In the season opening article I wrote that the Bears would in essence be blending three groups of players into one team for the 2015 season: “the high school guys,” “the college returnees,” and “the rookies.” As the regular season heads into its final week, the results of this blend have been rather successful in terms of the win-loss column, as the Bears have compiled an overall record of 19-6-2.
And the rookies have played a significant role to this point. Those rookies – shortstop Mike Raineri (#4), third baseman Tyler Kreitz (#28), outfielder Pat Maloney (#30), utility players JT Cooley (#9) and Nick DiCiacco (#27), and pitchers Grant Fronheiser (#35), Trevor Waldman (#32), and Mike Xanthopoulos (#36) – have played significant roles as the Bears head toward crunch time on the season.
“We all just kind of do our part and help the team any way we can,” comments Raineri, who has played shortstop for all but four of Boyertown’s 220 defensive inning. “We are the soon-to-be leaders, we like to think,” he added.
Raineri and Kreitz have solidified the left side of the Boyertown infield this season with their solid defense. “Just doing my best on defense, making plays, doing everything I can,” commented Kreitz, who has played all but a few games at the hot corner. Raineri and Kreitz have also played key offensive roles. For example, Raineri has batted leadoff for most of the season, leading the team in at bats; Kreitz, meanwhile, is tied for the team lead in on-base percentage, leading the team in being hit-by-pitch while placing second in walks.
While that pair of rookies is helping to take care of the infield, another pair of rookies is helping behind the plate. Nick DiCiacco and JT Cooley have settled into the dual role of catcher / designated hitter in light of injuries to starter Ryan Weller. “I’m the catcher,” deadpans DiCiacco, adding that he is “trying to get myself more playing time.” Cooley, who leads the team in runs scored and stolen bases, comments “My role is pretty much just to catch, to be a rock back there, and help my team out.”
DiCiacco has seen some action in the outfield, but the rookie who has seen the most action in the outfield is Maloney. “My role on the team is to be an outfielder, try to get on base, make things happen on the base paths, and score,” he commented. Maloney has seen much action in the outfield in place of starter Austin Madeja, both when Madeja was playing high school playoff ball and later when Madeja was injured.
The remaining three rookies are not only pitchers, but are becoming key pitchers after the Big Three of Sean Pavlik, Andrew Bauer, and Tyler Bauman. Fronheiser considers himself more of a reliever, stating “I’m here to do the innings that the other pitchers don’t.” But Fronheiser has made several noteworthy starts, including a combined two-hitter with Waldman versus Bristol. Fronheiser’s biggest performance may have been last week versus Exeter. In a pressure-packed game with the western division leading Blue Jays, Fronheiser more than held his own against the much ballyhooed Dylan Richards for 4 and half innings in the seven-inning, 6-5 win.
Waldman, meanwhile, has gradually seen more action on the mound. In the team’s most recent game as of the press deadline, Waldman stopped visiting Yardley Western on 3 hits over four innings. Waldman is currently 4-1 with a 1.96 ERA.
“Whatever the coaches need me to do, whenever they need me to pitch, I’m there,” he comments.
When Waldman left the Yardley game, it was the last rookie, Mike “X” Xanthopoulos, who finished, tossing three innings of near-perfect relief to pick up the win. “X” combined with Tyler Bauman on several early-season wins, and also pitched well in extremely tense, pressure-packed situations in the key game versus Norchester. Legion ball has provided some rebound from X, who recalled missing playing time in Junior Legion ball due to injuries.
The rookies have blended well this season, not only with their play, but with their views on the game and the team.
“We are one big family here at the legion,” commented Raineri. “I don’t really feel like we look at each other as the returnees and the college players and the rookies – we just look at each other as we’re all one big family, we’re all here to do our job together as a team.”
The rookies have also gleaned valuable experience from the veterans on the team. For example, Waldman commented, “From a pitching standpoint … I’ve learned that it’s really important to hit your spots,” adding “All of our starting pitchers … are just extremely good at hitting their spots and getting people out, and I’ve just been trying to do what they do on the mound and make myself a better pitcher.”
It has added up to valuable contributions to a Boyertown team that currently is 19-6-2 heading into crunch time. And, of course, it speaks volumes for the optimistic future of the team.
STADIUM BREEZES: The Bears finished a tough week with a nail-biting, 6-5 win over Exeter two nights after the tensest game of the season, a 3-2 loss to Norchester in 11 innings. The Bears also had another game suspended due to weather, as their Thursday game with Shillington was suspended after three innings with the scored tied at 0-0 … The Bears have a busy week ending with a game against Twin Valley July 2. The Bears then get a two-day holiday break before concluding the regular season with a non-league game on Sunday versus Narberth.
