Upper Moreland Baseball Preview

UPPER MORELAND BASEBALL PREVIEW

Coach: Jim Fasano (2nd year)

Assistant Coaches: Jason Kelmer (2nd year), Gary Sarno (1st year), Mike Pattison (1st year)

Last year's record: 9-7 in league, won Suburban One Freedom Division. 9-9 overall, lost to Strath Haven in 1st round of D1 5A Playoffs.

Notable losses: OF Sean Dallahan, OF Nate O'Connor, OF Jared McCellan, 2B Bo Meakim, DH/P Kaleb Powell (Cairn University), P Stefano Garofalo (Moravian University)

Key returners: SS Shawn Townsend, committed to Penn College of Technology, P/OF Jimmy Torpey, committed to PSU Abington, 1B Patrick Kilgus (Soph), C Paul Meyers (Sr), 2B Jaryd Meehl (Sr), 2B/3B Nate Kelly (Jr), P/OF Colin Fell (Jr)

Others to watch: C/OF Jackson Townsend (Fr), P/3B Jimmy Murray (Fr), P/OF Alex Best (Jr, Wood Transfer), P/OF Tanner Sharp (Jr), OF Dilan Gruenbaum (Soph), OF/P Colson Campbell (Soph)

Strengths/Question Marks: Jimmy Torpey will go down as one of the best pitchers UM has ever had. Shawn Townsend is another 3-year starter and future college player. Both were first team all-league last season. Patrick Kilgus started every game as a freshman and proved he belonged. He can hit as well as any sophomore anywhere. We have a lot of opportunities for playing time, with that comes the unknowns. Lost three starting outfielders and contributing arms on the mound. Paul Meyers started every game behind the plate last year and likely will again.

Outlook: “We are counting on Torpey, Kilgus, the elder Townsend and Meyers to form the nucleus of our team. Jaryd Meehl, another senior captain (in addition to Torpey, Townsend and Meyers), will form an experienced double play tandem with Townsend. How far we go will likely depend on the performances (especially at the plate) of our new outfielders and pitchers. The kids have worked hard all offseason and are ready to perform. Our goal is to win the Freedom Division and make some noise in the District 1 playoffs.”