WVC baseball preview: COVID looms over start of regular season

Apr. 6—There will be a time and place to determine divisional champions. This spring is all about getting the student-athletes back out on the field for a season, one this group missed last year due to the COVID pandemic.

With that in mind, the spring season didn't get off to a great start for two teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference heading into the start of the 2021 league baseball schedule.

Tunkhannock has dealt with two stoppages and returned to practice on April 2. Wyoming Area dealt with a shutdown and was able to resume practicing April 1. That is the good news.

But what are Tunkhannock coach Gary Custer and Wyoming Area coach Rob Lemoncelli going to do with the arms that were just beginning to get amped up for the start of the season, and then had to cool down?

"We were down for 10 days," Lemoncelli said. "We utilized the virtual stuff a lot. We set up a Google Classroom for the baseball team, we used it a lot. The quarantine means you are quarantined from the program. Kids can go outside and throw in the backyard."

The Valley West baseball team is currently on pause due to COVID concerns. The Spartans can return to practice on April 11 and resume playing games on April 13.

Custer usually starts his indoor throwing program for his pitching staff in late December. Due to COVID protocols, that timeline changed drastically. Going through two shutdowns, as the Tigers have, leaves the team scrambling to put together a rotation for the regular season which began Monday.

"We have them on a regimen, it's a three-day regimen," Custer said. "You shut it down, it goes away and now you can't throw. Now we are starting all over. It's a big issue for us."

Custer believes he has two solid starters and a pitcher he considers a closer. After that, he will be searching for players that he feels will be able to step on the mound and simply get outs.

"We don't have that many arms to start with," Custer said. "We weren't able to get any gym time until the third week of February. We are behind the eight-ball, but I'm pretty sure everyone else is too."

For the most part, teams will be looking to stay as healthy as they can and avoid any sort of COVID shutdowns. After missing all of last year, baseball teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference are just happy to be back on the field playing.

Here is a look at how the 2021 high school baseball season shapes up. Teams are listed in alphabetical order based on divisional alignment:

DIVISION 1

BERWICK

Manager: Brian Pinterich

Classification: 4A

Home ballpark: North Berwick baseball field

Players to watch: Teagan Shortlidge, Jack Dacier, Adam Anderson, Xander Shaffer, Brayden Boone, Kevin Powers, Blane Cleaver

What to expect: With a total of nine varsity innings played among everyone on the roster, this will be the most inexperienced team the Bulldogs have had in a long time. Shortlidge, Shaffer and Jeff Taylor are the top three pitchers on the team. All saw action in the team's first non-league game. What the team may lack in experience it will make up for with intelligence. This group will be fundamentally sound and do the little things it takes to win games.

CRESTWOOD

Manager: Sean Foley

Classification: 5A

Home ballpark: Crestwood High School

Players to watch: Matt Dean, Adam Litchkofski, Nico Schwartz

What to expect: Dean led the team in hits and average in 2019 during his sophomore season. He will see time on the mound this year. Litchkofski is a middle infielder and pitcher and had a solid sophomore season; he'll be a key cog in the pitching rotation. Schwartz will be counted on to hit leadoff as well as be a leader on defense from center field. The biggest thing for the Comets this season will be putting the ball in play and hitting with runners in scoring position. Leaving runners on and striking out have been causes for concern in the early going. In their first two games, the Comets struck out 27 times.

DALLAS

Manager: Ken Kashatus

Classification: 4A

Home ballpark: Dallas High School

Players to watch: Zach Luksic, Cooper Lewis, Chris Killian, Ryan Collins, Gary Weaver, Zach Paczewski

What to expect: Luksic, Lewis, Killian and Collins are the most experienced players the Mountaineers have. With 29 players on the roster, competition has been solid as the team prepared for the season. But as is usually the case with this program, the situation is fluid and there is the potential for new faces to be on the field later in the season. Luksic is a power bat in the middle of the lineup. All he will need is the guys in front of him to get on base. The pitching will sort itself out, and a closer will be determined.

