One year later, Northwestern Lehigh ready to pursue lofty goals

When asked for his team’s preview information in March 2020, Northwestern Lehigh baseball coach Duran Porrino said: “We are absolutely loaded this year. I hope our kids get a chance to chase their goals.”

The chase never happened as the Tigers, like all spring sports teams, got shut down by the pandemic.

A year later, Northwestern Lehigh has many of the same key players back who missed out in 2020. The chase is back on.

The Tigers appear to have as much talent as any local high school baseball team and are clear favorites to win the Colonial League’s West Division title.

The rest of the division seems filled with uncertainty, as losing an entire season stripped clubs of the chance to develop and improve.

One of those inexperienced teams, Salisbury, is already off to a 2-0 start for Justin Aungst, a Salisbury grad who was supposed to make his coaching debut in 2020 but is a rookie head coach this spring.

The seven teams in the West will play 18 league games, with 12 contests against the other six in the division and six games against the East teams. The regular season is scheduled to wrap up May 10 ahead of a six-team postseason tournament that will begin May 14 and conclude May 20.

Northwestern hasn’t won a league championship since 2003 and has lost four of the last five Colonial League title games, three of the defeats coming by one run.

Is this the year the Tigers break through? The pieces are in place.

4 difference-makers CarterWelch,NorthwesternLehigh.

As a sophomore, Welch, a University of Delaware commit, was an all-area selection after going 10-1 with a 1.38 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 61 innings.

Rafe Perich, Northwestern Lehigh.

Perich, a Lehigh recruit, earned all-area honors in 2019 after hitting .500 with 20 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles. He scored 34 runs and drove in 33.

Nick Henry, Northwestern Lehigh. A standout in both football and basketball, Henry’s best sport may be baseball. The Moravian commit batted .379 with a teamhigh 33 hits in 2019.

Quinn Warmkessel, Salisbury. He was a shining light in the Falcons’ six-win season in 2019. He earned first-team all-league honors by hitting .392 with 10 doubles. As a pitcher, he had three wins and two saves.

3 who could surprise

Cole Serfass, Palmerton. His athleticism is not in doubt after he earned all-state honors as a football player. The sophomore played numerous positions on the gridiron, and his versatility might also be on display on the diamond.

Hunter Rothrock, Salisbury. The shortstop and leadoff hitter got the season off to a good start with five RBIs against Moravian Academy.

Matt Tankred, Southern Lehigh. A rugged rebounder on the Spartans basketball team, Tankred figures to be imposing on the mound. He has increased his velocity and could be one of the league’s hardest throwers.

2 storylines to follow

Tiger kings. Northwestern Lehigh had a promising 2020 vanquished by the pandemic, but the Tigers have as much talent as any team in local baseball and have a shot at getting what they couldn’t get last year.

Rookies of the year. Both Palmerton coach Erick Kresge and Salisbury leader Justin Aungst are talented former players eager to make their mark as high school coaches. Both are listed as second-year coaches, but this will be their first seasons running their dugouts after COVID-19 took 2020 away.

1 man’s opinion

Predicted order of finish: 1. Northwestern Lehigh; 2. Southern Lehigh; 3. Palmerton; 4. Salisbury; 5. Catasauqua; 6. Northern Lehigh; 7. Moravian Academy.

Team-by-team capsules

CATASAUQUA

Coach: Steve Bradley (11th season, 80-105). 2019: 5-15 overall, 5-13 Colonial.

2021: 0-1, lost to Saucon Valley 9-4 on Saturday.

Impact players: Cole Schiffer (Sr. C); Derek Troxell (Sr. 1B); Wesley Fotta (Jr. OF); Brandan Janny (So. P); Anthony Hunsicker (So. 3B); Christian Fye (So. SS); Austin Brett (Sr. UT); Dominic Gorr (Jr. 1B); McKay Lewis (So. P); Hunter Reitz (Fr. IF-OF); Manny Jiminez (Jr. IF); John Pushkar (Fr. 2B).

What to expect: The Rough Riders, who were set to begin their season Saturday against Saucon Valley, don’t have a deep roster. But Bradley said they should be competitive if they stay healthy.“The mindset is to get better each game, play with enthusiasm and compete hard,” he said. He added the team gets “fantastic leadership from its three seniors.”

MORAVIAN ACADEMY

Coach: Chris Eckman (ninth season, 34-115). 2019: 4-16, 2-16 Colonial.

