On Wednesday, April 27, 2022, Souderton seniors Carter Jagiela, Justin DiCesare, Will McCausland, Dante Bruno, Luke Pollock, Hunter Weitzel & Shanley Wall were recognized for committing to compete in baseball at the collegiate level. To view photos of the event by Keith Clemens Photography, please click on the following link: https://solsports.zenfolio.com/p315589754
Dante Bruno – Lock Haven University (Baseball)
Major: Health & Human Sciences
Final list of colleges: Lock Haven, Penn State Harrisburg
Reasons for choosing Lock Haven: “I chose Lock Haven because it felt like family.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “My favorite memory was knocking CB West out of the playoffs last year.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I love baseball, and I wanted to play in college.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “He’s another hard-luck kid. He was our defensive MVP last year as a junior at first base and was an all-league selection. He got talked into coming out for football and ends up tearing his labrum and got surgery. He spent the season rehabbing and ended up getting an at-bat in our last playoff game against Hatboro-Horsham, and he played in the Senior Game too. This is a kid that’s a fighter – he’ll bounce back and do well in college. He works hard in the gym and on the field to try and get better at all times. Every day he was keeping me updated. I just felt it for him – he was at every practice, mentally keeping the guys upbeat and everything, but for him, I know it was a struggle because he wanted to be on the field.”
About Dante:
Favorite food: Pasta
Favorite movies: James Bond
Favorite music: Rap
Justin DiCesare – Eastern University (Baseball)
Major: Exercise Science
Final list of colleges: Eastern, Lock Haven
Reasons for choosing Eastern: “I chose Eastern because I liked the coaching staff.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “My favorite memory was hitting a double to win a game against North Penn.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve been playing baseball my whole life. No one in my family has played a sport at the next level, and I wanted to do that.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “Justin struggled a little bit his junior year and battled back his senior year and did absolutely awesome. We knew his potential, and he stepped up and showed it this year at first base where he was first team all-league. For him to come back – coach (Casey) Clauss worked a little bit with his swing, figured some things out, and he hit the ball really well for us and stepped into a position that was Dante Bruno’s and did okay with it. He was a little raw, but he didn’t hurt us at all and did well defensively when we needed him. He’s another player who will work hard and do well in college.”
About Justin:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite movie: Sandlot
Favorite artist: Kanye
Carter Jagiela – St. Joseph’s University (Baseball)
Major: Marketing
Final list of colleges: St. Joseph’s, U.S. Naval Academy, Davidson
Reasons for choosing St. Joe’s: “I chose St. Joe’s because of the coaching staff, and it was close to home.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “My favorite memory was telling all my friends I was transferring so I could play one more season with all of them.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve played baseball my whole life. I grew up playing in the backyard with my brother, and I just wanted to play at the next level.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “Carter transferred from Dock as a senior, and I’m sad we only had him for one year. He’s got a pro frame with big-time potential. His arm is probably one of the strongest I’ve seen as a catcher, without a doubt. I know talking to him – he didn’t hit as well as he wanted to, but he just keeps battling. He’s in the gym, and he’s baseball non-step to try and always improve and get better for his team. He was definitely a positive influence on the team - he jumped in and said, ‘Coach, I’m here to do whatever you need me to do.’ Not many kids are going to say that, especially transferring in as a senior. He’s always challenging himself, which is really cool to see.”
About Carter
Favorite food: Mac & cheese
Favorite movie: Cars 1
Favorite music: Rap
Will McCausland – St. Joseph’s University (Baseball)
Major: Finance
Final list of colleges: St. Joseph’s, Delaware
Reasons for choosing St. Joe’s: “I chose St. Joe’s because it felt more like home, and I liked the coaching staff.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “My favorite memory was my first varsity start against North Penn.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve been playing baseball as long as I can remember and grew up watching the Phillies, so I knew it was something I wanted to stick with.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “Will is super special. The line he put up this year – I would put it up against anyone in Souderton history. He had better than a 7-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio with 110 strikeouts and 15 walks in 60 innings pitched. He allowed five earned runs with an earned run average of 0.58. His stats are phenomenal. I don’t know what Jamie Moyer did – he’s obviously our model at Souderton, but just watching Will develop and seeing him finish it out so strong as a senior – he’s calm, cool and collected. He walks on, does his job and walks off. He was first team all-league. He’s unbelievable to watch, he’s fun to watch.”
