Here's a team-by-team look at the programs toiling in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division. Teams are list in projected order of finish.
Head coach: Nate Ebbert
2012 record: 16-8 (7-5 Commonwealth, T-2nd)
TOP PLAYERS: *Shane Dressler (sr 1B), *Jamie Eshleman (sr SS), *Ben Snyder (jr C), Jake Payne (sr OF), Kyle Searfoss (sr OF/P), Jeremy Hileman (jr OF/P), Matt Shope (jr OF/P), Zach Newmyer (jr RHP), Eric Dressler (so C/3B), Dalton Clouser (so IF/P).
BASE HITS: Foiled by surging Central Dauphin for the third and final PIAA bid in 2012, the Patriots are stacked with heavy hitters and strong position players who should make any trip to Brandt Cook Field a difficult one. Now for the twist. Only Searfoss returns with substantial innings under this belt, meaning Ebbert is hoping an untested stable gets up to speed in a hurry. Dressler, Snyder and Payne all hit near or above .400 last year.
Head coach: Mike Whitehead
2012 record: 12-9 (8-4 Commonwealth, 1st)
TOP PLAYERS: *Matt Davis (sr SS), *Hunter Schryver (sr P/1B), Kole Aumiller (jr C), Patrick Schrim (sr 3B), Mike Adams (jr DH/P), Mitchell Lacey (jr OF/P), Christian McClure (jr P), Matt Ober (sr P).
BASE HITS: Who else was surprised the Eagles walked away with the division title a year ago? We were, although Whitehead and the Eagles always seem to produce just enough heat to produce tight wins and district invites. CV's small senior class is as talented as they come, and the Eagles are primed for another run with Schryver, Lacey and Ober headlining the rotation. Another tough out.
Head coach: Brian Zellers
2012 record:15-11 (6-6 Commonwealth, T-4th)
TOP PLAYERS: Blake Lazur (jr OF), Connor Anderson (jr SS), *Tim Hobbs (sr 1B/P), TJ Osborne (sr IF), Justin Rohrer (sr P), Nate Dickey (jr P/IF), Jared Lydon (sr P/3B), Dallas Underwood (sr C/OF).
BASE HITS: Nothing would be sweeter than topping last year's fantastic run to the PIAA quarterfinals. All of those names above were key ingredients in moving CD to that state scrape with eventual champ LaSalle College. Rohrer and Dickey will handle the bulk of innings early, but Zellers still needs a few more “arms” to materialize for the Rams to stay relevant. Of course, we fully expect the clutch hitting to continue.
Head coach: Bill Tussey
2012 record: 12-6
TOP PLAYERS: Darian Herncane (sr LF), Dan Fry (sr RF), Nick Smith (sr 2B), Calvin Sichler (jr SS), Dalton Bown (sr 3B), Jason Costa (sr C), Ben Finlan (sr P), Nick Raquet (jr P), Ryan Karstetter (so IF/P), Ken Craig (jr IFP), Tanner Witter (sr OF).
BASE HITS: Everyone knows the Lions don't walk into baseball season with modest goals. Despite this new frontier, that won't change with sterling outfielders Herncane and Fry leading the way. Karstetter, a really early Virginia commit, and a strong junior class should help Tussey turn around a disappointing 2012 campaign that ended with a stinging 7-6 loss to Central Mountain in the D6 bracket.
Head coach: Travis Zook
2012 record: 15-3
TOP PLAYERS: Seth Wagner (sr LHP), Rodney Patterson (sr RHP), Evan Pupo (sr IF/RHP), Issac Strohecker (jr 3B), Cy Treaster (sr C), Drew Hannon (jr 1B), Lucas McKay (jr IF/RHP), Kyle Bodorf (jr OF), Heath Hidlay (jr IF/RHP).
BASE HITS: The Mid-Penn NKOB – New Kid on the Block – will offer some lively arms in Wagner (PSU recruit) and Patterson (Mount Aloysius), and a game set of newcomers to back up Zook's fine pitching staff. Only Treaster, Pupo and Strohecker have serious varsity experience, however, so the Huskies will need to hit the ground running. Will seek another top seed in District 6 postseason.
Head coach: Bob Thomas
2012 record: 11-9 (7-5 Commonwealth, T-2nd)
TOP PLAYERS: Nick Graham (jr C), Tyghe Bowers (sr P), Andrew Shreiner (sr P/1B), Jonathan Brown (jr P/3B), *Logan Stonesifer (sr OF), Jackson Ford (jr 1B), Micky Gladfelter (sr 2B).
BASE HITS: The simple truth is Chambersburg did not perform like a perennial power last season. The Trojans were inconsistent and hovered near .500 before bowing to Lower Dauphin in the D3-AAAA opening round. That said, Thomas' crew has to tighten up defensively and, hopefully, get clean innings before the offense kicks in gear. Only managed three hits against Waynesboro last week.
Head coach: Justin Phillips
2012 record: 10-12 (6-6 Commonwealth, T-4th)
TOP PLAYERS: Stephen McKee (jr SS/P), Mitch Chapman (sr OF/P), Alex LaFaver (sr OF), Jackson Pettis (sr IF/P), Chris Walker (sr IF/OF).
BASE HITS: Maybe the toughest Commonwealth program to handicap, the Colts are forced to press on without jack-of-all-trades Tyler Orris and a couple of long-inning hurlers. But Phillips is optimistic about his returning staff with McKee and Chapman leading the way. Plus, the Colts have placed an increased emphasis on defense while the offense comes along.
Head coach: Jim Mazzolla
2012 record: 7-13 (4-8 Commonwealth, T-6th)
TOP PLAYERS: *Kyle Fackler (sr SS/P), Trystin Tolbert (sr 2B/P), Ricky Bettinger (sr 1B/P), Tyler Clancy (sr CF), Mike Varner (sr C), Cody Beamer (sr C), Quinton Heckard (fr IF), Stephen McInturff (fr 3B/P).
BASE HITS: In 2012, the Panthers turned a corner in terms of winning close ball games. CD East was 6-3 in two-run decisions, a sign that Mazzolla's returning senior class can run upright in this neighborhood. Losing an arm that provided 45 innings and a 1.90 ERA is tough, but Fackler, Tolbert and Bettinger have the chops to fill that void. Good group that can't let one mistake snowball.
Head coach: Travis Smink
2012 record: 4-15 (4-8 Commonwealth, T-6th)
TOP PLAYERS: *Brian Goodling (sr SS/RHP), Colton Brehm (jr 1B), Jack Davenport (so 2B), Ben Moore (sr C), Nate Marks (sr OF), Jordan Neff (sr OF/P), Nathan Shover (sr OF), Isaiah Lippert (jr OF/P), Jed Thorson (sr IF/P).
BASE HITS: Smink is hoping his second season goes a lot smoother than his first. The Herd, following a district tournament appearance in 2011, collected just four wins and again suffered behind inconsistent play on both sides of the plate. That said, there's a ton of upperclassmen to rally behind here, including four-year ballers Goodling, Marks and a handful of other seniors. Fast start would help build confidence.
*Returning MPC all-star
Epler on Twitter: @threejacker
More HS Baseball previews:
Mid-Penn Conference players to watch
Keystone Division team-by-team glance
Capital Division team-by-team glance
Colonial Division team-by-team glance
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