High School Baseball Preview: Lions, Cavaliers boast experienced lineups

MOOSIC – Lackawanna Trail and Scranton Prep each return a significant amount of experience from teams that went 7-7 in Lackawanna League baseball a year ago.

The Lions return eight of nine starters from a team that finished fifth out of eight in Division 3. They also get back one of their previous team leaders after finishing 7-10 overall last season and going out in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals.

Scranton Prep returns its infielders and top two pitchers from a team that was third of eight in Division 1 and had a late lead over eventual Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 4A state finalist Dallas before losing a one-run game in the district semifinals. The Cavaliers finished 11-10 overall.

The Lackawanna League was scheduled to get underway, weather permitting in the first week of April.

When it does, Lackawanna Trail will be making its season debut.

First baseman Gavin June and outfielder Stephen Jervis are the senior returnees for the Lions.

Luke Leventhall, another senior, is back from injury after making a major impact on the mound and at the plate in his freshman and sophomore seasons.

Outfielder Max Kimmel, pitcher/infielder Tucker Kinney and catcher Logan Edwards are the juniors who return to the starting lineup.

Infielder/pitcher Isaac Ryon, outfielder Sean Dwyer and infielder Grady June are back after starting as freshmen last season. Second baseman Tyler Jervis and first baseman Ethan Gorton are two more from that class who already have varsity experience.

“We have a lot of young kids,” Lions coach Todd Peters said during Bill Howerton Baseball and Softball Media Day at PNC Field. “We have a couple more freshmen coming up that will probably get in the mix.

“Usually, that’s what happens with us.”

Seniors Xander Condeelis, Roman Valvano and Blake Decker return at shortstop, third base and second base for Scranton Prep. Condeelis and Valvano were also among the team’s offensive leaders last season.

George Stallman, another senior, is back behind the plate. He’ll work with the team’s two main pitchers from a year ago, junior Michael DeRitchie and sophomore Johnny Petrosky. Valvano also has some pitching experience.

“We have a couple spots to fill in the outfield,” Cavaliers coach Mark Seitzinger said, “but overall, we have most of our core back.”

Senior chase Scanlan could be in center field after seeing some playing time there last season.

The Cavaliers played just one game in March, falling 9-8 in eight innings to Notre Dame Green Pond.