2021: 0-1, lost to Salisbury 9-1 on Friday. Impact players: Ben Borsuk (Sr. P-IF), Treyton Messman (Jr. IF-OF) Charles Bingham (So. P-IF), Gabe Borsuk (So. C-IF)

What to expect: Eckman has only a handful of seniors and an inexperienced squad. “Developing their young talent, as well as hustle and fearlessness, are keys,” Eckman said. Senior Ben Borsuk’s pitching will also be essential, but as always team defense will determine how much the Lions can improve.

NORTHERN LEHIGH Coach:

Greg King (seventh season) 2019: 7-13, 5-12 Colonial.

Impact players: Ryan Hammond (Sr. P-SS-OF); Chase Misera (Sr. P-3B-OF); Grant Olewine (Sr. OF-IF-P); Zach Chamberlain (Jr. P-2B); Cole Hausman (Jr. C-3B), Josh Kistler (Jr. SS-P), Brett Misera (Jr. C-OF).

What to expect: King said that because last season was lost, the Bulldogs have little varsity experience.“We had only 20 players try out, so we are unable to field a JV team,” King said.“Because of this there will be some freshmen and sophomores who will be forced to see varsity action. Since we are so young and inexperienced, we will be focusing on the fundamentals and hoping for improvement.”

NORTHWESTERN LEHIGH

Coach: Duran Porrino (fifth season, 58-19). 2019: 21-5, 17-1 Colonial. Beat Southern Lehigh 6-1, lost to Notre Dame 2-1 in the Colonial League tourney. Beat Jim Thorpe 12-5, beat Wilson 9-8 and lost to North Schuylkill

3-2 in the District 11 4A tourney. Lost to East Pennsboro 3-2 in PIAA 4A tourney.

Impact players: Rafe Perich (Sr. SS-P); Carter Welch (Sr. P-OF); Nick Henry (Sr. OF); Justin Holmes (Jr. OF-P); Dylan Witkowski (Jr. IF-P); Ben Boyer (Jr. IF-P); Justin Augustus (Fr. IF). What to expect: “We have extremely high expectations for this season,” Porrino said. The Tigers have been to the state playoffs in their last two seasons and have a lot of players who were key contributors to those teams.“We feel as if we have a pitching staff led by Carter Welch and Rafe Perich that is good enough to contend for league, district and state championships,” Porrino said. Offensively, Perich and Henry will play key roles. Holmes, a Division I football recruit, and Witkowski, a transfer from Emmaus, will solidify the lineup.

PALMERTON Coach: 2019:

Erick Kresge (second season).

13-9 overall, 11-6 Colonial. Lost to Notre Dame 6-0 in Colonial League tourney. Lost to New Hope-Solebury 9-8 in District 1-11 subregional.

Impact players: Brock Bollinger (Sr. C); Ethan Recker (Sr. 2B); Tyler Stuck (Sr. OF); Jacob

Sutton (Sr. P-IF-OF); Connor Beahm (Jr. P); Kaleb Either (Jr. 3B); Cole Serfass (So. P-SS). Key to success: Offensively, the Blue Bombers should be fine.“But pitching will be the biggest key to our success this season,” Kresge said.“Without a season last year, no one on our pitching staff has any varsity pitching experience. Our pitching staff must be able to keep us in games and give us a chance to win.”

SALISBURY

Coach: Justin Aungst (second season).

2019: 6-14, 5-12 Colonial.

2021: 2-0, defeated Moravian Academy 9-1 on Friday, Dieruff 3-2 on Saturday.

Impact players: Quinn Warmkessel (Sr. P-C); Tim Schware (Jr. P-1B); Hunter Rothrock (Jr. SS); Paul Spann (Jr. 1B-P).

What to expect: After losing more than a dozen seniors who would have made the Falcons a title contender in 2020, Salisbury has just one senior and is looking for a significant number of young guys to take the next step and keep them in ballgames. The Falcons got off to a good start in their opener behind Schware and Rothrock.

SOUTHERN LEHIGH

Coach: Todd Miller (23rd season). 2019: 14-9, 12-6 Colonial. Beat Saucon Valley 11-4, lost to Northwestern Lehigh 6-1 in Colonial League tourney. Lost to Whitehall 2-1 in the District 11 5A semifinals.

Impact players: Matt Tankred (Jr. P-IF); Will Woodring (Jr. C); Gavin Bealer (Sr. IF-P); Wyatt Yaindl (Sr. IF-P); Michael Andrews (Jr. CF). What to expect: “Honestly, we have such limited varsity experience that uncertainty is out there,” said Miller when asked about the team’s mindset. The Spartans have one player that has played an entire varsity season, but added the Spartans are willing to learn. Miller said the goal is to appreciate the season, get better every day, compete every day and find a way into the playoffs at the end.