Apr. 3—There is a new look to Lackawanna League baseball this season.

Gone is the four-team divisional format. In its place are three eight-team divisions where each team will play the other teams in its division twice.

Division I consists of Abington Heights, Delaware Valley, North Pocono, Scranton, Scranton Prep, Valley View, Wallenpaupack and West Scranton. They are the former Division I and II teams who played two intradivsion games and one crossover game against the other division.

"It's exciting playing new competition and playing Scranton twice and West Scranton twice, teams we only would play once," Aidan Hyams of Delaware Valley said. "It's going to be different, but I think we're up for the challenge."

Division II consists of the former Division III teams — Dunmore, Holy Cross, Lakeland, Mid Valley, Mid Valley, Old Forge, Riverside, Western Wayne — plus Honesdale. The addition of the Hornets should make an already-competitive division that much tougher.

"We get Honesdale now. They always have a solid team and are a bigger school," Holy Cross coach Sandy Menechetti said. "It's nice, change is good. The guys are excited to see some different teams and do some different traveling."

Honesdale is looking forward to the challenge.

"It's definitely exciting to face new teams," senior pitcher and Hofstra University commit Joseph Curreri said. "We're going to go out there and try to win more games than we lose. We have a lot of seniors coming back, so we have a good core group of guys."

Division III features the former Division IV squads — Blue Ridge, Elk Lake, Forest City, Lackawanna Trail, Montrose, Mountain View, Susquehanna — with Carbondale Area added to the mix.

"It's always exciting when you play someone new," Montrose's Alex Warriner said. "We play Carbondale in Legion and they're always strong. So it's going to be a good challenge. It's always fun to get different looks no matter what."

The new divisional alignment, coupled with the return of a lot of talented players, should make for an interesting season.

Division I

Last season, North Pocono was the District 2 Class 5A champion, but didn't get to enjoy the spoils of winning a title. That's because the Trojans fell to District 4 Selinsgrove in the subregional final. The Seals wound up reaching the PIAA final before losing to District 7 Bethel Park.

With a strong senior nucleus returning, North Pocono is determined to not have that happen this season.

"We have a lot of guys who played last year and know what it's all about," senior Aidan DeLucy said. "Obviously we lost last year. We got a medal, but it was not the way we wanted to get it. This year, we're going to try to get it the way we should and advance."

DeLucy, a Lackawanna League Division II coaches honorable mention last season, is one of eight senior starters back. Among the others are University of Pittsburgh commit Gavin Chillot, a Division II coaches all-star and Times-Tribune All-Region selection who was 7-1 with a 0.65 earned-run average and 60 strikeouts and batted .290 with four home runs and 19 RBIs; Monmouth University commit and coaches all-star Chris Walsh (.379, 3 HR, 28 RBIs); and coaches honorable mention Jeremy Staples (.296).

Abington Heights was dealt a blow when Matt Show suffered a knee injury during basketball that will sideline him for baseball season. Show was the Division I coaches Player of the Year and an All-Region pick who batted .415 with seven doubles, three home runs and 18 RBIs.

"It's going to be tough, but I'm going to make the best of it," Show said. "I'm a team player and I'll do everything I can to help in any way I can. It's still going to be a fun year."

The Comets do bring back senior Garrett Pietryka (.344, 10 RBIs), a Division I coaches all-star last season, as well as senior honorable mentions Colin Davis (.267, 12 RBIs) and Conner Griffin (.340, 19 RBIs; 1-0, 4.42, 30K), a Binghamton University commit. Junior pitcher Jake Lenahan (2-0, 2.93, 14K) also returns, and freshman Nick Bradley, who has already verbally committed to Auburn University, debuts.

Scranton Prep has reached consecutive PIAA Class 3A tournaments, losing last year in the first round to Central Columbia in the bottom of the seventh inning. Six starters return for the Cavaliers, led by senior All-Region pick Brian Walsh (.371, 21 RBIs; 6-6, 2.63, 85K). Coaches honorable mentions Zander Condeelis (.317, 17R), George Stallman (.313, 9 RBIs) and Blake Decker also are back.

Heading the returnees for Valley View is senior Logan McConnell (.345, 7 RBIs), a coaches all-star last season. Among others back for the Cougars are senior Ian Reese (3-0, 2.42, 24K) and juniors Dante Ruby (.273, 9 RBIs) and Quinn Rissinger (.283, 10 RBIs).

Scranton has junior outfielder Dan Jacklinski (.283, 6 RBIs), a coaches honorable mention, among its top returnees along with senior Dylan Labukas (.241, 15 RBIs; 2-1, 2.57, 15K) and senior Jake Leonori (.246, 16R).

Wallenpaupack graduated several key starters, but does have Jordan Santiago back. The junior catcher was an All-Region selection who batted .409 and had a Lackawanna League-high 29 RBIs. The Buckhorns also return junior pitchers Eli Peifer (3-0, 3.32, 13K) and Jake Holbert (3-1, 0.66, 31K) as well as junior Gannon Decker (.375, 13 RBIs), a coaches honorable mention.

