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North East Grapepickers
Baseball
Coach (season, record): Dave Scotch (2nd season, 9-9)
2012 overall record: 9-9
2012 region record (place): 3-5 (tied for third)
2012 playoff results: Did not qualify for the District 10 playoffs.
Top players lost: Josh Eby, Pete Seymour, Ryan Hoelke, Max Knight
Top returning players: Dawson Scotch, Ethan Sowers, Ryan Roggie, Zack Erb, Tyler Koszewski
Assistant coaches: Curtis Bailey, Gerry Ramsdell, Jordan Fargorgio, Jeff Bucholtz
Outlook: North East just missed out on the playoffs last season after a .500 season. The Grapepickers are in a loaded region this season and it won’t get any easier as they make a run at the postseason. North East’s nine losses last season were by an average of 1.8 runs, which can be heartbreaking for the ‘Pickers but also provide valuable experience heading into this season. North East will have to replace several talented players, including Josh Eby, Pete Seymour, Ryan Hoelke and Max Knight. Eby was voted to the all-region first team at outfielder, and Seymour was a first-team designated hitter. Hoelke (outfield) and Knight (second base) were voted to the all-region second team. The ‘Pickers might have to turn to their experienced pitching to lead this season. Ethan Sowers and Ryan Roggie are returning pitchers, while Dawson Scotch will anchor the pitching staff at catcher. Zack Erb and Tyler Koszewski are also returning seniors at shortstop and first base, respectively. Add in newcomers Chris Grow, Mike Macaulay, Mitchell Keith and Justin Perez and the ‘Pickers will be a tough team to beat this season. North East will look to develop some depth in the pitching staff, especially with the weather not cooperating and teams needing to play 3 or even 4 games per week. Roggie and Sowers are returning all-region players that will find positions on the field when not pitching. The two are part of a strong senior class that will need to lead this season. North East is in a tough region with rivals, including the addition of Mercyhurst Prep. If the ‘Pickers can develop their offense and play solid defense behind their pitchers, North East will be a contender for a playoff spot and the region title.

Schedule
March
29 Whitley County (Ky.) W, 9-2
April
4 Youngsville W, 11-1 6 innings
5 at Titusville L, 2-5
10 at Lakeview PPD
12 at Fairview* PPD
17 Seneca* 4
19 Mercyhurst Prep* 4
22 Franklin 4
24 at Northwestern* 4
26 Union City 4
29 Iroquois 4
May
1 Fairview* 4
3 at Corry 4
6 at Seneca* 4
8 at Mercyhurst Prep* 4
10 at Girard 4
13 Northwestern* 4
15 Eisenhower 4
16 at Harbor Creek 4
*Region 5 games

Softball
Coach (season): Rich Turri (9th season)
2012 overall record: 14-6
2012 region record (place): 13-5 (third)
2012 playoff results: Defeated Jamestown 2-1 in a District 10 Class AA play-in game before losing to Wilmington 5-3 in the D-10 quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Kayla Rizzo, Ann Hecht, Kaitlyn Burns
Top returning players: Rachel Miller, Tori Prather, Kendra Alcorn, Victoria Alcorn, Bre Klenz, Danielle Barnes, Rachel Prather
Assistant coaches: Mark Utegg, Rich Turri Sr., Ron Turri
Outlook: North East was impressive last season with a play-in game win before nearly knocking off powerhouse Wilmington. The Grapepickers will have to replace three contributors, including all-region second baseman Kayla Rizzo, all-region first baseman Ann Hecht and right fielder Kaitlyn Burns, who hit .294 last season. North East has an experienced group back, led by Rachel Miller, Tori Prather, Kendra Alcorn, Victoria Alcorn, Bre Klenz, Danielle Barnes and Rachel Prather. Miller is a first-team pitcher along with her batterymate, Prather, a first-team catcher. Prather hit .492 last season and is one of the top hitters in the area. Kendra Alcon and Victoria Alcorn are back to anchor the outfield, while Klenz hit .391 at third base last season. Barnes hit .348 and can play most positions on the field. Rachel Prather hit .426 last season and is an up-and-coming shortstop. North East made it to the postseason in 2012 for the first time in more than 20 years. Coach Rich Turri is hoping that experience carries over this season in a tough region, which now includes Harbor Creek. North East doesn’t have many holes to fill but Barnes could be a candidate to step in and play the third outfield position. The ‘Pickers also need to replace Rizzo, a four-year starter at second base, and Hecht on the right side of the infield. Both second and first base were battled for in the preseason and could rotate based on how well players play at those positions. North East has some offensive production to replace, but if the ‘Pickers build off their 2012 season, they could be a contender in the region and D-10 as well.

Schedule
April
2 Fairview* PPD
4 at Seneca* PPD
8 at Maplewood L, 0-1
9 Girard* W, 10-1
11 Northwestern* 4
16 at Harbor Creek* 4
18 General McLane* 4
20 at Iroquois 11 a.m.
23 at Villa Maria* 4
25 at Fairview* 4
26 Union City 4
30 Seneca* 4
May
2 at Girard* 4
7 at Northwestern* 4
9 Harbor Creek* 4
14 at General McLane* 4
16 Villa Maria* 4
*Region 4 games

–Tom Reisenweber

Rachel Miller

Rachel Miller helped North East’s softball team compile a 13-5 regular-season record, place third in Region 4 and earn a spot in Saturday’s District 10 Class AA play-in game against Jamestown.

Miller posted three complete-game wins in three days last week, pitching 20 total innings while allowing no earned runs and striking out 18. She started the stretch May 9 by shutting out General McLane on three hits in North East’s six-inning 10-0 win.

One day later, she pitched all seven innings in the Grapepickers’ 6-2 win over Youngsville. Miller allowed two unearned runs on two hits while striking out five.

On May 11, Miller tossed a three-hitter in North East’s 1-0 win over Seneca. She struck out nine and walked two.

Poll results:

Read the rest of this entry »

This week’s Breakout Baseball and Softball Players of the Week will be posted Sunday, instead of today.

The Breakout players will appear in Sunday’s edition of the Erie Times-News as well.

North East swept this week’s honors, as Ryan Hoelke and Rachel Miller won the voting.

Rachel Prather has made an immediate impact on the North East softball team during her freshman year.

The speedy shortstop is the Grapepickers’ leadoff hitter and has found a way on base frequently throughout the season.

Through nine games, Prather led North East with a .514 batting average and scored 14 runs.

This past week she had three hits and drove in a run during a 10-2 win over Girard.

She is the second member of her family to win the Breakout Award this year.  Her older sister, Tori, won three weeks ago.

Poll results:

Read the rest of this entry »

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