North East Grapepickers
Baseball
Coach (season): Dave Scotch (1st season)
2011 overall record: 14-5
2011 region record (place): 7-1 (co-champion)
2011 playoff results: Defeated Sharpsvile 3-0 and lost to Saegertown 6-2 in the District 10 Class AA playoffs.
Top players lost: Steven Ramsdell, Pat Harris, Kyle Regan, Cameron Collins
Top returning players: Ryan Roggie, Ethan Sowers, Josh Kitchen, Max Knight, Josh Eby, Pete Seymour, Ryan Hoelke
Outlook: North East will be under new head coach Dave Scotch this season and will need some of the underclassmen to step up. The Grapepickers lost Steven Ramsdell, Pat Harris, Kyle Regan and Cameron Collins to graduation, leaving some big holes on the pitching staff. Ramsdell was an all-state pitcher, while Collins was an all-region pitcher. Harris and Regan were all-region selections as well. Juniors Ryan Roggie and Ethan Sowers will likely anchor the pitching staff and could contribute as outfielders. Josh Kitchen, Max Knight and Josh Eby are returning seniors, while juniors Dawson Scotch and Zack Erb could return from season-ending injuries last year. Pete Seymour and Ryan Hoelke have some varsity experience and are back as well this season. The ‘Pickers have two brutal games to start the season at Hickory and Mercyhurst Prep before eventually opening region play in Albion against Northwestern.
Schedule
March
31 at Hickory 11 a.m.
April
2 at Mercyhurst Prep 4
4 Iroquois 4
9 at Youngsville 4
11 Eisenhower 4
13 at Northwestern* 4
16 Fairview* 4
18 Seneca* 4
23 at Titusville* 4
25 Mercyhurst Prep 4
27 at Iroquois 4
30 Youngsville 4
May
2 at Eisenhower 4
7 Northwestern* 4
9 at Fairview* 4
11 at Seneca* 4
16 Titusville* 4
17 Harbor Creek 4
*Region games
Softball
Coach (season): Rich Turri (7th season)
2011 overall record: 8-10
2011 region record (place): 8-9 (sixth)
2011 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Alex Gregory, Rachel Snyder
Top returning players: Kayla Rizzo, Kaitlyn Burns, Annie Hecht, Rachel Miller, Tori Prather, Bre Klenz
Assistant coaches: Mark Utegg, Rich Turri Sr., Ron Turri
Outlook: North East has one goal in mind: playoffs. The Grapepickers split with most of their region opponents last season while being swept by Fairview and Northwestern. North East is looking to improve on those split records and find a way to compete with the powerhouses. The ‘Pickers lost Alex Gregory and Rachel Snyder to graduation, but Kayla Rizzo, Kaitlyn Burns, Annie Hecht, Rachel Miller, Tori Prather and Bre Klenz are back. Rachel Prather could be a contributor on the varsity level this season as well. With a very competitive region, North East will need to use strong pitching and clutch hitting to find its way to the postseason.
Schedule
March
27 at Iroquois* 4
29 Northwestern* 4
April
3 at Villa Maria* 4
10 at Eisenhower* 4
12 General McLane* 4
14 at Seneca* 11 a.m.
17 Youngsville* 4
19 at Fairview* 4
21 Girard* 11 a.m.
24 Iroquois* 4
26 at Northwestern* 4
28 Villa Maria* 11 a.m.
May
1 Eisenhower* 4
3 at General McLane* 4
8 Seneca* 4
10 at Youngsville* 4
11 at Harbor Creek 4
15 Fairview* 4
17 at Girard* 4
*Region games
Tuesday: Northwestern, Oil City
– Tom Reisenweber
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