Scott Huff features William Tennent, Quakertown and Norristown and highlights the SOL’s top returning players.
By Scott Huff
If someone would try to sell the theory of Global Warming to the baseball coaches in the Suburban One League, there most likely would not be a single buyer.
The weather as winter moves forcefully into spring has been anything but enjoyable for those of us who live in this area. What is worse – bitter cold – stinging wind – or accumulating snow?
And the beat goes on…
SOL National Conference ‘Snapshot’
William Tennent Panthers
William Tennent head coach Rick Penecale is starting his second season as the head coach of the Panthers.
“Last year I didn’t get the job until January, and we started off a little behind some of the other programs,” said Penecale. “This year we were able to play in the Extra Bases fall ball league and that was great for us. We got to play 15 games and got a chance to see a lot of the kids play. Of course we were missing the players who played sports in the fall, but it was great for the rest of them.
“But with all of that, the weather has been so crazy, it is making me a little nervous,” added Penecale. “We haven’t seen live pitching at all – everything has been in the batting cage. But a lot of the teams are in the same boat we are in.”
Penecale did not come into the program last year with limited knowledge of his 2012-2013 team.
“Most of the players played legion for me when I was the coach at Warminster,” said Penecale. “There wasn’t much of a transition. They knew me – and I knew them.
“This year’s team is going to be very interesting,” added Penecale. “We have three experienced seniors in Vinnie Case, Brett Lozlowski, and Ben Zeitz – but we have only eight total innings of varsity innings pitched coming back. I am really excited, though, to see how well we compete. We should be fine.
“We open the (SOL National Conference) season with Council Rock North, and I feel they should be the favorite to win the league,” continued Penecale. “I hope we get on the field before we play them (April 1, 2014) or it is going to be a long day.”
Who’s Who in the SOL National Conference?
SOL National Conference
Abington:
Head Coach: Dave Torresani
Key Players: Nick Bein, Aaron Rawdin, Brendan Gallagher, Matt McDonough, and Jack Larini.
Bensalem:
Head Coach: Harry Daut
Key Players: Andy Moser, Jason Mulvey, Ben Anderson, Chris Kilcoyne, and Bill Uphoff.
Council Rock North:
Head Coach: Matt Schram
Key Players: Tyler Callender, Matt Renck, Brandon McIlwain, Cole German, Danny Whitney, Aden Tully, and Matt Weir.
Council Rock South:
Head Coach: Ted Kirner
Key Players: Greg Paprocki, Matt Walsh, Jordan Silverman, Will Faccenda, and Jake Nevin.
Neshaminy:
Head Coach: Chris Tenaglia
Key Players: Sean Udris, Cole Creighton, Matt Graham, and Kyle Skeels.
Pennsbury:
Head Coach: Joe Pesci
Key Players: Brendan Campbell, Ryan Sheaffer, Justin Jacko, and Jake Goldberg.
William Tennent:
Head Coach: Rick Penecale
Key Players: Vinny Case, Brett Kozlowski, Ben Zeitz, Tim Brodhag, and Jeremy Hefele.
Truman:
Head coach: Jeff Vitale
Key Players: Tim Hild, Matt Heibling, Matt Shea, and Evan Miller.
Remember 2012-2013?
SOL National Conference
1. Neshaminy Redskins 11-3
2. Council Rock North Indians 9-5
3. Council Rock South Golden Hawks 8-6
William Tennent Panthers 8-6
5. Pennsbury Falcons 7-7
6. Bensalem Owls 5-9
7. Abington Ghosts 4-10
Truman Tigers 4-10
SOL Continental Conference ‘Snapshot’
Quakertown Panthers
Quakertown head coach Jon Pallone is in his first year as head coach of the Panthers.
“Changes? We have made as many changes as we can,” said Pallone, who has taught and coached at Quakertown for eight years. “We have new hats, new socks, new belts, and we would have new uniforms if the district would let us.
“Our motto is Welcome to the New Age,” added Pallone who coached the Q-town junior varsity the last two seasons and previous to that coached the Black Cat freshmen. “We are doing a lot of lifting, a lot of running, and studying a lot of video.
“I coached a lot of these players in youth legion, and we were very successful there,” continued Pallone. “These players know me – and I know what they can expect from me and what I expect from them.”
Quakertown – winless in 14 games during the 2012-2013 regular season - is in a conference that crowned a state champion in North Penn and state semifinalist in Pennridge. And both the Knights and the Rams trailed Central Bucks East and Central Bucks South in the regular season standings.
