As the 2024 Baseball Season begins, teams are gearing up for what promises to be an exciting journey. We caught up with each of the LebCo High School teams to see how they’re looking heading into the new season. Last year was marked with thrilling moments, with Annville-Cleona and Northern Lebanon extending their seasons with wins in Districts. The 2023 Vikings then etched their names in history by making States for the first time. As the new season dawns, the Dutchmen and Vikings will look to push the limits even further, while every other LebCo team is eager to improve on its record and make a strong push for the playoffs.
Be sure to check LebCoSports.com throughout this season for updates as the action unfolds.
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Annville-Cleona Dutchmen
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4
Head Coach: Mike Miller – 7th season
Key Returners: Cameron Connelly (Sr); Ben Morcom (Sr); Noah Morcom (Jr); Colton Shaffer (Jr); Jack Getty (Jr); Zac Frentz (So)
Key Newcomers: Bryce Keller (Jr); Preston Bomgardner (Jr); Malachai Victa (Jr); Tristan Dompier (Jr)
Key Losses: Julian Biondollo, Ricardo Cruz, Gavin Keller, Sam Slabach
2023 Record: 12-10 overall, 8-7 in Section 4 – District Qualifier
Outlook: According to Coach Mike Miller, the Dutchmen Baseball team’s success will depend on limiting defensive mistakes, scoring runs in bunches, and being consistent in all phases of the game. Bolstered by experienced pitchers like Cam Connelly, Ben and Noah Morcom, and Colton Shaffer, they should be competitive in a difficult section that includes boundaryless Lancaster Catholic and the Northern Lebanon Vikings. Still, AC has the firepower and arms to compete for a spot in the District 3 playoffs, where they shocked Lancaster Catholic in 2023.
Cedar Crest Falcons
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 1
Head Coach: Matt Knox – 4th season
Key Returners: Dayton DiBiaso (Sr); Caleb Dorshimer (Sr); Logan Oriel (Sr); Connor Lane (Sr); Gaven Schreier (Sr); Owen Brown (Sr); Dominic Roth (Sr); Isaac Custer (Jr); Landon Kreider (Jr); Seth Warren (Jr)
Key Newcomers: Dylan Fegley (Sr); Carson DiBiaso (Jr); Davin Kolter (Fr)
Key Losses: Logan Baerg, Colden Rambler
2023 Record: 8-12 overall, 6-9 in Section 1
Outlook: This Falcons roster appears to be the deepest since Coach Knox’s first year in 2021 when the Falcons last made the District playoffs. This season, Crest returns seven senior returners with legitimate varsity experience while also adding Dylan Fegley, a newcomer senior who went to States with Northern Lebanon in 2023. Cedar Crest is now poised to raise the bar on the previous two seasons and hopes to challenge for a Section title on their way to making a triumphat return to Districts. The hallmark of this team may be pitching, and plenty of it, with Logan Oriel, Gaven Schreier, Connor Lane, Landon Kreider, and Davin Kolter, along with the aforementioned Fegley, all in the mix for innings.
2023 LebCo Baseball Season Recap
ELCO Raiders
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 3
Head Coach: Brad Kreiser – 1st season
Key Returners: Colin Bogart (Sr); Kody Boyer (Sr); Dallas George (Sr); Dylan McDonnell (Sr); Kyle McDonnell (Sr); Morgan Shanaman (Sr); Gavin Bicher (Jr)
Key Losses: Nick Pagano (Neumann University)
2023 Record: 6-14 overall, 3-12 in Section 3
Outlook: The Raiders have won single-digit games the past two years since making a deep run in the State Playoffs in 2021. Under new skipper Brad Kreiser, ELCO looks to once again make some noise in Section 3. They are returning 1st team All-Section players Dallas George (IF) and Gavin Bicher (P, OF) along with 2nd team pieces Kody Boyer (OF), Colin Bogart (P, IF) and Morgan Shanaman (P, IF). Kreiser is no rookie in LL coaching, having assisted at Lebanon High School for several years. He will now apply his baseball knowledge to get the most out of a veteran group of seniors looking to give some lumps rather than take them. Look for the Raiders to vie for a return to Districts.