About Will:
Favorite food: Cheesesteak
Favorite movie: Dirty Grandpa
Favorite music: Country
Luke Pollock – Lebanon Valley College (Football & Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: Lebanon Valley, West Chester, Delaware Valley
Reasons for choosing Lebanon Valley: “I ended up choosing Lebanon Valley because of the coaching staff and because I knew a couple guys who go there already and like it.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “Beating Pennridge in the district championship my junior year.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in football and baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve always played baseball and football, and to continue playing both in college is like a dream. It’s awesome.”
Coach Ed Gallagher says: “Luke Pollock is a very excellent two-sport athlete. He was a first team all-league linebacker for two years as a starter. He also played guard for us both his junior and senior year and is just a very, very good football player. I’m looking forward to him following in Jacob Horton’s footsteps because he’s going to play both football and baseball at Lebanon Valley. He’s had Jacob’s influence throughout most of the recruiting process because he wasn’t sure of his major, he wasn’t sure where he wanted to go. He just wants to go somewhere and play. Having Jacob made him feel comfortable going to Lebanon Valley. Hopefully, that works out for him, and he can have success in at least one of the two and hopefully both of the sports.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “This kid is a competitor, a fighter – in a good way on the field. He works hard, he’s a silent leader. He doesn’t say much but just does it with the bat and in the field, and this year proved it, getting first team all-league. He won our team’s batting title and at one time was hitting .488 while batting third. Batting third doesn’t get the greatest pitches, but he still did it. It shows that he’s quite an athlete, without a doubt. He’s a kid that can play two sports and play two sports effectively and is going to college for that. Basically, he’s following in Jacob Horton’s footsteps in back-to-back years and will play football and baseball. To play two sports at that level is pretty awesome.”
About Luke:
Favorite food: Garlic Knots
Favorite TV show: The Office
Favorite music: Rappers
Shanley Wall – East Stroudsburg University (Baseball)
Major: Undecided
Final list of colleges: East Stroudsburg, UMBC
Reasons for choosing East Stroudsburg: “I chose ESU because I really liked the coaching staff, and it felt like a great fit.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “My favorite memory was going to Applebees.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve played baseball since I can remember. My dad and my brother played college baseball, so I wanted to do the same.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “This kid – talk about uniform dirty, hard-nosed worker. It’s unbelievable to watch him. Having Conlan and Shanley – I was blessed to have the Wall family in our program. These kids are the true definition of hard workers, getting it done on the field and excited to get it done on the field. We were down at Abington for a scrimmage and faced Andrew Healy from Penn Charter, and there were 15-plus scouts up in the stands to watch this kid. He struck out Shanley in the first at-bat – lefty versus lefty. The pitch was a little bit outside. Shanley knows the strike zone. He didn’t say anything to the umpire, walked back. The very next time he went against the kid – he sprinted off the field, got in the dugout, popped out of dugout with his bat and helmet and could not wait to bat against this kid again and ripped a triple to right center field. The kid overthrew home plate, and he ended up scoring. We ended up winning that scrimmage 1-0. He just did it all himself. How many kids if they strike out against a kid throwing 90-plus with 15 scouts in the stands cannot wait to face this kid again. I tell that story because it sums up his attitude – ‘Nobody is going to put me down, I’m going to do it by me fighting.’ He was first team in two different positions – he was first team second base last year, and this year we ended up moving him to center field, and he just made our outfield that much better. He was first team all-league in outfield.”
About Shanley:
Favorite food: Steak
Favorite TV show: New Girl
Favorite artist: Jay-Z
Hunter Weitzel – Arcadia University (Baseball)
Major: Pre-Physical Therapy
Final list of colleges: Arcadia, Wilmington
Reasons for choosing Arcadia: “I chose Arcadia because I like the coaching staff and the area.”
Favorite high school sports memory: “My favorite memory would be when we beat Pennsbury, and I hit the go-ahead double in the top of the seventh.”
What was the progression that led you to competing in baseball at the collegiate level? “I’ve been playing baseball since I was five, and I’ve always wanted to play for as long as I can.”
Coach Mike Childs says: “Hunter is one of the most caring competitors on the team. He was one of our captains, and he cared about our sophomores all the way to our seniors. He was the guy on the tractor dragging the field. He had some injuries over the past couple of years, but he fought through them, battled back. Being able to play baseball in college is huge for him, especially after some of the struggles he had with injuries. He’s another great kid.”
About Hunter:
Favorite food: Chicken Wings
Favorite TV show: Office
Favorite music: Rap
All SuburbanOneSports.com articles (or portion of articles) can be turned into keepsakes. For information, please click on the following link: https://www.suburbanonesports.com/article/content/turn-online-features-keepsake-posters-0086874
- Log in to post comments
