consistently," said Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega. "And he has command of all of his pitches. By the time it is all said and done, he's going to be able to pick what college to go to."

In Grove City, big senior left-hander Bob Revesz has already picked what college to go to — Louisville.

That's if no major league teams come calling in June.

Revesz hits 90 mph on the gun and has a wicked breaking pitch to boot.

"He has all the physical tools," Grove City coach Pat Forese said. "He's always had good movement on his fastball, and now he is developing his off-speed stuff. At the lower levels, you can get by with your fastball, but at the upper levels, you need more than one pitch."

Mars also has no shortage when it comes to live arms.

Senior D.J. Cannon returns to top the Planets' rotation. He turned in a solid campaign last season with 48 strikeouts and just five walks in 44 innings of work.

Senior Chip Hasek returns as well.

"We're really excited to have D.J. and Chip back," said Mars coach Andy Bednar. "They pitched close to 60 percent of all of our innings last year."

At Karns City, junior Saxon Parker is the new ace, replacing Coty McGregor. Parker threw only 16 innings last season, but has a huge upside.

Following is a quick look at the area baseball teams:

• Coach: Dave Florie, second year• Last year: 10-9 overall, 7-5 in the section• On the hill: Brian Warheit (senior), Dallas O'Donnell (senior), Tim Geibel (junior), Luke Dugger (junior), Ryan Geibel (junior), Matt McCormack (junior).• Heart of the lineup: 1B-Andy Onufrak (senior), SS-Darren Blakley (junior)• Outlook: It was a magical season for the Golden Tornado in 2006. First-year coach Dave Florie took over the program, announced every job is up for grabs, and his team responded with a winning season.This year will be another challenge for Florie."The weather was better last year; we haven't been outside yet," Florie said. "We've been mainly inside the gym, so it makes it hard to evaluate."

• Coach: Eric Semega, seventh year• Last year: 13-7 overall, 9-3 in the section• On the hill: Cory Mazzoni (junior), Kyle Helisek (junior), Shane Patsilevas (junior), Mike Eonta (junior), Tyler Bream (junior)• Heart of the lineup: 1B-Dan Jergel (junior), OF-Phil Double (junior), OF-Kevin Rohm (senior), OF-Gabe Grinder (senior), OF-Jim Burry (senior), Bream• Outlook: Two seasons ago, Semega started a slew of freshmen and sophomores with this season in mind.With a stable of impressive arms and a solid lineup from top to bottom, the Raiders are thinking big in 2007."We're absolutely looking forward to seeing what these guys can do," Semega said.

• Coach: Curt Schnur, eighth year• Last year: 9-10• On the hill: Zach Mayes (senior), Dan Pickard (senior), Brandon Wisinger (junior), Dave Govan (junior), Justin Thompson (senior), Derrick Clark (junior)• Heart of the lineup: 1B-Austin Leffler (senior)• Outlook: The Knights have several quality pitchers and a potent bat in the middle of the lineup in Leffler."I think it's the same any year — you look to make a run for the section and shoot for the playoffs," Schnur said. "You can't shoot for anything less. If we can find a catcher (to replace graduated JustinDemek), we'll be in good shape."

• Coach: Andy Bednar, ninth year• Last year: 11-9 overall, 7-7 in the section• On the hill: D.J. Cannon (senior), Chip Hasek (senior)• Heart of the lineup: 3B-Zach Zollner (senior), SS-Cannon, 1B-Hasek, OF-Josh Bender (senior), SS-Ryan Schroth (junior)• Outlook: The Planets have a quality 1-2 pitching punch in Cannon and Hasek and have the makings of a quality lineup.

• Coach: Chris Graczyk, sixth year• Last year: 7-10• On the hill: J.P. Samay (junior), Bryan Huth (senior), Justin Bollinger (sophomore), Harrison Wood (sophomore), Ryan Seigel (freshman), Mike Wojtas (senior)• Heart of the lineup: 1B-Samay, 1B-Huth, SS-Cory Massart (senior), 2B-Tyler Hill (senior), OF-Tim Zahumensky (junior)• Outlook: The Yellowjackets have high hopes this season after a disappointing 2006."I think, actually, our goal is to win our section," Graczyk said. "We have a combination of youth and experience and some good leadership. Hopefully, we'll do well."

