Young Freeport is showing plenty of growth potential

Ed Carr took over for Chris Graczyk heading into the same season Freeport returned two starters.

With a young team, walking into tough situations like facing Deer Lakes ace and senior Zach Lubick becomes even tougher. The Yellowjackets lost the Class 4A Section 1 matchup, 3-2, on Monday, but have gotten off to a 6-2 start overall.

Inexperience flashes as the team works to limit errors, but Freeport’s lineup has potential to grow, Carr said.

“You get a little bit of that,” Carr said. “We’re starting off 5-2, so the mistakes we’ve made, we haven’t played a clean game yet, completely. We’ve made a couple young mistakes but we’ve overcome them for the most part. I think we have talent, so we make up for inexperience with some ability.”

Though it’s a year of transition for the Yellowjackets, having a few months to prepare for a new lineup and look has helped the team to its strong early showing, Carr said.

“It’s been good. We’ve been off to a good start. We started in the fall, so things have been going pretty well. I think we’ve all been pretty happy.”

His goal is to simplify the game for his team, focusing on first-pitch strikes, having a goal of one error or less and getting quality atbats.

Returning starters James Flemm, a pitcher-shortstopsecond baseman, and center fielder Nevin Decroo have helped fuel the Yellowjackets’ offense, Carr said. Both hit toward the top of the lineup. Flemm hit a home run in the Deer Lakes loss and Decroo had two home runs in the 12-2 win against Greensburg Salem last Wednesday.

“I think they’ve carried the load a little bit, to be honest with you,” Carr said. “They’re two of our hardest hitters. They seem to square the ball up even when they’re not getting base hits.”

Norwin

Chad Coles won nine games and pitched in all four of the Knights’ playoff games last year. With Coles out with a torn labrum, Norwin has had to rely on others such as Chris Wallace, Ryan Weaver, Nick Lagnese and Andrew Wiggens.

Coach Mike Liebdzinski knows there’s no replacing Coles, and said the Knights other pitchers will have to step into bigger roles if the team is to be successful.

“I think they are more than capable and nothing they have done so far has made me doubt that,” Liebdzinski said.

Coming off a WPIAL 4A title, the Knights started the season 4-1 in Class 6A. Through their 6-2 win versus Plum on Monday, Lagnese has a 2.55 ERA in 11 innings pitched and Weaver has a 1.24 ERA in 11⅓ innings pitched.

“All of our pitchers have been consistent throwing strikes,” Liebdzinski said in an email. “Their ability to get ahead and stay out of the middle of the plate has been very good to this point.”

Vincentian

Defending WPIAL and PIAA 1A champion Vincentian has had to play without starters Mark Yakim and Aidan Thomson 100 percent healthy its first few weeks.

Yakim, who had mononucleosis, was cleared by doctor Monday and pinchhit in the team’s 12-2 win against Leechburg Tuesday. He continues to get his strength back, according to coach Paul Quarantillo.

Thomson had a virus and couldn’t play in Vincentian’s 6-5 loss to Butler last Wednesday, but played third base against Leechburg. He pitched three innings in the team’s 12-2 win against Springdale Monday, and should be back to 100 percent soon, Quarantillo said.

Usually the team’s starting catcher, Yakim still has a week or so before he’s ready to go behind the plate full time. When Quarantillo can put Ryan Bickert, who has filled in at catcher, back into left field and let Yakim settle back into his old position, he’ll feel better about his team’s odds on defense.

“Obviously when you’re at full strength, it’s better than moving people around,” Quarantillo said. “But I think most importantly, it helps our defense.”