HAZLETON AREA

Manager: Russ Canzler

Classification: 6A

Home ballpark: Antinozzi Field

Players to watch: Brett Antolick, Michael Kilker, Marcus LaBuda, Matt Shamany, Ryan Verbonitz, Nick Biasi, Bryce Molinaro, Nick Payne

What to expect: From top to bottom the talent level is off the charts. The Cougars are the favorite to win the division. There is depth within the pitching staff as well as every other place on the field. Kilker will head to West Virginia, LaBuda is going to Villanova, Shamany, Millersville; Payne, Centenary; and Verbonitz, Mansfield. That is just the seniors. As for the underclassmen that have given verbals, Biasi to Florida State, Molinaro, St. John's; Luke Russo, Fairleigh Dickinson, Antolick, Arizona; Grant Russo, St. John's. Not only is the talent there, but you know this team will be coached the right way. Sky is the limit for this group, and it appears that will be the case for years to come. Will not only be a factor on the district level, but the state as well.

PITTSTON AREA

Manager: Paul Zaffuto

Classification: 5A

Home ballpark: Pittston Area Primary Center

Players to watch: Devin Markert, Adam Felinski, Jeremy Cawley, Anthony Cencetti

What to expect: Just get to the playoffs. That has pretty much been the model for Zaffuto for as long as he has been the manager. The Patriots typically use the early portion of the season to figure things out, and once May rolls around start playing their best baseball. Markert, a pitcher/first baseman signed with Delaware State, along with Felinski, both should anchor the rotation. Cawley and Cencetti are sophomores who will handle the left side of the infield. Don't be surprised if the Patriots get off to a bit of a slow start. Not only is the team young and inexperienced, but the Patriots had two non-conference games postponed.

TUNKHANNOCK

Manager: Gary Custer

Classification: 4A

Home ballpark: Tunkhannock High School

Players to watch: Shane Wood, Tommy Sheridan, Mike Kuzma

What to expect: After having dealt with two pauses leading up to the start of the season, it would not be a surprise if the team gets off to a slow start. The arms are going to have to be built back up again, and Custer could limit innings with his rotation early on. With Custer at the helm, they'll be prepared for any situation they are presented with. This is a team you can't can't count out. The later the season gets, the tougher the Tigers will be.

VALLEY WEST

Manager: John Milius

Classification: 5A

Home ballpark: Spartan Stadium

Players to watch: Rich Kolesar, Hunter Sgarlat, Garrett Vought, Anthony Severns, Ryan Stevens, Christian Michak, Brian Gill

What to expect: With just one pitcher returning in Kolesar, the staff is going to be young and inexperienced. Depth on the mound is going to be a concern. If the Spartans can hit, that will help ease some of the issues with the rotation. Several younger players are going to be counted on to contribute in a hurry. Ben Bowen, Jacob Stitzer, Mason Sgarlat, Max Lopuhovsky, Max Zekas and Luke Buss are all expected to help out. Mason Matello and Aaron Klosko are freshmen who will be hoping to make an impact.

WILKES-BARRE AREA

Manager: Matt Skrepenak

Classification: 6A

Home ballpark: Hilldale Park

Players to watch: Darren Clarke, Pedro Betancourt, Josh Bottger, Ryan Novakowski, Jason Prudente, Stephen Simko

What to expect: This is the inaugural season for the program. Skrepenak is looking to build a foundation and set the standard for the success of the program for this season, as well as the future. Clarke is committed to Goldey Beacom College. Novakowski is a horse on the mound and one he gets his pitch count up will be a force to be reckoned with. Betancourt is smooth at shortstop and can make all the plays. With a mixture of players from three different schools, this will be a team that will be better to play early in the season as opposed to later in the year.

DIVISION 2

HANOVER AREA

Manager: Todd Kolbicka

Classification: 4A

Home ballpark: Hanover Area High School

Players to watch: Nate Jaslar, Connor Hummer, Todd Kolbicka, Justin Richards, Dylan Martinez, Brett Martinez, Jake Vigorito, Zach Murphy

What to expect: Kolbicka takes over at his alma mater and has plenty of talent to work with. The Hawks make a bump up in classification, going from 3A to 4A. Kolbicka and Jaslar are both committed to Wilkes University and are expected to anchor the top two spots in the rotation. Add in Hummer, and this is a team that is built for the long haul. Kolbicka is a four-year varsity player who will also play shortstop. When he is not pitching, Hummer will be at first base. Richards is a steady presence behind the plate and a solid bat in the middle of the lineup. This is a group that will compete every day.

