Instead of sharpening his skill set in the rigorous Mid-Penn Conference, Bishop McDevitt junior shortstop Joey Wrabel is getting a little work in at the Spring Training home of the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins.
Plucked from a Baseball Factory tryout in late February, Wrabel and his “Red” teammates are participating in the Under Armour Southeast Championships at the Roger Dean Sports Complex in Jupiter, Fla.
Wrabel, toiling at second base all weekend, is joined by Pennsylvania players Curt Yenchik (catcher) of Crestwood High School and Ephrata SS Nate Fassnacht.
“Just meeting new kids from around the country,” said Wrabel about his experience. “We're going to stay in contact with each other after the tournament. It's been good, playing some of the Florida teams who get to play the game year-round.”
Wrabel's coach, former Major League first baseman Talmedge Nunnari, spent parts of four minor league seasons (1999-01, 2003) with the Harrisburg Senators.
“It's good competition,” Wrabel said. “Some teams are better than others, but the coaches teach us a lot of skills, about hitting and fielding, and talk a lot about positioning and the mental part of the game. It's been a great experience so far.”
Wrabel's Red contingent did not advance out of pool play, although the senior-to-be did go 1-for-3 in his debut on Friday. He'll spend the rest of his time focused on the meticulous playing conditions.
“All the infield and outfield grass is like a putting green.”
NIAGARA'S FUHRMAN TO CALI
Former Palmyra talent Mike Fuhrman just wrapped us his sophomore campaign at Niagara (20-31) and will spend his summer in the Pacific West Baseball Association. Fuhrman is joining the team California Glory in the wood-bat collegiate league after hitting .292 with a team-best 35 runs scored and three home runs. The two-time Mid-Penn Conference all-star platooned at second and third base for the Purple Eagles. Fuhrman also landed on the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
NCAA SENIORS FINISH STRONG
Dickinson catcher Hank Sanders, who starred at Northern, was named to the All-Centennial Conference First Team last month. Sanders hit .310 and drove in 28 runs for the Red Devils (22-12-1), leading the team in at bats (129), hits (40) and total bases (51).
Defensively, Sanders, a second-team selection as a junior, committed just two errors in more than 200 chances. ...
Another backstop, East Stroudsburg senior Nico Delerme, capped a successful career with his third All-American appointment recently. Delerme (Red Land) already earned a spot in the NCBWA and Daktronics AA teams after hitting .437 (55-for-126) with 44 RBIs and an on-base percentage (.557) that ranks first in Division II.
Those numbers also helped Delerme capture a third-team spot on the American Baseball Coaches Association All-American team. ...
After a JUCO World Series appearance with Potomac State, former Upper Dauphin standout Zach Markel just completed a very productive two-year run at Norfolk State in Virginia. Markel, an All-Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference pick as a junior, hit .286 for the Spartans (23-26) this season.
His 12 doubles and 33 walks led the club. Markel, a first baseman who racked up .341 and .367 seasons at Potomac, was named to the MEAC Commissioner's All-Academic Team.