Lebanon Cedars
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 2
Head Coach: Fred Gonzalez – 6th Season
Key Returners: Colby Robb (Sr); Yostin Guerrero (Sr); Noah Brandt (Jr); Ben Discullo (Jr); David Furjanic (Jr)
Key Newcomers: Kevin Munoz (So); Diego Serrano (So)
Key Losses: Jordy Polanco (Lebanon Valley College); Griffin Gonzalez (Lehigh University – Wrestling)
2023 Record: 3-17 overall, 2-13 in Section 2
Outlook: With only two seniors returning, Coach Fred Gonzalez looks to leverage a group of junior talent mixed in with some up-and-coming sophomores to improve upon the Cedars’ recent run in Section 2. Lebanon will also return last year’s leading hitter, senior Yostin Guerrero. Gonzalez describes this group as “scrappy and tight.” While the Cedar might be a year away from making a run at a District berth, they will have the ability to surprise the Lancaster Lebanon League on any given weekday.
2023 LebCo All-County Team
Northern Lebanon Vikings
Lancaster-Lebanon League Section 4
Head Coach: Travis Thome – 2nd Season
Key Returners: Moises Gonzalez Jr. (Sr); Xander McQuaide (Sr); Riley Messinger (Jr); Brian Bicksler (Jr); Adrian Gonzalez (So); Andrew Via (SO)
Key Newcomers: Vinny Battistelli (JR); Lucas Kleisath (JR); Levi Shoemaker (JR); Kaden Beamesderfer (SO); Connor Stoltz (SO); Owen Fahringer (FR); Brady Ryan (FR)
Key Losses: DJ Byerly (Virginia Wesleyan); Jared Ecenroad (Delaware Valley); Brian Lowen (Central Penn)
2023 Record: 17-9 overall, 10-5 in Section 4 – State Qualifier
Outlook: Laden with veteran talent in 2023, then first-year head coach Travis Thome parlayed a hungry group of “bought-in” players into a League Playoff team that made a run in Districts and made their first-ever appearance in States. And while the 2024 team is younger than last year, their core of returning players, led by seniors Moises Gonzalez, Jr. and Xander McQuaide look to revisit the magic of May and June. While Moises was the LebCo Offensive Co-Player of the Year, another Gonzalez will be worth watching as sophomore Adrian Gonzalez will return after being named the LebCo Pitcher of the Year and Rookie of the Year. Having finished 2nd in Section 3 and 3rd in District 3 (4A), this Viking squad will be focused on making a return appearance in the PIAA State Championship Tournament.
Palmyra Cougars
Mid-Penn Conference – Keystone Division
Head Coach: Justin Hileman – 2nd season
Key Returners: Chase Blanchard (Sr); Ethan Lodish (Sr); Kaeden Readinger (Sr); Alex Dorta (Jr); Nate Osteen (Jr); Braeden Sommer (Jr);
Key Newcomers: Braydon Bown (So); Logan Kriner (So); Aiden Willard (So)
Key Losses: Bronson Coburn (Lancaster Bible College)
2023 Record: 8-12 overall, 6-8 in Keystone
Outlook: While many of Palmyra’s pitchers come from the ranks of the sophomore class, former Cougar standout and head coach Justin “Jut” Hileman believes that the talent of those pitchers more than makes up for the lack of varsity experience. Any experience gap will also be covered by a stout up-the-middle defense with Kaden Readinger in CF, Alex Dorta and Braeden Sommer up the middle. Catchers Chase Blanchard and Tyler Peck will also be worth watching as they provide a high level of talent behind the dish. This was a dangerous group last year, led by Blanchard, named the LebCo Co-Offensive Player of the Year after hitting .426 with a .507 OBP. Fresh off a pre-season trip to the Ripken Experience, the Palmyra Cougar Baseball Team is primed to continue its improvement on their way to an exciting season in the Mid Penn Keystone.
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