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A solid pitching rotation and some clutch
hitting are key to success in baseball.
The teams in the Upper Dauphin Sentinel's coverage area have this formula
perfected and it showed in the postseason.
After a deep run into the playoffs by the Williams Valley baseball squad – which
was one of four area teams to qualify for the postseason – this sports writer
finally had the time to sit down and sort through all statistics and box scores.
The All-Sentinel team is an ever-changing process, which can produce different
size teams, but one thing always remain the same – input from coaches.
Every coach was contacted for their thoughts on who belonged on the team and for
final statistics and ultimately it's a very tough decision.
This year's decision for our Player of the Year award was so tough that we
settled for a split decision on UDA's Matt Gessner and Williams Valley's Brandon
Cotten.
With Gessner and Cotten headlining, this year's All-Sentinel baseball team
features 14 players on the first team, including a pitching staff that goes six
deep and one player each at the other eight positions.
An additional seven players were selected to round out the bench and four
players were listed as honorable mentions.
Catcher
Jeremy Weaver, UDA. Missed the middle
portion of the season with an ankle injury, but still posted solid numbers with
a .465 average, four doubles and nine RBIs. When the strong-armed catcher wasn't
throwing out would-be base runners, he was dominating on the mound. To go along
with his solid season at the plate, Weaver went 3-0 with 28 strikeouts and did
not allow an earned run in 20 innings.
First
Base
Austin Markel, UDA. The Trojans sophomore
was a jack of all trades in the field with playing time at first base, pitcher
and catcher. Batted at a .400 clip with six doubles, three home runs and a
team-leading 16 RBIs. On the mound, Markel went 2-1 with 17 strikeouts in 18
innings.
Second Base
Travis Dunkelberger, Line Mountain. One
of the Eagles' returning starters from the 2007 Tri-Valley League champions who
used his veteran savvy to help lead the team on offense this season.
Dunkelberger batted .410 with 12 RBIs and led the team with five doubles and a
.486 on-base percentage.
Third
Base
Zach Klinger, Halifax. The Washington &
Jefferson-bound quarterback is earning his third All-Sentinel selection of his
senior season as the starting third baseman. Klinger batted in the .380-range
with six doubles, while providing solid defense at the hot corner for the
Wildcats.
Shortstop
Matt Gessner, UDA. One of the Sentinel
Co-Players of the Year, Gessner provided a potent bat at the top of the lineup
for the Trojans. Gessner led his team in batting average (.469), hits (30),
doubles (8), stolen bases (7) and also had three home runs and 11 RBIs. Gessner
also handled a lot of UDA's pitching duties, compiling a 3-3 record with 25
strikeouts and a 4.35 ERA.
Outfield
Brandon Cotten, Williams Valley. The
Sentinel's other selection for Co-Player of the Year wrapped up a prolific
career for the Vikings this season. The Rider University-bound center fielder
had a .431 batting average with six triples, four home runs and 29 RBIs. Broke
the school's record for stolen bases in a season with 29. Also finished with a
school record with 17 career triples.
Dillan Ramberger, Halifax. Like Cotten, Dillan Ramberger made would-be
doubles to the gap look like routine fly balls. The rangy center fielder batted
leadoff for the Wildcats and got things going with his .394 batting average and
team-leading 28 hits. Ramberger also emerged as one of his team's top pitchers
with an ERA of 2.28 to go along with his 6-0 mark.
Jachin Spotts, Line Mountain. Like the other selections in the outfield,
Spotts provided sparkling defense to his team in center field. The speedy
leadoff hitter posted a .356 batting average, scored 17 runs, drove in 12 more
and swiped 11 bases for Line Mountain this season.
Pitchers
Chris Bickel, Halifax. With pitching
being a preseason concern, Bickel's emergence as the team's staff ace was a
welcome one. Bickel pitched for the 'Cats in their biggest games and finished
with a 5-4 record and a 1.95 ERA. He wasn't too shabby with the stick either,
judging by his .338 batting average.
Scott Clough, Williams Valley. Clough served as a senior leader for the
Vikings' championship push and was part of a dominant 1-2 punch on their
pitching staff. For the season, Clough went 6-2 with a 2.60 ERA. At the plate,
he turned in solid numbers with a .328 batting average and 22 RBIs.
Dan Feidt, Millersburg. A mainstay on the team since his freshman season,
Feidt took a lot of hard-luck losses as a senior. The 2-6 record is not
indicative of how well Feidt pitched this season; the 3.15 ERA and 51 strikeouts
in 50 innings tells the real story. Feidt was also the leader offensively
with a team-high .389 batting average and 15 RBIs.
Brian Heilig, UDA. Heilig and his side-armed throwing delivery had
hitters baffled this season. The Harford College-bound senior finished with a
4-1 record and struck out 35 in only 34 innings while posting a 4.11 ERA.
Tyler Herb, Williams Valley. The young gun of the Vikings' 1-2 punch was
a vital part of the team's run to the PIAA Class-A Eastern Final. Herb posted a
7-2 record and three saves to go along with a 2.88 ERA and 69 strikeouts. At the
plate, he posted a .325 batting average with two home runs and led the team with
13 doubles.
Mike Miller, Tri-Valley. The Bulldogs' senior continued to show veteran
savvy on the mound. Miller was one of Tri-Valley's workhorses on a staff that
had a team ERA of 2.89. His line included a 5-4 record with a 1.96 ERA and 39
strikeouts in 46 1/3 innings.
BENCH
Millersburg's Cody Shomper and Halifax's Brandon
Erdman were one in the same in that they provided solid defense behind the plate
and a steady bat. Both catchers mowed down unsuspecting base stealers and batted
in the high .200's.
Line Mountain's Adam Menko fits in more as a utility player with his ability to
play catcher, second base and pitcher. Menko provided solid contributions on
offense as well with his .369 batting and average and team-leading 15 RBIs.
Millersburg's Brett Boyer spent his time this season at the middle-infield
positions with time at second base and shortstop. At the plate, he came through
for the Indians with a .356 batting average and six RBIs.
UDA's Tyler Koppenhaver followed up on a solid freshman season after he locked
down the starting spot at third base. Koppenhaver, who also pitched some for the
Trojans, shined brightest at the plate with a .351, three home runs and 12 RBIs.
Line Mountain's Jordan Welker burst into the lineup for the Eagles as a freshman
and emerged as the starting shortstop and the team's top pitcher. Welker led the
team with a .418 batting average and scored 17 runs. On the mound he had a 4-4
record, 3.32 earned run average and 33 strikeouts in 38 innings.
Halifax's Dustin Ramberger, who missed the 2007 season with an injury, burst
onto the scene in his sophomore season. Ramberger gives the team versatility in
the outfield as he played both left field and switched over to center field when
twin brother Dillan was pitching. Dustin made his mark as a power hitter with a
.318 batting average, three home runs and multiple extra-base hits.
Honorable Mention
Bob Ancheff, Williams Valley; Dylan Holland,
Tri-Valley; Andrew Rothermel, Millersburg; and Brett Wert, Tri-Valley.
 
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