West Scranton was young last season and those players are back with some experience under their belts. Senior pitcher Zach Lloyd (4-3, 2.63, 52K in 2021) missed almost all of last season with an injury. Junior Samson Repshis (.296, 7 RBIs), a coaches honorable mention, and senior Evan Gariepy (.290, 4 RBIs) are other top returnees.

Delaware Valley has just two seniors on its roster, led by outfielder and coaches all-star Aiden Hyams (.385, 14 RBIs). Infielder Tyee Irving (.273, 4 RBIs) is the other senior. Top returning juniors include Keaton Phillips (.227, 11 RBIs) and Liam O'Toole (2-1, 2.90, 10K).

Division II

Riverside has a mix of young talent and veteran players, several of whom were part of the team that made a run to the PIAA Class 2A semifinals two years ago.

Heading the list are senior outfielder and All-Region selection Trevor Balcerzak (.418, 19 RBIs), senior division coaches all-stars Thomas Day (.339, 16 RBIs) and Anthony Karpinski (.375, 17 RBIs) and junior coaches honorable mention Casey O'Brien (.450, 25 RBIs).

Honesdale brings back a ton of experience, led by senior pitcher Joseph Curreri, a Hofstra University commit who struck out 47 last season; senior outfielder and coaches all-star Max Mickel (.438, 13 RBIs) and coaches honorable mentions Peter Modrovsky (.381, 13 RBIs; 3-2, 3.80, 33K) and Trent Gombita (.351, 14 RBIs).

Old Forge also has heavy numbers returning, led by coaches honorable mentions Nico Killino (.323, 25R) and Joe Granko (.357, 22 RBIs). Sophomore T.J. DiMattia (.215, 13 RBIs; 6-1, 1.23, 52K), senior Josh Spindler (.294, 11 RBIs) and senior Angelo Fumanti (.281, 10 RBIs; 3-3, 4.38, 41K) are among those also back.

Holy Cross put together a run at the end of last season and captured the District 2 Class 2A title. Seven starters are back to try to ride that momentum into this season, led by senior and coaches honorable mention Connor Rasimovich (.382, 22 RBIs); senior Kaeden Carr (.286, 10 RBIs); juniors Ryan Georgetti (.333, 8 RBIs) and Nic Borgia (.290, 9 RBIs); and senior Nick Carpentier.

Dunmore boasts a pair of returning coaches all-stars in senior Nico Ruggiero (.435, 25 RBIs) and sophomore Max Forgione (.459, 32R, 14 RBIs).

Lakeland is led by junior Tyler Uram (.400, 20 RBIs; 3-3, 2.53, 42K), a coaches all-star last season, seniors Michael Igneri (.270, 10 RBIs) and Evan Pochas (.295, 8 RBIs).

Mid Valley brings back senior Edward Kaufman (.448, 13 RBIs), a coaches all-star last season, and David Magliocchi (.327, 14 RBIs), a coaches honorable mention.

Western Wayne features senior Luke Janiszewski (.377, 12 RBIs), a coaches honorable mention, and senior Dustin Ferraro (.333, 16 RBIs) among its top returnees.

Division III

Elk Lake has a number of returnees that rate it as a slight favorite in the division. Among those back for the Warriors are junior Isaac Gesford (.351, 33R, 11 RBIs; 2-1, 4.20, 27K), a coaches all-star; seniors Elias Owens (.373, 22 RBIs; 4-4, 1.50, 66K), Kaden Bomboy (.289, 10 RBIs) and sophomore Brayden McMicken (.306, 16 RBIs; 2-0, 6.13, 29K) — all coaches honorable mentions.

Lackawanna Trail should challenge Elk Lake for the title, especially with the return of coaches Division IV player of the year, junior Luke Leventhall (.326, 11 RBIs; 5-2, 0.93, 80K).

Blue Ridge has seven returning starters, led by senior coaches all-star Noah Martin (.396, 6 RBIs) and sophomore coaches honorable mention Gehrig Dibble (.250, 9 RBIs; 3-1, 0.94, 36K).

Mountain View has three coaches honorable mentions among its returnees: seniors Carter Bain (.233, 10 RBIs), Owen Cameron (.327, 15 RBIs) and junior Riley Jagger (.260, 7 RBIs; 6-2, 3.11, 50K).

Montrose is led by senior Alex Warriner (.250, 6 RBIs), a coaches all-star last season, as well as seniors Troy Hegedus (.270, 7 RBIs) and Cole Jones (.303, 4 RBIs).

Carbondale Area has a new coach in former player Stone Wormuth. Among the returnees is Anthony DePalma (.280, 11 RBIs; 2-4, 5.63, 38K), a coaches honorable mention.

Susquehanna has five returnings starters: juniors Colton Stone (54K) and Tyler Rockwell (.265, 11 RBIs) and sophomores William Marcy (.256, 9 RBIs), Travis Rooney (.244, 2 RBIs) and Matthew Callender (.235, 4 RBIs).

Forest City is led by seniors D.J. Heath (.244, 5 RBIs), Logan Holsinger (.267, 7 RBIs) and sophomore Max Urbas (.282, 5 RBIs; 41K).

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