Colonials, Mustangs look for bigger, better things this season
Albert Gallatin graduate Ron Popovich knows the Colonials still have a lot of work to do, despite winning four Section 3-AAAAA games last season.
Popovich, the second-year head coach and 1981 grad, saw AG win its first two section games, but the Colonials struggled following the strong start in losing 10 of their final 12 section contests.
“We’ve had a discussion with the kids about eliminating the long losing stretch,” Popovich said. “We took big strides last year.”
Albert Gallatin’s biggest win was a 4-3 victory over rival Laurel Highlands on April 25. Popovich served time as the Mustangs’ pitching coach during his career.
“It was really good for our guys to get that win,” Popovich said. “We want to make the playoffs this year. I don’t think you should really be playing baseball if the goal isn’t to make the playoffs.”
The Colonials played eventual state champion Greater Latrobe tough in a 2-0 setback at Latrobe on April 19.
“That game was 0-0 in the fifth, but we gave up a walk and home run in that inning,” Popovich said. “We battled with teams that made the playoffs. We got a taste of the wins and the feel of the losses.”
In addition to playing Laurel Highlands and the Wildcats, AG battles Franklin Regional, Gateway, McKeeport, Thomas Jefferson and Woodland Hills in section play.
“I think you can’t take anybody lightly,” Popovich said. “Of course you have Latrobe, but Franklin Regional has been strong, and even though they didn’t make the playoffs last year, LH is a strong team and Gateway was a playoff team last year and lost one guy. There are not going to be any easy wins.”
The Colonials will be without right-handed pitchers Sam Hlatky and Darion Palmer, who both graduated. RJ Hlatky and Dylen Over also graduated.
Albert Gallatin welcomes back senior right-handed pitcher/outfielder Nate Bricker, an All-Section performer, senior lefty Austin Bergman, and junior right-handed pitchers Willie Palmer and Jace Capellini.
Senior infielder Adam Simon, outfielder/second baseman Colby Uphold and Bricker are three of the better bats in the Colonials’ lineup. Albert Gallatin returns to Smithfield Ballpark for its home games.
Albert Gallatin made its fourth trip in a row to Myrtle Beach prior to kicking off the season back home.
“I went 12 years in a row when I was on Laurel Highlands’ staff,” Popovich said. “It is good for the kids to get away and know that they are going to have nice weather and be able to play. It was something we needed.”
The Mustangs hope to return to the playoffs after a sub-par 6-8 record in section play and a 9-10 overall mark. Laurel Highlands suffered through two four-game losing streaks that doomed coach Scott DeBerry’s team’s playoff chances.
“Anytime you have multiple loses in a short season, it is unfortunate,” DeBerry said. “I think the pieces are there for our guys to have a good season, but you have to do it on the field.”
The Mustangs lost Hudson Novak, Noah Mankin, Austin Dorogi, Derek Gaisbauer and Jordan Eicher to graduation. Novak is playing for LaRoche College, Eicher is at Penn State Fayette, The Eberly Campus, and Gaisbauer and Mankin are at Garrett County Community College of Maryland.
The Mustangs will rely on shortstop Travis Sankovich (bats left, throws right) to be a big part of their success in the field and at the plate. The senior will continue his academic and baseball careers next season at Florida Southwestern.
“Obviously, we are expecting big things from Travis (Sankovich),” DeBerry said. “Baseball is in Travis’ blood and he plays like it. We are also looking at using him in short relief, but it is not something that will happen often. We do have a lot of depth at pitching, which is something that will help us when it comes to pitch count, but we really don’t worry about the pitch count too much.
“It is unfortunate that we haven’t had a game yet, and was only on the field twice, and once was a scrimmage. We have done some things on the football field, but it’s not the same thing. It is something that everyone has to do with, and we really just focus on what we do. You can’t control the weather.”
Fellow seniors Mason McManus (RHP/1B), Evan Voyten (RHP/OF) and Ian Edenfield (RHP/1B/OF) will continue to eat up innings on the mound.
“We have 12 seniors this year, and they have all been together since they were young,” DeBerry said. “They play for each other and that makes my job easier.”
Chad Petrush (C), Tan Erminio (INF/OF), Josh Burns (2B), Greg Lancaster (OF/RHP) and Richie Mehall (OF) are the five remaining seniors who will see playing time for DeBerry.
Junior Dylan Bohna will play in the infield and outfield. Bohna will also see time on the mound as a right-handed pitcher. Classmate Nate Zimcosky will play infield and is another right-handed pitcher.
Sophomore Andino Vecchiolla will see significant time on the mound. The lefty will also play at first base.
“We have a great group of seniors, but we have some underclassmen that we expect good things from,” DeBerry said. “Having a lefty like we do is like putting a kid in a candy store.”
DeBerry doesn’t look at who was good last season and what to expect this year from the other teams in the section.
“I really don’t want to look ahead or back,” DeBerry said. “We, and the rest of the teams, will be different. I follow the philosophy that the most important game is the next one.”