Despite having just three returning starters, defending George B. Kelley Federation champion Martin Oil has once again been tabbed as one of the favorites to win the league by opposing managers.
The Bellwood entry lost top pitchers Trey Mock and Nathaniel Gray along with sluggers Tyler Simpson, Jimmy Watters and Adam Kovac, but Mike Albright and Zach Dionis highlight six returning 18-year-olds who will try and help Martin Oil repeat.
The Hollidaysburg entry, Locker Room, was also selected as a favorite. Locker Room failed to qualify for the playoffs a year ago but has 10 players returning with starting experience. The squad should also receive a boost from newcomer pitcher Brandon Simpson. Simpson, an 18-year-old, is one of the top pitchers for Hollidaysburg's high school baseball team that advanced to the state playoffs in 2009.
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Mirror file photo by Patrick Waksmunski
Catcher Mike Albright is one of three returning starters for defending champion Martin Oil.
Dick's Pharmacy, which was one vote shy of the favorites, finished sixth last year and lost, two games to one, to 2009 runner-up Juniata VFW in the first round. Dick's returns seven starters.
ReMax Realty got two votes to round out the selections for league favorites.
A year after the league had nine teams, it is back to 10 with Tyrone back in the fold.
The following are preview capsules of each squad.
Corporal Miller
Manager: Tom Stout
Assistant coaches: Ed Cheslock, Butch Carper
Last year's regular season record: 12-7
Returning players: Will Snyder, 18, c-3b-ss-p; Nick Smith, 17, inf.-p; Shawn Conrad, 18, inf.-p; Jonathon Snyder, 18, 2b; Chris Carper, 18, of; Kyle Cheslock, 16, of; Cody Henderson, 17, utl.-p; Kyler Mearkle, 17, of
Newcomers: J.D. Green, 16, p-1b-of; Ryan Riley, 16, 2b; Patrick Emigh, 16, of; Nate Nagle, 16, p-3b-of; Zach Bender, 17, 1b; Justin Craine, 16, of; R.J. Iddings, 16; Sean Quinton, 17, 3b
Players lost: Ryan Murphy, of-p; Jordan Russell, of; Jordan Cheslock, p-1b; Jarrod Prugar, p-of-1b
Overall outlook: "Corporal Miller is working hard to win the league."
Team to beat: Dick's Pharmacy and Locker Room
Cove businesses
Manager: Brad Sell
Assistant coaches: Jon Ewart, Derek Forshey
Last year's regular season record: 12-8
Returning starters: Dustin Brooks, 17, inf.; C.J. Gahagan, 17, inf.; Eric Keefer, 17, of; Nate Reid, 18, c; Carl Sell, 18, of-dh.
Newcomers: Logan Stern, 16, inf.; Adam Kreider, 18, inf.; Shane Cafferty, 18, inf.; Lucas Runk, 17, of; Brandon Nicewonger, 16, inf.; Shaffer Johnson, 16, inf.; Brandon Negley, 16, inf.
Players lost: Derek Forshey, Trent Forshey, Ryan Neil, Mike Walters, Marcus Morgan, Casey Hamilton, Matt Reed
Overall outlook: "Good."
Team to beat: Locker Room and Dick's Pharmacy
Dick's pharmacy
Manager: Pat Yon
Assistant coaches: Rob Kyle, Jack McFarlane, John Lytle, Calvin Yon, Chris Sanders
Last year's regular season record: 10-9
Returning starters: Craig Eckenrode, 18, p-inf.; Carlin Futrell, 18, 1b-of-dh, Anthony Lytle, 18, of; Nathan Clancy, 17, inf.-of; Matt Fredrick, 17, p-inf.-of; Cameron Kyle, 17, p-utl.; Scott Lytle, 17, p-utl.
Other returning players: Greg Hughes, 17, p-of; Tyler Masucci, 17, of; Cory Myers, 17, p-of; Scott Thompson, 17, utl.
