Barthol’s return a big lift for Parkland
Two-time defending EPC champ Emmaus likely to remain in contention
It was an early-season classic at Parkland last season.
It was an April 20 game that stretched deep into the night and when it was over the host had not only lost a heartbreaker, 2-1, in 12 innings, but they also perhaps lost their best chance to compete for league and district titles.
That’s because all-everything player Bo Barthol suffered a major knee injury while being tagged on a rundown play.
He never returned to the Trojans lineup and Parkland, always a competitive team that made it to both the league and district semis, never won a title.
While his brother, Blake, became the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference MVP and is off to a good collegiate start at Coastal Carolina, Bo Barthol is back in the Trojans lineup.
His return along with several other veterans make Parkland a team to watch in the EPC West this spring along with two-time defending league champ Emmaus and revitalized Whitehall and Northampton teams that both had big opening-day wins on Tuesday.
There’s also a new head coach at Allentown Central Catholic and optimism for better results at Allen as the Canaries got off to a good start with a pair of wins.
Each team will play 16 games with the last scheduled date for games being May 3. The league tournament will follow the following week.
The EPC champion has come from the West Division eight times in the last nine seasons with only Freedom spoiling that streak in 2016.
While Liberty and Nazareth are considered top contenders for league honors this year, the West remains a competitive six-team division. Here’s a closer look:
4 past division champs
2018: Parkland
2019: Parkland
2021: Parkalnd
2022: Parkland/Emmaus tie
3 players to watch
Owen DeLong, Parkland: As a junior last season, DeLong was superb with a 5-1 record and 1.39 ERA. He had 25 strikeouts and 12 walks in 50-plus innings. He also had a win in districts over Easton and started this season strong with five solid innings in which he allowed just one earned run and walked just one and fanned three.
Josiah Williams, Emmaus: Most people in local sports know Williams as a talented football who quarterbacked the Green Hornets to the district finals in 2021. But he’s also a quality baseball player and hit .333 last year as a sophomore with 27 RBIs and 20 runs scored.
Dylan Carfara, Whitehall: As a sophomore last season, Carfara hit .311 with nine extra-base hits, including two home runs. He also had a 1.2 ERA as a pitcher with 10 strikeouts and just three walks in five appearances.
1. How will new Allentown Central Catholic coach Matt Moore, who was successful as a high school and college player, impact the Vikings program where numerous kids have experienced success in other sports?
2. Can Parkland standout Bo Barthol, who hasn’t been healthy each of the past two seasons, stay on the field enough to make a big difference for the Trojans?
1 man’s opinion
Predicted order of finish: 1. Parkland; 2. Emmaus; 3. Northampton; 4. ACCHS; 5. Whitehall; 6. Allen.
Expected to make the league tournament: Parkland, Emmaus, Northampton.
TEAM-BY-TEAM OUTLOOK
ALLEN CANARIES
Coach: Rob Leskosky (11th season, 51-128)
2022 season: 3-17, 1-15 EPC, sixth in the West.
2023 season: 2-1 through Tuesday with wins over Salisbury and East Stroudsburg South and a loss to Emmaus.
Impact players: Eduardo Rivas (Sr. P-INF); Aaron Schneider (Jr. CUTL); Ben Moretz (Jr. P-OF); Matt Moll (Sr. OF); Darling De la Rosa (Sr. P-INF); Trevor Golden (Jr. C-INF). What to expect: Leskosky said: “We will go as far as our pitching goes led by Rivas, Moretz and
De la Rosa. That trio, along with Schneider, Moll, and Golden will be the catalysts to provide the offensive punch. If we get full buyin on team concepts, we might be able to steal a few extra wins.
ALLENTOWN CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS
Coach: Matt Moore (first season) 2022 season: 10-11 overall, 8-8 EPC, fourth in West.
Postseason: Lost to Bethlehem Catholic 3-0 in the District 11 4A quarterfinals.
2023 season: 0-1, lost to Whitehall 1-0.
Impact players: Kaden Breidinger (C-1B); Cole Croslis (OF); Tamlin Ferguson (Sr. IF); Ethan Hosak (OF); Josh Ossiander (P-IF); Griffin Patridge (Sr. C); Anthony Jones (Sr.
3B-OF); James Evans (IF).
What to expect: Moore, a 1992 Northampton High grad and a standout on a DeSales NCAA regionals team in 1997 and a former DeSales assistant, takes over for Mike Brosious who went 77-95 in nine seasons. The son of Dieruff High football and basketball legend Ross Moore said: “We have a lot of experience and quite a few leaders. They work hard and love to compete.”The Vikings feature an all-new coaching staff focused on pulling everything together. The Vikings have several athletes who were on District 11 championship football and basketball teams. Patridge, who figures to be one of the area’s top catchers, was a member of both teams.
