Four for 2009

Before we focus on high school football for the next six or seven months, it's time to officially wrap up the high school baseball season. To take a page out of Baseball America and it's Eight for Omaha feature, here's our Four for 2009.

These are the teams we think have the best chance to advance deep in the District 3 playoffs and possibly qualify for the state tournament.

Camp Hill
This one's a no-brainer. The defending PIAA Class A champion Lions return all but one player to their title team. Stepping in to the outfield spot vacated by the graduated Jim Rish will be Jordan Weber, who elected to participate in track this spring.

Matt Spiegel, who won five playoff games including the state final to be named The Sentinel's Player of the Year, should be better than this year and the offense will put up mounds of runs.

Catcher Tyler Shover will lead a potent offense and the likes of L.K. Thompson, Seth Crossley and Matt Robertson will solidify a tough lineup.

The main question is who will be the No. 2 pitcher? Shover was solid during the season but struggled in the playoffs. Michael Frankenfield, who posted a 1-4 record in the regular season, will have to work on his control if the Lions are to get past the PIAA quarterfinals.

Susquenita
The team came out of nowhere this year and finished fourth in the highly competitve Mid-Penn Colonial Division. The Blackhawks squeaked into the district field by beating West Perry on the final day of the regular season. In the postseason Susquenita made Gettysburg sweat in a 5-2 loss.

Unlike Camp Hill, the team will need to replace a few key holes. Right-handed ace Kyle Gilbert (6-4, 5.42 ERA in 63 innings), David Bauer (.306, seven RBIs) and Devan Wieland (.343, 14) are gone but the Blackhawks have a lot back.

Bobby Kohl, a freshman in 2008, hit .424 with 12 RBIs and seven doubles will anchor the team's offense and defense as a sure-handed first baseman.

Check back Tuesday for two more teams that should be tough outs in 2009.