First-year coach Craig Whitten – the former coach of the freshman team - coached this year’s seniors when they were freshmen. He was looking forward to coaching them in their final high school season, but the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Coach Craig Whitten said: “I got the job the end of October, and I was doing double duty with baseball and football in November leading up to the Thanksgiving Day game. I took my family on vacation over Thanksgiving, and after we got back, it was right to work. We were four days a week almost, so we had three months and then the bottom fell out.
“I coached these guys when they were freshmen because I was the freshman coach and did a little bit of jayvee, so I’ve known these kids forever. When (Tom Nuneviller) resigned in August, the first day of school almost all these seniors came up to me and said, ‘Did you put in? Did you put in?’ Almost encouraging me to do it. Seeing them after school they’d bump into me and give me reasons why I should put in. The lead up to it was awesome, and when I got the job, they were so excited about the season starting and then this happened.
“These kids are driven and they’re tough. I had all these meetings with them. I think they were afraid to come out of their shell a little bit. My style of play is ‘Let’s have fun, let’s not take anybody lightly, but don’t be scared of anybody.’ My recurring theme was ‘don’t be afraid to be alpha, don’t be afraid to be alpha.’ Every day at practice – ‘I’m looking for nine alpha guys in the lineup. I don’t need six guys that think they want to play and one leader everyone is going to lean to. There’s no reason why we couldn’t have seven guys have three-hit games.’ These kids were tough. We put them through the wringer. The other coaches and I – we beat the crap out of them in our conditioning stuff, and they loved it. They wanted to do more the next day. They wanted to do one more round, one more rep or one more set.
“We had morning practices, and there were guys that would beat me to school. When we were hitting, I’d have them come in at 5:15 in the morning, and a lot of the guys would be there at five o’clock. I’d be pulling into the parking spot, and there were already four cars and kids waiting outside to get in. Mostly the seniors but the group overall – they were eager to get this thing started.
“When March 13 happened and our school shut down, I was getting e-mails from our AD – ‘Hey, you’re not having practices are you because there are guys here working out. There are guys at the field throwing and hitting in the cages.’ I told him, ‘No, I have no jurisdiction. I can’t tell these kids not to do something they’ve been longing to do.’ This was when everything was still up the air and the parks were still open before they officially shut it down. These kids worked their butts off, and for this to happen, it stinks.”
Sean Clayton #7 Outfield
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): My freshman year Nuts and Bolts of Business class
Favorite baseball memory: Our whole American Legion season last summer and into the playoffs.
When I am 30, I see myself in the military.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Gansta’s Paradise” by Coolio
Favorite food: Wings
Favorite teacher: Mrs. Davy because she was able to connect with me and all other students on a personal level.
Advice for underclassmen: Work hard your first three years and don’t take the time you have with friends for granted.
Future plans: Attending and playing baseball at Bucks County Community College.
Paul Croyle #11 Shortstop
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Hanging out with and meeting friends
Favorite baseball memory: Winning Senior League state championship
When I am 30, I will have a graphic design studio above my barbershop.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Turn My Swag On” by Soulja Boy
Favorite food: Wendy’s
Favorite teacher: Mr. Sudac because he helped me understand and learn more about my major and what I like to do, and Mr. Burgy because he made class fun and enjoyable.
Advice for underclassmen: Hard work pays off.
Future plans: Play baseball at Moravian College
Raymond Knight #9 Second Base
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Mr. Tatar’s Business Law and Financial Foundations class
Favorite baseball memory: Cooperstown in Little League
When I am 30, I will be a successful businessman and married.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel
Favorite food: Chicken Alfredo
Favorite teacher: Mr. Tatar because he made class fun and teaches real world topics.
Advice for underclassmen: Seize the moment and enjoy every moment you have with your friends.
Future plans: Attend Misericordia University to major in business and play baseball.
Sean Lerro #23 DH/1B
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Spanish 3 & 4 classes
Favorite baseball memory: Freshman baseball
When I am 30, I will be making big bucks.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses
Favorite food: Chipotle
Favorite teacher: Mr. Brown because he’s a genuine guy, easy to connect with and makes Shakespeare tolerable.
Advice for underclassmen: Don’t take it for granted because you never know when your senior season will get cancelled because of a pandemic.
Future plans: Attending Penn State University
Ryan McAloon #15 Pitcher
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Going to the boys’ basketball state championship game last year.
Favorite baseball memory: Freshman year bus rides
When I am 30, I will be researching ocean animals.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Outlet” by Designer
Favorite food: Crab
Favorite teacher: Mrs. England because she was easy to talk to and had an enjoyable class.
Advice for underclassmen: Don’t take anything for granted.
Future plans: Studying Biology at Temple University
Kyle Moran # 1 Outfield
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Field trip to Reading Terminal Market
Favorite baseball memory: Beating Pennfield freshman year
When I am 30, I will own a restaurant.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Back to Back” by Drake
Favorite food: Seafood
Favorite teacher: Mr. Harris because he goes out of his way to help and make sure everything is okay.
Advice for underclassmen: Always be willing to learn and listen
Future plans: Bucks County Community College
Derek Morgan #8 Catcher
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): My accounting class in 10th grade
Favorite baseball memory: Beaver Run trip last year
When I am 30, I will be teaching and coaching baseball.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Shadowboxin” by GZA and Method Man
Favorite food: Pizza
Favorite teacher: Mr. Dertouzos always kept his class interesting and is someone you can look at to model how you handle yourself in life.
Advice for underclassmen: Work hard in the preseason and keep your grades up. You never know when you will play your last game so enjoy the moment while you can.
Future plans: Attending West Chester and majoring in secondary education.
Stephen Nace #3 Outfield
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Class with Mr. Fitzgeorge
Favorite baseball memory: Making it to states in Senior League
When I am 30, I will have a full-time job in business.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Revenge” by Joyner Lucas
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite teacher: Mr. Dyer because he’s chill and lets us do what we want (to a point).
Advice for underclassmen: Keep your grades up
Future plans: Attend University of Northern Colorado
Alex Podraza #21 Pitcher
Favorite high school memory (non-athletic): Mr. Laiacona’s Nuts and Bolts of Business class my freshman year
Favorite baseball memory: Cooperstown
When I am 30, I will be a successful businessman.
Walk-up song if I were a pro: “Circle of Life”
Favorite food: Enchiladas
Favorite teacher: Mr. Dyer because he brings a fun/positive energy to class.
Advice for underclassmen: Embrace failure and have confidence in yourself.
Future plans: Attending Penn State University and majoring in Economics.
Nick Christ #13 Pitcher/3B/1B
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