Shaler shapes up as a contender
Titans enjoy a fast start to the 2015 season
The expectations were high last year for the Shaler Area baseball program.
The Titans finished second in Section 3-AAAA, but had their WPIAL title hopes end against a hot Seneca Valley team in the playoff quarterfinals.
“We were in the playoffs and ran into Seneca Valley,” sixthyear Titans coach Brian Junker said. “We were on a roll and we were extremely disappointed. We faced a great pitcher. We were beaten. We did everything we could [to advance].
“We had a good team last year and we are returning all of our pitching from [the previous] year. I believe we had the best one-two punch in the WPIAL last year and we are fortunate to have them back.”
Behind the one-two punch of Jake Potock and Gavin Cannon, the Titans jumped out to a 4-1 record thropugh games of Tuesday.
Potock has been considered the Titans ace for three years and will continue his playing career next year at West Virginia University.
“[Potock] has been fantastic,” Junker said. “His strikeout-to-walk ratio was 8-to-1 last year. He has a good fastball, curveball and changeup. He throws them all for strikes.”
Cannon complements Potock well with his lethal breaking ball that dances away from opposing batters on a consistent basis.
“He doesn’t throw as hard [as Potock] but has the best curveball I have seen coaching high school baseball,” Junker said. “I can’t remember the last time he gave up more than two runs in a game.”
In case either one would find themselves in trouble, Junker has the luxury to turn to one of the best third basemen in the WPIAL, Sam Ireland, as the team’s closer. He also serves as the No. 3 starter.
Heading into the season the Titans already knew the offense would be their weak link and at first that looked to be the case. As a team, they could only muster three hits in a preseason scrimmage and two hits in their seasonopening loss to Peters Township.
“We went back to the drawing board and got that fixed,” Junker said. “We were having trouble timing the live pitching. They are very coachable group. Probably the most coachable I have been around.”
Since then, the Titans have scored 10-plus runs in three of their victories and have four players hitting better than .400.
After cracking the lineup late last season, junior shortstop Alex Ficorelli, who is also a standout on the school’s ice hockey team, was leading the team with a .500 batting average.
Behind him was junior Nick Fugh at .462. Fugh led the team with five RBIs through five games. Senior Andrew Mueller adds an experienced hand in the Titans outfield.
The surprise of the team has been sophomore Adam Zulka. Zulka is hitting at a .442 clip and serves the team as a catcher, middle infielder or designated hitter.
Junior first baseman Noah Feelhorst was hitting .412 in the young season.
“We worked hard all winter on hitting,”Junker said. “We thought it would be the weak link but that hasn’t been the case.
“Our goal is to win the section [title]. We want to get to the playoffs and win a WPIAL championship. We always set our goals real high and then do our best to chase them down.”