• Coach: Pat Forese, 20th year• Last year: 15-5, won region and District 10 title• On the hill: Bob Revesz (senior), Kent Denbow (senior), Danny Keil (senior), Derek Forese (junior)• Heart of the lineup: 1B-Forese, 2B-Garrett Molloy (junior), 3B-Keil, SS-Denbow, CF-Brad Ballantine (junior), OF-Tyler Mosser (junior)• Outlook: With Revesz at the top of the rotation and with a lineup that figures to be potent even without graduation losses Jesse Alfreno, Beau Fisher and Dan Sonntag, the Eagles will be a force again."We do have some pretty good core players," Forese said. "Pitching-wise, we ought to be pretty solid."

• Coach: Paul Malley, second year• Last year: 11-7• On the hill: BrandonRay (senior), Mark White (senior), Adam Brydon (senior)• Heart of the lineup: 1B-3B-Ryan Ferguson (senior), OF-Nick Cress (junior), OF-Travis McDougall (junior)• Outlook: Last year, the Rockets had a strong late surge that normally would have been good enough to qualify them for the playoffs. Then, bad weather hit and District 10 decided to just stop the season — with Slippery Rock on the outside of the playoff party looking in."We were very disappointed," Malley said. "We won six of our last seven games and, boom, that was it. Hopefully, the kids still have a chip in their shoulders about that."

• Coach: Tom Stewart, first season• Last year: 15-7• On the hill: Saxon Parker (junior), Cameron Turner (junior), Justin Switzer (senior), Trevor Williams (senior)• Heart of the lineup: IF-Parker, SS-2B-Stefon Conto (junior), 1B-Jarrett LaVan (sophomore), 3B-Andy Double (senior), CF-Ben McLay (senior)• Outlook: The injury bug has already bitten the Gremlins. Brett Green, who was penciled in as the starting catcher, is out for the season, and Conto is out until mid-April with a broken foot.Still, there is enough talent, led by Parker, that there is an outfield full of optimism in Karns City."There is talent," Stewart said. "It just has to come together."

• Coach: Ross Martin, second year• Last year: 5-10 overall, 5-6 in the KSAC• On the hill: Cruz Eschenbaugh (senior), Nick Morrow (senior), Dakota Campbell (sophomore)• Heart of the lineup: CF-Travis Shaffer (senior), RF-Eschenbaugh, 3B-Josh Howland (senior)• Outlook: It was not a good first year for Martin, whose team faded down the stretch. In 2007, he has three solid arms to count on in the rotation, which may be enough to spur an improvement."You're always kind of optimistic heading into a season," Martin said. "We have a couple of pitchers at the top who can hold their own."

• Coach: Alan Carmichael, sixth year• Last year: made playoffs• On the hill: A.J. Ethriedge (senior), Chase Stewart (senior), Brett Moore (senior), Anthony Hunsberger (senior)• Heart of the lineup: C-Casey Kriebel (junior), 2B-Nate Boltz (senior), 3B-Neil Scott (sophomore)• Outlook: The pitching should be fine, but all eyes will be on Scott, who has prodigious power."He's going to be something," Carmichael said. "He's going to be one to watch. He made the most improvement I have ever seen between a freshman and sophomore year."

• Coach: John Irwin, first year• Last year: 3-6• On the hill: Jesse Mangel (junior), Nick McGuirk (junior), John Stumpner (junior), Nate Silvis (junior), Ryan Auston (junior)• Heart of the lineup: 1B-Shawn Courson (senior), 3B-DH-Casey McBride (senior), C-McGuirk, 2B-SS-Mangel• Outlook: Poor weather and a teachers strike limited the Falcons to a mere nine games in 2006. Irwin is hoping the abbreviated season did not stunt the growth of his youthful and talented team."My goal is to get to the playoffs and win nine games," Irwin said. "This program has not been to the playoffs since 2000. I think this group can get there."