27129137
Tomorrow is the official opening day for Philadelphia Public League teams, while Catholic League games get under way April 3. All the players need is for temperatures to warm up about 15 to 20 degrees and it’ll be perfect baseball weather.
Due to space restrictions and the Prep Charter Huskies boys’ basketball team state title contention, this year’s baseball preview will run over two issues. This week’s coverage focuses on Girard Academic Music Program and Neumann-Goretti.
Team: GAMP Pioneers
Coach: Art Kratchman
Home field: Seventh Street and
Packer Avenue
Division: Public League A
2005 record: 10-6
This year, the team hopes to get back to La Salle University, site of the Public League semifinals and championship game. The last time the Pioneers played on the Olney campus was in 2002, when they won the Public League title.
Dom DeMarco and Vinny Evangelista, who were rookies that year, graduated last spring. But the Pioneers still have plenty of returning talent that advanced to the quarterfinals and represented the city in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association AA state tournament in 2005.
This season, anything less than a trip to the semifinals will be a disappointment.
"I think we’re going to be in the mix, I really do," Kratchman said.
Having senior outfielder Ryan Challender, along with a strong junior nucleus, gives GAMP an edge in experience.
Other key players: Joe DiStefano, senior first baseman; John Dunn, senior outfielder; Anthony Venafro, junior shortstop-pitcher; Eric Funaro, junior catcher; Brandon Hanson, junior pitcher-outfielder; Andrew Caines, junior pitcher-first basemen; and Foster McKoskey, sophomore third basemen.
Teams to beat: Frankford, Central and Washington
Coach’s outlook: "I am excited about the season. We have some talent. I don’t think there is any question about that."
Team: Neumann-Goretti Saints
Coach: Gaeton Lucibello
Home field: 26th and Moore streets
Division: Catholic League South
2005 record: 2-12
With winter refusing to go away, the Neumann-Goretti Saints departed South Philly yesterday afternoon for the warmer, sunnier Orlando, where they’ll play three games at Walt Disney World’s Wide World of Sports Complex.
But what has Lucibello excited is that the Saints have eight returning starters in their line-up.
"Every one of the kids played every single game last year," he said. "I hope they’ve grown mentally and physically to play at the varsity level."
Leading the group is senior centerfielder and pitcher Albert DiDomenico, who missed the majority of last season due to a dislocated shoulder. But the number-three hitter spent the summer and fall playing baseball.
"He has no negative side effects," Lucibello said.
Other key players: Andrew Juliana, junior first baseman; Marc Cortese, senior third baseman; Franco Cima, senior outfielder; George Hatton, junior shortstop-pitcher; and Anthony Giletto, senior left fielder.
Teams to beat: Archbishop Carroll, Cardinal O’Hara and Roman Catholic
Coach’s outlook: "I hope to be right there, fighting for a playoff position."
Bok schedule
Games start at 3:15 p.m., unless otherwise noted
March 27 Frankford Home br> March 29 Washington Home br> April 3 Lincoln Away br> April 5 Northeast Home br> April 7 GAMP Away br> April 17 Central Home br> April 19 Frankford Away br> April 21 Edison Home br> April 24 Washington Away br> April 26 Lincoln Home br> May 1 Northeast Home br> May 3 Central Away br> May 8 GAMP Home 2:45 p.m. br> May 10 Edison Away
Neumann-Goretti schedule
Games start at 3:30 p.m.
April 3 Roman Away
April 6 St. Joe’s Prep Home
April 10 Bonner Home
April 13 Carroll Away
April 17 O’Hara Home
April 20 West Home
April 24 Kennedy-Kenrick Away
April 27 Roman Home
May 1 St. Joe’s Prep Away
May 4 Bonner Away
May 8 Carroll Home
May 11 O’Hara Away
May 15 West Away
May 18 Kennedy-Kenrick Home
GAMP schedule
March 27 Edison Home 2:45 p.m.
March 29 Frankford Away 3:15 p.m.
April 3 Washington Home 2:45 p.m.
April 5 Lincoln Home 2:45 p.m.
April 7 Bok Away 3:15 p.m.
April 17 Northeast Away 3:15 p.m.
April 19 Edison Away 3:15 p.m.
April 20 Central Home 2:45 p.m.
April 24 Frankford Home 2:45 p.m.
May 1 Lincoln Away 3:15 p.m.
May 3 Northeast Home 2:45 p.m.
May 8 Bok Home 2:45 p.m.
May 11 Central Away 3:15 p.m.
