Four for 2010 (Part II)

Here are the final two teams we're looking at to make runs next spring. After this post, we'll likely turn the page and begin to focus on high school football, which starts with camps in about a month. Before focusing on the gridiron, here's one last high school baseball post to hold you over until the spring.

Susquenita (13-5 in 2009; District 3-AAA first round)
We’re going to say it right now: Susquenita will win the Mid-Penn Colonial Division in 2010. The Blackhawks return everyone except Josh Baer to a team that split with Northern and threw two major scares into Waynesboro.

This team has some nasty pitching in Taylor Nace (2.11 ERA, 50 SO, 23 BB and 36 hits in 53 innings) and Justin Malehorn (5.13, 36, 34, and 45 in 45). Malehorn needs to work on his control to become a solid No. 2, something that is necessary for a team to go on a long postseason run.

On offense, Bobby Kohl (.414), Malehorn (.379), Mike Magaro (.339) and Josh Shearer (.322) will be tough outs as the Blackhawks look for a third-straight district appearance.

An area of concern is that loss to No. 26 seed Eastern York in the preliminary round of the 3-AAA playoffs. Any run this team could have made would have helped in the long run. Unfortunately, the Blackhawks will not have much postseason experience to fall back on when district play rolls around next May.

Camp Hill (23-3 in 2009; PIAA Classs A champions)
Really? A team that loses all but three starters is on a list of what should be the four best teams next year?

The reason Camp Hill makes the list is that this team has potential to make a deep run in the District 3 Class A playoffs and possibly qualify for the state field. There are other good Class A teams in District 3 out there but Camp Hill’s coaching and never-say-die attitude will be evident next spring.

Plus, the cupboard isn’t totally bare. The Lions return shortstop L.K. Thompson, who will be asked to pitch, second baseman Parker Marsh and speedy outfielder Matt Robertson. All three were key parts on Camp Hill’s back-to-back state title teams.

We’re still worried about pitching (in all honesty, a pair of arms like Matt Spiegel and Matt Boyd at a school the size of Camp Hill don’t come around often) but if the offense shows up, it might be able to cover up the questionable pitching.