Newcomers: Dylan Wilt, 17, p-inf.; Brandon Barger, 16, 1b-dh; Josh Fredrick, 16, p-of; Travis Potts, 16, p-utl; Andy Scalice, 16, c-of; Chris Sinisi, 16, inf.-of; Tyler Weyant, 16, inf.-of; Taylor Yon, 16, p-1b-of
Players lost: Zeke Quirin, of; Greg Snyder, p-c; Tyler Sweeney, p-3b
Overall outlook: "We should be competitive as the team matures, we should get better and make the playoffs."
Team to beat: Martin Oil, ReMax Realty and Locker Room
Juniata VFW
Manager: Steve Porter
Assistant coaches: Bob Fetterman, Scott Porter, Phil Steele
Last year's regular season record: 12-8
Returning starters: Josh Adams, Francis Gormish, Bryant Ketrow, Keith Kawtowski, Craig McCloskey, Jonathan Lytle, Jake McPhee, Jake Ozechoski, David Riggleman, Dallas Reilly, Andrew White
Newcomers: Logan Lashley, Derek McNelly, Aaron Reigh, Tyson Steele, Clayton Wilson
Players lost: Josh Weyant, Ricky McPhee
Overall outlook: "We haven't been able to practice so we don't know where we are at this point. Hopefully down the road we can put things together before it's too late."
Team to beat: Martin Oil
Locker Room
Manager: Don Ellis
Assistant coaches: Todd Hennessey, Denny Terchanik, Jim DeStefano
Last year's regular season record: 7-11
Returning starters: Cody Snyder, 18, of; Zach Fagans, 18, utl.; Stever Shiffler, 18, p-inf.; Jeff Donovan, 17, p-inf.; Jimmy Dalgarn, 18, inf.-of; Colin Greenleaf, 18, c-inf.; Kenny Ritchey, 18, inf.-of; Tyler Hennessey, 17, inf.-of; Jeremy Budd, 17, p-inf.; Corey Barr, 17, p-of
Newcomers: Damian Lascoli, 17, c; Brian Dinges, 16, of; Danny DeStefano, 17, c-inf.; Caden Terchanik, 17, inf.-of; Jared Keller, 17, inf.-of; Sam Ellis, 17, inf.-of; Brandon Simpson, 18, p-inf.; Cullen Schimminger, 17, c-inf.; Evan Ruggles, 16, c-of; Tyler Sheetz, 16, p-c-inf.
Overall outlook: "Pitching and hitting will be our biggest strength."
Team to beat: Martin Oil
Martin Oil
Manager: Ed Davis
Assistant coaches: Tim Kovac, Bob Miller, Chris Miller, Adam Worthing, Patrick Earnest
Last year's regular season record: 16-3
Returning starters: Mike Albright, 18, c; Garrett Lender, 17, p-of; Zach Dionis, 18, c-of
Other returning players: Jason Miller, 18, of; Zack Doyle, 18, of; Dyllon Gorby, 18, of; Kyle DeGennaro, 18, inf
Newcomers: Andrew DeGol, 16, of; Cameron Huff, 18, inf.-p; Eric Miller, 17, inf; Cody Krepps, 17, inf; Deryk Montgomery, 17, inf-p; Tobias Patterson, 17, inf; Alex Dionis, 15, inf.-p
Players lost: Trey Mock, p-inf; Nathaniel Gray, p-inf; Jimmy Watters, of; Tyler Simpson, inf; Adam Kovac, of
Overall outlook: "Basically, we just look to improve as the season progresses, and we hope to make the playoffs.''
