Brown takes over the reins at Nazareth

FROM THE MORNING CALL

For 11 seasons, Jason Brown served as an assistant coach to longtime Nazareth manager Frank Jurasits. Even though Brown's duties increased during recent years, he was still Jurasits' understudy.

Now, the task of leading Nazareth's powerful legion program is a responsibility that belongs to Brown.

"The biggest change is taking care of all the paperwork that's involved. There are a lot of details that come along with legion," said the 1993 Nazareth graduate. "As far as the coaching aspect, I've been fortunate the past couple of years that Frank allowed me to be an integral part of the coaching process. It's all going real well right now.

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Ben Johnson
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"What I do miss is Frank's wisdom and almost 40 years of experience in the league."
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Nazareth is off to a 3-1 start in Brown's first year, but the challenging part of the schedule is still ahead. The team plays 17 games over the next 15 days, including a date tonight against Easton at Hackett Park.

No Norco club has enjoyed as much success since 2000 as Nazareth. It captured league championships in 2001, '02, '05, '06, '09 and '10.

"At Nazareth we try to instill the winning tradition in our players," said Brown, who is assisted by Adam Smith, Bryan Wolf and Jeff Kroboth. "We want them to know the title comes through Nazareth's team. We do have long-range goals but we need to worry about the short-term, day-by-day goals and not take anything for granted."

Based on the success of Nazareth's high school team this spring (the Blue Eagles went 23-4 and won the District 11 Class 4A title) and the experienced players back from last year, Brown's squad was the preseason favorite to claim another crown.

The legion team boasts most of the players who made up Nazareth's high school team, excluding catcher Justin Pacchioli, infielder Drew Hercik and outfielder Kris Kent.

Pitching will be a strength, with Karl Keglovits and Jordan Smith spearheading a staff that is nine deep, according to Brown. Shortstop Mike Garzillo will lead an offense that also is expected to be an area of strength. Nazareth put 33 runs on the scoreboard in its first four games.

"People tell me we're the favorite," said Brown, who lives in Nazareth with wife, Michelle; daughter Casey, 5; son Chase, 20 months; and daughter Carly, 20 months. "Kind of like the Lehigh Valley title runs through North Parkland and the Berks title runs through Boyertown, teams know they need to knock off Nazareth to win the Norco title.

"But Freemansburg has guys back from college and good arms, I still feel Wind Gap with all those kids from Pen Argyl, Bath and Northampton will be right there. I think this year is wide open."

Salisbury's Sprint: Dave Ernst, as an assistant to head coach Mike Pochron on the Salisbury High staff, enjoyed a field-level view of the Falcons' improbable run to the PIAA Class 2A championship game. (Salisbury lost to Riverside 5-2 in Friday's state final.)

But as manager of Salisbury's legion team, Ernst knew with every playoff victory came a more condensed summer season.

Salisbury opens its Lehigh Valley Legion campaign today with a home-and-home doubleheader against rival Southern Lehigh. Game times are 1 p.m. at Limeport Stadium and 5 p.m. at Salisbury High. Ernst's squad will play 18 games in a 17-day span from today through July 5, the final day of the regular season.

Ernst said 12 of the 17 players on his roster come from the high school team – including the battery of standout pitcher Zach Harper and veteran catcher Colby Kulig, while the five others are from Dieruff, Central Catholic and Liberty.

The depth of Salisbury's pitching staff should be a strength, according to Ernst. Liberty's Brandon Davis and Dieruff's Nick Hoffman join Harper, Justin Aungst, Brad Vangelli and Nic Ampietro to account for the quality arms.

"We'll have a lot of doubleheaders," Ernst acknowledged, "but luckily we have enough players this year to give guys a break. We're solid one through 17."

Around the Valley: The Lehigh Valley Legion Baseball League All-Stars will play the Schuylkill-Berks All-Stars on June 27 at First Energy Field in Reading. First pitch is 7:05 p.m.

Lehigh Valley's roster: Catcher – Ben Johnson (Lower Macungie), Colby Kulig (Salisbury); First base – Matt Nelson (South Parkland), Mike Tenaglia (North Parkland); Second base – Tyler Harris (Northern Valley), Carrington Santana (West Allentown); Third base – Justin Fizer (Lower Macungie), Adam Guzman (West Allentown); Shortstop – Justin Mastroianni (Lower Macungie), Connor Vanin (Southern Lehigh); Outfield – Tyler Knauss (Coplay), Gio Fuentes (Fullerton), Arthur Weaver (North Parkland), Anthony Dutcher (Southern Lehigh), Chris Czonksta (West Allentown), Justin Schalles (West Allentown); Designated hitter – Nate Harris (Fullerton), Dan Clay (Lower Macungie); Pitchers – Christian Marcin (Coplay), Luke Miller (Emmaus), Mike Tatasciore (Fullerton), Dave Pisauro (Lower Macungie), Brian Zesch (North Parkland), Tyler Hill (Northern Valley), Zach Harper (Salisbury), Dan Shaw (South Parkland), Ramsey Lerch (Southern Lehigh), Ruddy Rosario (West Allentown).

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