CURWENSVILLE – The Curwensville high school baseball team, coming off a very successful 2008 season finishing 16-8, is looking for more of the same as they return nine letter winners.
The Golden Tide and head coach Ryan Briskar get the 2009 campaign in full gear when they entertain Brockway on Tuesday, March 31.
It all starts with pitching and the Tide are no different as they have four starters back in seniors Ben McGary and Jesse Hoover, along with juniors Sam Gardner and Wes McGarry. McGary led the way last year with a 6-2 record and a 2.82 ERA. Gardner was 2-1 while posting a 3.74 ERA.
Also productive on offense, McGary hit .328 and Gardner .365 during the 2008 campaign.
Senior Cory Bloom will once again be behind the plate. It is the third straight year the very steady Bloom has anchored that position.
Mark Dell’Antonio and Tyler Johns, both seniors, are in a fight for first base. Those two along with another senior, Nick Opaliski, and junior Derek Brothers will be in the jumble to play at third base.
Up the middle, Brett Sutika, a junior who hit .341 last season, will see significant time at second base while another junior, Jed Greslick will move from the outfield to shortstop. Greslick led the Golden Tide in hitting last season with a .413 average. He also had a team high 13 stolen bases, while scoring 24 runs. Jesse Hoover will also see some action at short.
Jeff Smallwood, a senior and transfer from Clearfield will spell Sutika from time to time at second base.
Briskar is very happy with the quality of this year\’s team and especially with their overall speed, “Our team speed should put pressure on the defense so we will continue to stress that the entire season. If we hit the ball as well as last year, coupled with our quickness, then our offense should be just fine.”
The Golden Tide are very stable in the outfield with experience from four players. McGary will play center unless pitching. Hoover is set to toil in both left and right field while Gardner will see dual action in either left or center. Wes McGarry, who batted .380 last year, will position himself in right the vast majority of the time. Senior Derek Dixon will also patrol the outfield as needed.
Team numbers are up to 27 this year, not lost on Briskar, “ We like the fact that kids are coming back year after year. In a small school such as ours that is extremely important. To have that kind of consistency is very critical to the program. From ninth grade through 12th we are in good shape.”
Briskar added, “The coaches and players are really excited about our prospects this year. We are all anxious to get the season underway. With nine lettermen returning we feel we can make good things happen. Our schedule is somewhat difficult but it should help us down the stretch, especially if we learn how to win against some quality teams.”
The Tide will again battle for the crowns of two leagues this season, the Moshannon Valley and Allegheny Mountain Leagues.
ROSTER:
Seniors – *Cory Bloom, *Mark Dell’Antonio, Derek Dixon, *Jesse Hoover, Tyler Johns, *Ben McGary, *Nick Opaliski, John Rancik, Jeff Smallwood.
Juniors – Bucky Adams, Derek Brothers, *Sam Gardner, *Jed Greslick, *Wes McGarry, Richie Michaels, Tony Starr, *Brett Sutika.
Sophomores – Shae Best, Shane Hoover, Garrett LaBorde, Eric Little, Dylan Pollick.
Freshmen – Alex Holland, Jordan Lancaster, Boone McGary, Todd Munchak, Jesse Zorger.
* Denotes letter winner.
SCHEDULE:
March: 31-Brockway
April: 2 – at Ridgway; 3 – Cameron County; 6 – Johnsonburg; 8 – at DuBois Central Catholic; 9 – Harmony; 13 – Moshannon Valley; 15 – at Glendale, 4 pm; 16 – at Kane; 20 – Elk County Catholic; 22 – at Brockway; 24 – Brookville; 27 – Ridgway; 29 – at Johnsonburg.
May: 1 – at Cameron County, 4 pm; 4 – West Branch; 5 – DuBois Central Catholic ; 11 – Kane;13 – at Elk County Catholic; 14 – Punxsutawney, 4 pm.
Games start at 4:15 pm unless otherwise noted.