EMMAUS GREEN HORNETS
Coach: Jeremy Haas (fifth season, 57-25)
2022 season: 22-6, 13-3 EPC, tied for first in the West.
2023 season: 2-0, beat Blue Mountain 12-2, beat Allen 11-1. Postseason: In EPC tourney, beat Pleasant Valley 10-0, beat Parkland 9-1 and beat Nazareth 6-5 in 10 innings for league title. In District 11 6A, beat Stroudsburg 5-0, beat Nazareth 3-1 and lost to Liberty 6-1 in title game. In PIAA tourney, beat Owen J Roberts 1-0, lost to Hazleton 12-0.
Impact players: Colin Wilson (Jr.INF), Ryan Latchford (Sr. P), Noah Hogan (Jr. OF-P), TJ Geist (Sr.-P), Zach McEllroy (Sr. UTL), Josiah Williams (Jr. 1B-P)
What to expect: The Green Hornets graduated 147 ⅔ innings pitched and return zero wins on the mound. On the offensive side they graduated six everyday starters that were the driving force behind their offense. Still, the program remains strong and the goals remain the same and that’s to qualify for the league and district tournaments. “This team will have to find new ways to win baseball games,” Haas said. “A young, athletic core will need to grow up fast and learn what it takes to win. The way we win this year will be vastly different from the past two years. There will be growing pains, but as long as we are able to stay in the moment from day to day, we will find success.”
NORTHAMPTON KONKRETE KIDS
Coach: Mick Sugra (12th season, 136-102)
2022 season: 13-9, 10-6 EPC, third in the West.
Postseason: Lost to Parkland 4-1 in the EPC quarterfinals. In District 11 6A, lost to Nazareth 5-4 in the quarterfinals.
2023 season: 1-0, beat Parkland 10-8.
Impact Players: Evan Hughes (Sr. P-SS-UT), Logan Higgins (Jr. OF-P), Dylan Fosko (Sr. UT-DH), Matt Merced (Sr. 3B-P), Owen Laury
(Sr. P-UT), Nate Wolfe (Sr. OF), Ian Onuschak (Sr. OF), Sam Erschen
(Jr. P-UT), Mason Haupt (Jr. 2B-P), Jed Colyer (Jr. 1B), Isaiah Alicea (Jr. C) Erick Castro (So. SS-P), Gavin Pychinka (Soph C).
What to expect: The K-Kids are off to a good start and Sugra said: “We have a hard working, blue collar team that competes. We have a lot of competitions going on everyday to see who is going to rise up. We were fortunate to have our two scrimmages to answer some of the question marks that we have positionally. We have some quality arms in Hughes, Higgins, Laury, Merced, Erschen, and Castro.” He added that Northampton has tough schedule this year and its pitching will be tested. It’s a team capable of competing for league and District 11 playoff berths.
PARKLAND TROJANS
Coach: Kurt Weber (eighth season, 107-43)
2022 season: 16-7, 13-3 EPC, tied for first in West.
Postseason: In EPC tourney, beat Northampton 4-1; lost to Emmaus 9-1 in quarterfinals. In District 11 6A, beat Easton 6-3, lost to Liberty 5-4 in semifinals.
2023 season: 0-1, lost to Northampton 10-8.
Impact players: Owen Delong
(Sr. OF-P), Bo Barthol (Sr. OF-P), Dominic Medlar (Sr. OF), Matt Razzis (Sr. C), Jaiden Wanamaker (Sr. 1B-P), Michael Cole (Sr. SS). What to expect: Injuries have negatively impacted the Trojans the last two seasons. Looking to stay healthy, the Trojans have to replace the majority of their offensive production from last spring. “There is a lot of change from last year,” Weber said. “Either new people or new roles for older players. Early in the season could be challenging, but we are excited about our potential and anticipate being a factor in the playoffs.”
WHITEHALL ZEPHYRS
Coach: Eric Schmitt (second season) 2022 season: 9-11, 7-9 EPC, fifth in West.
2023 season: 1-0, beat Allentown Central Catholic 1-0.
Impact players: Jace Duld (Sr.
1B); Dylan Carfara (Jr. SS-P); Alex Kotsch (Sr. CF) Tyler Mastropieri (Sr. P-RF); Rob Yankowy (Jr. C); Owen Ness (Sr. 2B) Evan Kovalcik (Jr. P-DH-LF); Matt Rader (So. P-3B-DH); Aurealis Haddad (Jr. P) Zach Schaedel (Soph. 3B)
What to expect: Zephyrs were very young in 2022, but the 2023 edition has a lot more varsity experience. Will that experience translate into success? “The players have really bought into our offensive process and everyone has worked extremely hard,” Schmitt said.“We have a pretty tough schedule to start but we are excited about this season.”A 1-0 win over ACCHS on opening day indicates a much better season could be coming.