It was not the intention of Bret Butler and his Pitt-Bradford
baseball team to venture into the poultry business in 2006.
“We went into the AMCC tournament and laid an egg,” said Butler,
who begins his ninth season (176-127-1) as head coach of the
Panthers this spring. “Last year was disappointing. We tied for
first place with Frostburg at 14-4 in the AMCC, but our bats just
shut down in the tournament. Our offense had to carry us last year
because we lost our top two pitchers to injury. Sooner or later in
baseball the offense will slow down, and that’s what happened.”
Despite a 24-15 overall record and no post-season action beyond
the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference playoffs, the AMCC’s
Co-coach of the Year noticed a silver lining from the 2006
campaign.
“We had some young guys last year who got a lot of experience on
the mound and that should carry us this year,” Butler stated. “We
have some good depth for the first time in a long time. We have
some good freshmen players who are going to compete for some
time.”
While the pitching staff has no starting ace at the moment,
Butler will look to senior Nate Jones of Horseheads (NY), sophomore
Andy Lipps of Conneaut (OH), senior Ken Vogt of St. Marys,
sophomore Zach Foster of Bradford, junior Ricky Riesenberger of
Atlanta (NY), sophomore Ben McCracken of Bradford and junior Tanner
Bechtel of Conneautville as the leading candidates.
“We have seven or eight guys who can be starters,” Butler noted.
“We are going out to Arizona not knowing what our starting rotation
looks like. They will determine that by how they pitch out
there.”
Foster was 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA, Bechtel was 3-2 with a 3.35 ERA
and Jones was 3-4 with a 4.50 ERA a year ago.
“Zach Foster has a lot of potential and can throw in the high
80s,” Butler offered. “Ricky Riesenberger has good stuff and keeps
the ball low. Ken Vogt can throw in the mid-80s and we can get
seven innings from him every time out. Ben McCracken is a bulldog
and has great stuff. Tanner Bechtel has great determination and
hates to lose. Nate Jones was a tough-luck pitcher last year and
pitched well in games where he didn’t get much run support. Andy
Lipps has experience and good stuff. They all have a lot of
experience.”
Those in the mix for spot starting jobs and middle relief are
senior Chad Yohe of Bradford, junior Jake Wells of Bradford and
freshman D.J. Rose of Geneva (OH). Other pitchers are freshman
Steve Potter of East Aurora (NY), freshman James Ashley of
Jefferson (OH), freshman Mike Seech of Aliquippa, junior Mike
Reilly of McKees Rocks and freshman Brandon Elliott of Black Creek
(NY). Yohe was 3-1 with a 4.85 ERA and Wells was 4-1 with a 3.56
ERA last season.
The Panthers may possess the two best catchers in the AMCC in
senior Dom Morelli of DuBois and junior Shawn Manning of Bradford.
Freshmen Phil Solley Curwensville and Dan Dierdorf of New Brighton
are the possible heirs to the position.
Morelli was selected to the First Team last year after finishing
first in the AMCC in slugging (.688), third in RBIs (39), and
fourth in home runs (six) and batting (.404). Manning hit .324 and
drove in 15 runs.
“Teams in our league would love to have either one of them,”
Butler boasted. “Morelli is an outstanding offensive catcher and
has worked really hard in his four years here to be a good
defensive catcher. Shawn (Manning) will also start in our outfield
and is a very reliable backup. Solley and Dierdorf are very good
freshman catchers and hopefully they will be ready to step into the
position next year.”
First base will be platooned by Foster and the left-hand hitting
senior Brandon LaBrozzi of Bradford. Foster hit .274 and plated 10
runs and LaBrozzi was AMCC Honorable Mention after stroking .314
with four homers and 24 RBIs. Freshman Justin Bifano of
Shippenville provides some needed power in a backup role.
Second base is an uncertainty with reliable players such as
senior Zach Hetrick (.300) of Coudersport, freshman Ryan Smith of
Titusville, sophomore Brad Blood of East Springfield, freshman Bart
McGary of Curwensville and freshman Chris Tewksbury of Laceyville
still in the hunt.
“As is the case with our starting rotation, we’re also not sure
about second base,” Butler admitted.
Butler is pretty certain about the left side of the diamond in
junior Jimmer Colestro of Bradford at shortstop and McCracken at
third. Colestro hit .269 with 16 RBIs, and sported an impressive
.911 fielding percentage. McCracken made the most out of just 19 at
bats with a .368 average and eight RBIs.
“He (Colestro) is one of our hardest workers and is finally
getting comfortable at short,” Butler declared. “I expect a banner
year from him. Ben (McCracken) wants to win baseball games more
than he wants to breathe.”
The outfield appears to be sophomore Geoff Brabham of Oswayo in
left, senior Corey Smock of Guy Mills in center and Manning in
right. Brabham hit .308 and Smock was Second Team all-AMCC after
leading the league in walks (34) and finishing seventh in runs
scored (34). Smock also hit .344 with three long balls and 20
RBIs.
“Smock has been a solid centerfielder for four years and has a
great first step out there,” Butler said. “He is one of the best in
the conference.”
The Panthers’ 40-game schedule begins this Saturday with nine
contests at the Desert Classic in Arizona. Pitt-Bradford will also
host defending NCAA Division III champion Marietta College on April
Fools’ Day and then will entertain Clarion University two weeks
later.
“The schedule is brutal,” Butler confessed. “Marietta won it all
last year and they are coming here. In Arizona we’e playing
15th-ranked Aurora University and DeSales University, who went to
the World Series two years ago. We’ll play Brockport State twice
and Division II Clarion. The schedule is no joke.”
In the Coaches’ Poll released on Thursday, the Panthers were
selected to finish in second place behind Frostburg State in the
10-team AMCC.
“Frostburg and Penn State Behrend are always tough,” Butler
predicted. “The dark horse is Pitt-Greensburg. They brought in a
couple of good pitchers to go along with a couple of good ones they
had last year.”
For the ninth straight year Butler will be assisted by Jim
Colestro Sr. Former Pitt-Bradford pitcher Bobby Wyant (18-10), who
threw a perfect game in 2005, is also on board.
“I know I say this every year,” Butler said. “I don’t make out a
lineup card without coach Colestro’s advice. There is no better
coach in the area. Bobby Wyant is also helping out and it’s good to
have him back.
“I think one of the keys to the season is staying healthy,”
Butler continued. “We want to win and you can see it in their eyes.
We need to defend well and hit well. And if I stay out of their way
and don’t make any stupid mistakes, we can win a lot of games.”
