The Morning Call's 2011 all-area baseball team

FROM THE MORNING CALL

First team

Pitcher

Karl Keglovits, Nazareth

Junior pitched his best in the postseason, making him The Morning Call pitcher of the year. … Went 8-1 with a 1.42 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. … Walked 16 and struck out 77 over 59 1/3 innings. … Won all three of his postseason starts, including a four-hit shutout of Emmaus in the District 11 Class 4A championship game. … Also batted cleanup for the Blue Eagles, hitting .361 with three home runs and 24 RBIs.

Pitcher

Eric Snyder, Northern Lehigh

Senior teamed with Jake Kern to give Northern Lehigh the top starting pitching duo in the Colonial League. … Finished 8-1 with one save and a 1.98 ERA. … Walked 31 and struck out 60 in 63 2/3 innings. … Also batted .323 with five doubles, one triple, one home run, 13 runs scored and 16 RBIs. … Will continue his career at Division I Fairleigh Dickinson.

Pitcher

Zach Harper, Salisbury

Senior ace led Falcons' run to the PIAA Class 2A final. … Finished 8-2 with a 1.82 ERA with six complete games. … Walked 30 and struck out 75 in 73 innings. … Also was the Falcons' top hitter, batting .376 with seven doubles, two home runs and 33 RBIs while scoring 16 runs. … Will continue his career as a pitcher at Philadelphia University.

Catcher

Justin Pacchioli, Nazareth

The Morning Call's 2010 player of the year while at Easton, the senior had another huge season in his one year at Nazareth. … Batted a team-best .434 with seven doubles, three triples, two home runs, 30 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 26 stolen bases in 28 attempts. … Posted a .545 on-base percentage and slugged .684. … Will continue his career at Lehigh University.

First base

Jay Maletz, Pius X

Junior served as one of the big bats in Royals' lineup. … Hit .481 with 20 runs scored, four doubles, six home runs and 27 RBIs. … Had a .556 on-base percentage and a .904 slugging percentage. … Had two home runs and drove in four in a win over Colonial League champion Pen Argyl. … Finished season with eight multi-RBI games and eight multi-hit games.

Second base

Nick Rabasco, Parkland

Junior became one of the Trojans' top offensive players in his second year as a starter. … Batted .430 with six doubles, one triple, 23 runs scored, 23 RBIs and eight stolen bases. … Has a .361 career average with 40 runs scored and 35 RBIs. … Named to the Lehigh Valley Conference first team and also played for the Lehigh Valley Carpenter Cup team.

Shortstop

Mike Garzillo, Nazareth

Junior emerged as one of the area's top players, earning 2011 Morning Call player of the year honors. … Batted .408 with nine doubles, four triples, six home runs, 18 RBIs and a team-best 34 runs scored. … Stole 14 bases in 15 attempts. … Led the Blue Eagles with an .868 slugging percentage. … Played his best in the District 11 playoffs, hitting three home runs and two doubles, scoring six times and driving in four in three games.

Third base

Connor Faust, Central Catholic

After missing all of football season while recovering from a torn ACL, senior returned to the baseball field and starred at the hot corner. … Batted .446 with 11 doubles, two home runs, 22 runs, 21 RBIs and six stolen bases. … Started for four years (two at second base, two at third base) and ended career with 100 hits. … Will continue his baseball career at Lehigh University.

Outfield

Brian Velasco, Emmaus

Senior was one of the area's best two-way outfielders. … Hit .377 with 26 runs scored, eight doubles, one triple, one home run, 15 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. … Chosen as Emmaus High School's Outstanding Male Athlete of the Year. … Will play football next year at Franklin & Marshall. … Picked for the Lehigh Valley Conference first team.

Outfield

Kris Kent, Nazareth

Senior center fielder excelled as a leadoff hitter and defender. … Batted .411 with six doubles, 26 runs scored and 16 RBIs. … Had a .495 on-base percentage and a .478 slugging percentage. … Stole 23 bases in 26 attempts. … Will play football at Division I-AA Colgate in the fall.

Outfield

Dylan Evans, Pen Argyl

Junior excelled in the outfield and on the mound for the Colonial League champion Green Knights. … Hit .465 with 21 runs scored, six doubles, three triples, two home runs and 16 RBIs while slugging .712. … Went 6-1 with a 2.55 ERA. … Owns a career .407 batting average and .654 slugging percentage. … Has won nine varsity letters (three each in football, wrestling and baseball).

Utility

Jimmy McCarthy, Liberty

Junior shortstop and pitcher was the Hurricanes' leading offensive player. … Batted .453 with six doubles, two triples, one home run and 24 runs scored. … Stole a school-record 32 bases in 33 attempts. … A Lehigh Valley Conference first-team selection. … Named The Morning Call's player of the week May 13 after an 8-for-11 stretch in which he scored six runs and stole five bases.

Utility

Matt Gill, Northern Lehigh

Senior provided power at the plate and also pitched for the Bulldogs. … Hit .438 with seven doubles, four triples, three home runs, 24 runs scored, 28 RBIs and 11 stolen bases with a .738 slugging percentage. … Went 1-0 with three saves and a 3.00 ERA in 21 innings pitched. … Will play football at Lafayette College next year. … Named to the Colonial League first team at third base.

Designated hitter

Jacen Nalesnik, Lehighton

Sophomore is a repeat selection for the all-area first team. … Hit .492 with 28 runs, 24 RBIs, four doubles, two triples and five home runs while slugging .846. … Walked 14 times and struck out just twice in 85 plate appearances. … Already owns Lehighton's single-season records for hits, doubles, RBIs and total bases. … Caught every inning played by the Indians for a second straight year.

Second team

Pitchers: Jared Schaffer, Pennridge; David Rosenberger, Central Catholic; Ryan DeJesso, Pen Argyl. Catcher: Allen Umbenhauer, Whitehall. Infielders: Ryan Sutovich, Parkland; Brandon Kahler, Emmaus; Brett Bittiger, Pius X; Kevin Nemeth, Easton. Outfielders: Derrik Walling, Pleasant Valley; Kevin Rold, Freedom; Westyn Baylor, Bangor. Utility: Jake Kern, Northern Lehigh; Seth Stoudt, Central Catholic. Designated hitter: Dylan Tice, Pennridge.

Honorable mention

Pitchers: Collin O'Connor, Pius X; Dave Pisauro, Emmaus; Tyler Hill, Lehighton; Dan Shaw, Parkland; Jordan Smith, Nazareth. Catchers: Spencer Iversen, Southern Lehigh; Colby Kulig, Salisbury; James Bertolotti, Liberty. Infielders: Justin Fizer, Emmaus; Mike Makara, Central Catholic; Zach Palansky, Northern Lehigh; Craig Miller, Central Catholic; Alex Longernecker, Bethlehem Catholic; Drew Hercik, Nazareth; Matt Camiletti, Pius X; Colin Case, Easton; Drew Borger, Pleasant Valley; Andrew Rivera, Northwestern; Ryuta Amaike, Whitehall; Brett Wagner, Bangor; Aaron Cook, Palmerton; Jake Bostick, Northampton. Outfielders: Luke Szoke, Northampton; Christian Marcin, Palmerton; Cody Zickler, Pennridge; Jose Perez, Allen; Greg Butto, Easton; Payton Bachman, Northwestern; DJ Williams, Southern Lehigh; Conor Mulrine, Easton. Utility: Robert Bennie, Stroudsburg; Justin Aungst, Salisbury; Jim Sawyer, Liberty. Designated hitter: Chad Frankenfield, Freedom; Sawyer Smith, Northwestern; Justin Schalles, Central Catholic.