HOLY REDEEMER

Manager: Chris Ritsick

Classification: 3A

Home ballpark: Hollenback Park

Players to watch: Nate Dudeck, Cam Krugel, Matt Martin, Cam Hoedl, Jake Griffin

What to expect: As with every Holy Redeemer season, the same thing rings true. The team will hit, pitch and be able to execute the fundamentals of the game under Ritsick's guidance. Griffin, a sophomore, has already given a verbal commitment to the University of Tennessee. Griffin will pitch and play the outfield, most likely center. Dudeck is another dependable arm to give the team a solid 1-2 punch in a strong division. Martin, Hoedl and Krugel will provide depth within the rotation, and when they are not pitching can play multiple positions.

LAKE-LEHMAN

Manager: Mike Sholtis

Classification: 3A

Home ballpark: Lake-Lehman High School

Players to watch: Max Paczewski, Luke Spencer, Connor Morgan, Ty Federici, Nick Finarelli, Graedon Finarelli

What to expect: Federici and Nick Finarelli, both juniors, have already given a verbal commitment to play at the next level. Federici gave a verbal to LSU, while Finarelli verballed to Virginia Tech. They also give the Black Knights a solid 1-2 punch at the top of the rotation. Morgan announced that he will play at Wilkes. With a solid core of returning players from what would have been a championship caliber team, the newcomers have stepped in to fill the void. The Black Knights will be able to hit for average as well as power. The pitching staff is deep, with solid aces in Finarelli and Federici.

MMI PREP

Manager: Ryan Jastremsky

Classification: A

Home ballpark: MMI Baseball Field

Players to watch: Marcus Danchision, Kevin McNulty, Colin Williams, David Castro, Jimmy Kelly, Robert Rinaldi, Chance Eyerly, Drew Sechleer

What to expect: This is going to be an entertaining team to follow throughout the season. The Preppers came out of the gate swinging, scoring runs in bunches. Playing in this division is going to be a challenge, but will only make the team better later in the season. Danchision is the most experienced arm on the team and is committed to Lehigh. McNulty, an RIT commit, is a dependable bat and a run producer. Williams and Castro can get on base. With 23 players on the roster, this is the largest team the program has had in a while. There has been a lot of competition at practice with the younger players pushing the upperclassmen. The biggest question mark will be the outfield.

NANTICOKE AREA

Manager: Joe Yudichak

Classification: 3A

Home ballpark: Nanticoke Area High School

Players to watch: Derek Cease, Jake Krupinski, Luke Myers, Devyn Sura, Ethan Egenski, Nick Matson, Justin Spencer

What to expect: The Trojans are another deep team within the division. Cease, a Penn State commit, Myers, a Maryland Eastern Shore commit, form one of the best middle infield combinations in the conference. Both can pitch as well. Krupinski is a three-year starter. Matson, who gave a verbal commitment to West Virginia, moves from left to center. Spencer, a sophomore will be in the rotation as will Sura. Matson is off to a hot start, hitting three home runs in the span of two days last week.

WYOMING AREA

Manager: Rob Lemoncelli

Classification: 4A

Home ballpark: Atlas Complex

Players to watch: Jason Wiedl, Matt Sorick, Sam Supey, JJ Hood, Jake Kelleher

What to expect: Due to COVID concerns, the Warriors got a late start to the season. Wiedl can play anywhere on the field and will bring versatility. Sorick and Supey will bring depth to a rotation that will be anchored by Hood, a UConn verbal commit. Kelleher, who gave a verbal commitment to East Tennessee State, is one of the best catchers in the conference. He can hit for both power and average and uses all fields. The Warriors are young, but have plenty of talent across the board. This will be a much better team at the end of the season than at the beginning.

WYOMING SEMINARY

Manager: Joe Phillips

Classification: 3A

Home ballpark: Nesbitt Field

Players to watch: Aiden Murphy, Jakson Amend, Gavin Flanley, Will Youngman

What to expect: The Blue Knights will be in what can be termed a rebuilding year. The team was hit hard by graduation from last season. Murphy projects to be the ace of the staff and is one of the top pitchers in the conference. Youngman, a junior, is not too far behind and has increased his velocity from last season. Flanley is a solid middle of the lineup bat who can hit for average as well as power. The sooner the younger players step into their roles, the better off the team will be. Murphy and Youngman will keep them in games.

Contact the writer: sbennett@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2062