Bristol returns with a hunger burning
BucksLocalSports Editor
A year after falling to Calvary Christian Academy in the District One Championship, the Bristol baseball Warriors are back on the diamond.
The Warriors enter the season with a hunger burning in their bellies. So says Bristol head coach Tony Mangiaracina.
“They remember last year – how it ended,” said the skipper. “They have that bitter taste of losing in the championship game.
“That’s what’s motivating them and that’s what’s driv- ing them.”
Coach says this year, the Warriors want to go beyond District One play and get into states.
More good news is that Bristol returns junior Dylan Evert and senior Gino Cefalone on the hill while ErLnJLnJ EDFN RuWfiHOGHr DnG cleanup hitter Derek WhitfiHOG DnG KLs ELJ EDW WR WKH offense.
While outdoor practices have been tough to come by thus far, the Warriors return a host of seniors to the lineup. Included in the 2013 bunch is senior Shane AdDPsRn DW firsW EDsH, CRLOHDn Malone – a junior – at sec- ond, as well as seniors Mike Petrino at shortstop and Gino Cefalone at third base. LLNHZLsH, WKH HnWLrH RuWfiHOG is composed of 12th-graders including Sean Coughlin in FHnWHrfiHOG, DDOWRn BrDGy Ln OHIW DnG WKLWfiHOG Ln rLJKW.
“We have a group of kids back from last year who have experience,” said Mangiaracina. “I know what their skill level is, their talent, their strengths and weaknesses are. “That helps.” The coach has gotten no cooperation from Mother Nature, however. A scrimmage scheduled for Wednesday, March 20 at Pennsbury was postponed GuH WR SRRr fiHOG FRnGLWLRns. Despite the lack of outdoor playing time, Mangiaracina Ls FRnfiGHnW Ln KLs WHDP’s progression.
“I’m pleased with where we’re at,” he said.
“As long as we stay focused and stay humbled, I think we can be very competitive in the league and outside the league as well.”
On the mound for Bristol this season will be Evert and Cefalone, both righthanders. Additionally, Coughlin, Brady and newcomer Ryan Bauman will
the left side of the mound. Sophomore Rafael Cruz, another newcomer, will spell Coughlin in center, allowing Sean to see more time on the hill. Another sophomore – catcher Stephen Boggi – will spell Evert behind the plate when Dylan is pitching.
Coach is looking forward to going to war with three lefties in the pen this season.
“Last year, I had Sean but I wasn’t comfortable with DnyRnH HOVH Ln FHnWHUfiHOG. This year, we have someone (CruzF who can play centerfiHOG MuVW DV JRRG.”
What’s more, Bauman and BUDGy DUH ERWK RuWfiHOGHUV so that allows the skipper to spell the players’ positions Ln WKH fiHOG wKHn WKHLU nuPber is called upon to pitch.
“I’m going to be using a lot of pitchers this year, at least, that’s the plan,” said the coach. “I’m going to KDYH flH[LELOLWy WR EULnJ Ln pitchers in certain situations.”
New this season is another division in the Bicentennial Athletic League (BALF and Bristol’s bump up to the Independence Division in league play and Double-A status in district and state competition. The Warriors will face Independence rivals Holy Ghost Prep, New Hope-Solebury, Lower Moreland and Devon Prep twice this season. They’ll SODy D JURuS RI fiYH WHDPV only once from a new conference called the President’s Division. Included in that group is Morrisville, Calvary Christian, Christopher Dock, MaST Charter and newcomer Church Farm School. Bristol will not face any of the teams in the Constitution Division – Jenkintown, Phil-Mont Christian, Plumstead Christian, Faith Christian and DelCo Christian.
7KDW’V finH wLWK WKH FRDFK. Mangiaracina prefers playing in the tougher, more competitive Independence conference.
“I like the challenge; it’s going to force us to play even better,” he said. “I’m looking forward to it and I believe my kids are looking forward to the challenge as well.”
The season opener is slated for March 26 at Holy Ghost while the home opener takes place April 2 against Church Farm at Bristol MePRULDO BDOOfiHOGV.
Last year was a strange season for the Warriors. While Bristol went 16-3, 11-1 in BAL and won a second consecutive Constitution Division Champion- ship, it came up short in the District One Class A championship, losing to two-time D-I Champion Calvary Christian, which came in second in the conference standings.
In the title tilt, Cougars righthander Tyler Scheuer — then a junior from Newtown — took control, throwing a 3-hitter while striking out nine batters on the way to a 7-2 win in the district title game last May at sillanova Ballpark at Plymouth.
“Last year, I thought we had the talent and the ability to actually win the championship game,” said Mangiaracina. “But we ran into [Scheuer] and he pitched a great game and just shut us down.”
A staff ace for the Warriors in 2012, Evert surrendered MuVW fiYH KLWV. BuW KH wDV wild, hitting four Calvary batsmen. The third one cost him as it led to a big hit by No. 2 hitter Jordan Lukens (4-for-4, 2D, 3 RBIF, whose 2-run single put Calvary up R-2 in the fourth.
A week before in the district semis, Evert had pushed his record to 8-0 in a wild 17-7 mercy-ruled win over Delco Christian. However, the Knights tagged Dylan for 10 hits and he walked fiYH EDWWHUV.
In addition to pitchercatcher Kelvin Ortiz, Bristol also lost to graduation third baseman Brandon Newcomb, designated hitter Carmen Scalzo and relief pitcher Derek Bradeis.
♦♦♦ NOTESW Two years ago, Calvary defeated Morrisville to win the 2011 district title. The Bulldogs eliminated Bristol from the tournament in the D-I semis that year.
2012 All-BALW Gino Cefalone (Hon. Men. PF, Sean Coughlin (1st-Team OFF, Dylan Evert (1st Tm, PF, Coliean Malone (1st Tm, 2BF, Michael Petrino (1st Tm, SSF, Angelo Tisone (1st 7P, DH), DHUHN :KLWfiHOG (1st Tm, OFF, Tony Mangiaracina, BAL-Constitution Coach of the Year.