Johnston Realty to defend title
The three-team Altoona AAABA League opens its 2017 season today with Cumming Motors playing ProActive Sports at Juniata.
The Altoona AAABA League lost two teams — Railbirds and Wise Trailer Sales — but gained ProActive. Cumming Motors is the same team that was sponsored by Barton’s Plumbing in 2016, and Johnston Realty returns as a sponsor.
The AAABA League will again partner with the Altoona Greater City League. Each AAABA team will play the City League teams once and will play each other four times for a total of 16 games.
All three teams will qualify for the season-ending playoffs with the first-place team getting a first-round bye. The semifinals will be a best-of-three series, and the finals will be best-of-five with the champ representing Altoona in the National Tournament in Johnstown starting on Monday, Aug. 7.
Johnston Realty won the 2016 league playoffs and went 1-2 in the Altoona Regional and 0-3 in Johnstown.
Cumming Motors
Coach: Scott Conrad
Last year’s record: 5-10
Returning players: Dylan Conrad, C-P; Alex Martynuska, C-P; Jaret Berardinelli, INF-P; Catcher Cumming, UTL-P; Ben Foose, INF-P; John McGinty, INF-P; Derek Cursio, INF-P; Tristan Lingenfelt, P; Cory Geer, INF-P; Austin Pope, UTL-P; Dakota Byers, INF-P; Jordan McCall, OF-P; Tanner Cook, OF-P; Jordan Miller, OF-P; Josh DeGol, UTL-P
Newcomers: Hunter Schuff; Adam Sinisi
Outlook: “Optimistic. Our success will depend on everyone in the dugout.”
Johnston Realty
Coach: George Goodling
Last year’s record: 12-3
Returning players: Trenton Creppage, OF; Brady Goodling, INF-C; John White P; Ethan Hite, P; Dylan Gearhart, INF-P; Gregg Copenhaver, OF; Sam Plafcan, C; Tyler Hall, P; Drew Harshbarger, P; Quintin Posey, OF; Blaze Roush, P; Nick Holesa, INF-P; Austin Amacher, P; Bryce Hensor, INF; Dan Bowman, INF-P; Hunter Blair, INF-P
Newcomers: John Servello, OF-P; Sam Servello, OF-P; Cory Storm, INF-P; Frank Montecalvo, OF; Lennox Pugh, INF; Tyler Treese, INF; Tyler Peterson, INF-C; Jackson Ritchey, INF; Ryan Koontz, C; Quintin Miller, OF; Jordan Clingerman, P; Jared Hose, P; Nate Kerlin, P; Mason Ronan, P
Outlook: “It will be hard to replace Adams, Walls, Calliari and Kane. The team will be young but competitive. We have a lot of new faces.”
ProActive Sports
Coach: John Gority
Last year’s record: New team
Players: Jacob Hord, OF; Trevor Miller, OF-P; Andrew Gressler, P-INF; Dominic Georgiana, INF; John Gority, INF-P; Jacob Plunket, INF-P; Jeremy Ehrhart, C; Cole Gibson, INF-P; Evan Knoll, C; Mason Betar, INF-P; Devin Smith, INF-P; Josiah Huber, INF-P; Jacob Huber, INF; Max Sankey, OF; Caimen Nicolini, INF-P; Cam Fasic, INF; Jerricho Hilling, INF; Braeden Burchfield, INF-P; Ryan Swope, C; Casey Sheetz, INF; Dylan Benton, INF-P; Damon Langer, INF; J.M. Knepp, INF; Bubba Johnson, OF-P; Cullen Gahagan, OF; Brenden Vollkhommer, INF; Matt Dulto, P-OF
Outlook: “We are a new young team and looking forward to competing at the AAABA level.”