Team to beat: Locker Room and Dick's Pharmacy
Park Furniture
Manager: Scott McClellan
Assistant coach: Chuck Koch
Last year's regular season record: 1-17
Returning starters: Devon Hoover, 18, p-of; Ryan Tyler, 18, p-2b; Chad Koch, 17, of-inf.; Ian Ralston, 17, p-1b; Mac Watson, 17, c-3b; Mike Wise, 17, p-3b-of
Newcomers: Brandon Barroner, 18, p-ss; Tyler Adams, 16, 3b-of; Anthony Eckenrode, 16, of; Ethan Wilt, 16, p-c-1b; Dylan Barroner, 16, p-c-ss-of; Casey Grove, 16, p-c-2b-ss
Players lost: Eric Banks, 1b; Nate Rossman, of; Mike Wentz, dh; Nate Schultz, inf.; Ian Richards, dh; Andy Smithmyer, of; Antonio Tornatore, of; Derek Mathews, inf.; Nick Zimmerman, inf.
Overall outlook: "I hope we're competitive and make the playoffs."
Team to beat: Everybody
Remax Realty
Manager: Bill Wolf
Assistant coaches: Steve Trexler, Steve Webster, Chris Perry, Stevie Webster, Alan Wilson (scorekeeper)
Last year's regular season record: 12-8
Returning starters: Conner Abram, 17, 1b; Anthony Zelnosky, 18, 2b; Aaron Frederick, 17, ss-p; Zach Folcarelli, 18, p-of; J.R. Gearhart, 18, p-of; Trevor Bush, 17, of; Andrew Rupert, 17, p; Chris McCarty, 18, c
Other returning players: Jacob Filler, 17, of; Brennan Long, 17, of; Garrett Campbell, 17, c-inf; Brian Carlan, 17, of; Justin Lynn, 17, 2b
Newcomers: Lucas Glass, 18, of; Alex Albright, 16, inf; Kenny Dalto, 16, of; Marshall Johnson, 16, inf; Nate Sanders, 16, inf; Zach Price, 16, inf; Dustin Albright, 16, inf; Conner Campbell, 16, of
Players lost: Ryan Harshberger, 3b-1b; Zack Frederick, ss; Chris Perry, 2b; Bo Forney, of
Overall outlook: "We're just hoping to be competitive, because a lot of teams have a lot of good players coming back, and the league should be very strong this year.''
Team to beat: Locker Room and Dick's Pharmacy
Sheetz
Manager: Aaron Schmitt
Assistant coaches: Adam Schmitt, Nick Perehinec, Josh Stoehr, Dale Rogers
Last year's regular season record: 4-15
Returning starters: D.J. Gibson, 18, cf-ss; Skyler Kephart, 18, 1b-p; Will Walter, 18, inf.-c; Brett Schmitt, 17, c
Other returning players: Josiah Champeno, 18, of-p; Tim Moore, 18, inf.-of
Newcomers: Mitch Stacey, 18, of; Jeff Geiner, 18, inf.-of; Julian Howsare, 17, 3b-1b; Ryan O'Leary, 17, of-p; Mike Sinisi, 17, of; Jeremy Bakale, 17, of; Jake Wills, 16, 2b; Curt Hoover, 16, inf.-p
Players lost: Dave McCloskey, cf; Derek Gallardy, of; Ty Wentz, of; Tyler Trexler, inf.; Jake Bettwy, inf.-of; Jeff Ingram, inf.; Braden Luciano, of; Caleb Angle, of
Overall outlook: "We have the players to be a pretty good team."
Team to beat: ReMax Realty and Martin Oil
Tyrone
Manager: Jesse Hertzler
Assistant coaches: Mike Romano, Travis Peterman
Last year: Did not field team
Newcomers: Zach Gault, c; Tyler Hertzler, 1b-p; Dave Cherry, 2b-p; Shane Walker, 2b-p; Adam Bonsell, 3b-p; Richard Crabtree, inf.-p; Ridge Colyer, inf.-of-p; Jordan Taylor, of-p-c; Levi Reihart, of; Courtland Pennabaker, of-p; Derick Fisher, of; Mark Bryan, of-3b; Shaq Williams, 1b-of-p; Corbin Nevling-Ray, c; Zach Cothard, p-1b; Eric Desch, p-inf.-of; Rob Marlett, of-2b
Overall outlook: "We're inexperienced, but we have the talent to contend with anyone."
Team to beat: Martin Oil