“Some of the best teams in the state play in our league,” said Pallone. “Our challenge to our players is that in order to be the best – you have to play the best. There will no days off during our (conference) season, and our players will accept that challenge.”
Who’s Who in the SOL Continental Conference
Central Bucks East:
Head Coach: Kyle Dennis
Key Players: David Yanni, Pat Reilly, Brandon Birkhead, Carter Usowski, and Dan Morrin.
Central Bucks South:
Head Coach: Mike Schaefer
Key Players: Matt Radwanski, Michael Kuypers, Alex Spector, Zach Dennis, and Pat Fitzgerald.
Central Bucks West:
Head Coach: Jim Ertel
Key Players: Brennan Snyder, John Fitz, Sean Loughery, Cole Malinauskas, and Pat Kelley.
Hatboro Horsham:
Head Coach: Peter Moore
Key Players: Eric Lane, Dave Brown, Brad Humski, Kevin Barron, Eric Thomas, and Chris Crookham.
North Penn:
Head Coach: Kevin Manero
Key Players: Chris Kersey, Jared Melone, Mason Nadeao, Bobby Scott, and Noah Melchoir.
Pennridge:
Head Coach: Tom Nuneviller
Key Players: David Tatoian, Tyler Schoultes, Brad Misialek, Danny Shane, Joey Molittiere, Dan Long, and Eric Weslowski.
Quakertown:
Head Coach: Jon Pallone
Key Players: Sage Fuhrmeister, Mark Repsher, Cam Delisle, Pat SanAngelo, and Vincent LaCava.
Souderton:
Head Coach: Michael Childs
Key Players: Brad Stolzfus, Brett Hale, Dylan Morrisette, Dan Straub, and Dan Heilemann.
Remember 2012-2013?
SOL Continental Conference
1. Central Bucks East Patriots 12-2
2. Central Bucks South Titans 10-4
3. North Penn Knights 9-5
Pennridge Rams 9-5
5. Hatboro-Horsham Hatters 6-8
Souderton Indians 6-8
7. Central Bucks West Bucks 4-10
8. Quakertown Panthers 0-14
SOL American Conference ‘Snapshot’
Norristown Eagles
Norristown head coach Rich Campbell is in his first year as head coach of the Eagles.
“I coached junior varsity last year under (head coach) Vince Elsier,” said Campbell who was hired after Elsier resigned suddenly in mid-February. “And before that, I coached our freshman team for five years. I know the players – and they know me.
“This is my first head coaching job, and I am excited,” added Campbell who has taught Tech-Ed in the Norristown Area School District for 11 years. “We are going into the season with the idea of being a district playoff team. We have a tough non-league schedule, but that should get us ready for our league schedule.
“I have talked with the team about goal setting, and what is important for us to be successful,” continued Campbell. “There is no reason why we shouldn’t be competitive with the other teams in our league. We want to win the division.
“The beginning of this season has been unbelievable with the weather,” added Campbell. “We need to iron some things out, but we should be fine.”
Who’s Who in the SOL American Conference
Cheltenham:
Head Coach: Frank Decembrino
Key Players: Calvin Salazar, Max Perilstein, and Kevin Graham.
Norristown:
Head Coach: Rich Campbell
Key Players: JT Vaughn
Plymouth Whitemarsh:
Head Coach: Chris Manero
Key Players: Matt Nardo, Jon Fisher, Michael Whalon, Zach Metz, and Teddy Slagle.
Springfield:
Head Coach: Dennis Primavera
Key Players: Ian Quigg, Marten Pauwels, and Eddie Bacino.
Upper Dublin:
Head Coach: Ed Wall
Key Players: Dan Jacobson, Harrison Guber, and John Lee.
Upper Merion:
Head Coach: Matt Mitchell
Key Players: Brandon Snyder and Carmen Fortino.
Upper Moreland:
Head Coach: Erine Rehr
Key Players: Charlie Hooker, Colton Hooker, Eddie Decker, Pat Driscoll, and Tommy Robinson.
Wissahickon:
Head Coach: Shannon Gunby
Key Players: Nick Falso, Matt Oruch, Ryan Becker, Blake Rapport, and Brett Downey.
Remember 2012-2013?
SOL American Conference
1. Upper Moreland Golden Bears 13-1
2. Cheltenham Panthers 10-4
3. Wissahickon Trojans 8-6
4. Norristown Eagles 7-7
Springfield Spartans 7-7
6. Upper Dublin Flying Cardinals 6-8
7. Plymouth Whitemarsh Colonials 3-11
8. Upper Merion Vikings 2-12
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