| Q:
Following your most successful season to date, what expectations do you
have for the upcoming season? |
| A:"
We will look to a strong pitching staff to pave the way for the Mikes,
this season. Returning to the Mikes pitching rotation will be senior duo
Joby Lapkowicz and Chuck Gasti. Junior Billy Musgrove will serve as the
staff closer and a host of younger guys including Zach Wolfe, Justin
McCann, Jordan Kennedy, Kody Decker, both Jon and Seth Krall, and Nick
Clarke should see time on the hill. Attention to detail on defense will
make or break the team, this year. We will have to play error free
baseball in order to hang with most of the teams in the conference. If
we can put the ball in play, and count on our defense to hold opponents
to less than two runs and our guys can keep the errors to one or less,
per game, we should be o.k. " |
| |
|
Q: What kind of toll will the departing seniors take on this year's
squad? |
| A:"
The loss of four standout players will greatly affect the Mike's
preparation for the 2009 season. Having lost four big sticks in the
lineup and four huge position players pushes the level of competition
for spots. Leadership is another void created by graduation and who
surfaces in those roles remains to be seen. Most definitely Carmichaels
will miss the presence of Zack Durbin, Ethan Virgili, Marcus Robinson,
and Cody Andrews, dearly. However, we look at these vacancies as an
opportunity to compete for positions and to grow as a team." |
| |
| Q:
Who will be the top contenders in rugged Section 1-A, this year? |
| A:
Geibel looks to be the team to beat, returning five starters and
boasting a four man pitching rotation that should rival any staff in
class A baseball, in the WPIAL. Beth-Center returned to single A
baseball and should be quite strong having played bigger and better
competition in the AA section from which they come. |
|
| |
|
Q: Who are the returning starters? |
A:
The line up looks like this, thus far:
1. Chuck Gasti
P/SS
2. Anthonie Farrar LF/CF/C
3. Joby Lapkowicz P/CF
4. Billy Musgrove P/3B
5. Justin McCann P/RF
6. Nick Clarke
3B/1B/LF
7. Zach Wolfe
1B
8. Jordan Kennedy 2B/SS
9. Nathan Keller C
10. Phil Zack
DH*Jon Krall, Seth Krall,
Kody Decker are all fighting for platoon positions when we rotate
pitching. |
| |
| Q:What
will be the team's strengths and weaknesses? |
|
A: Strengths
+ Deep pitching rotation (8) guys on
staff that we can go to for varsity innings.
+ Good Base running fundamentals.
+ Upperclassmen Leadership roles.
+ Fundamental approach to defense
and hopefully playing minimally error free baseball.
+ Play-off experience from which
to draw upon; we have been there before.
Weaknesses
- Limited power in the batting
order.
-Youth- only five returning
starters and a host of underclassmen filling the remaining void.
- Loss of key offensive weapons to
the senior graduating class.
-A host of younger players, trying
to learn and fit into "the system." |
|
| Q:
Who are the Mikes primary offensive weapons? |
| A:
We expect the top 5-6 guys in the order to do most of the damage.
Chuck Gasti, Anthonie Farrar, Joby
Lapkowicz, Billy Musgrove, and Justin McCann should be strong. |
| |
