Nazareth Area High School baseball team gears up for state playoffs

FROM THE EXPRESS TIMES

Nazareth Area High School's baseball team has no intention of resting on its laurels.

The District 11 Class AAAA champion Blue Eagles hope to continue their winning ways when they take on Council Rock North at 5 p.m. Monday in a PIAA first-round game at Parkland High School.

"I think our team is built well for the state tournament," Nazareth coach Jon Lock said. "We have pitching, hitting and defense. I think we have a pretty well-rounded baseball team."

According to Blue Eagles outfielder Shane Siebler, Council Rock North (19-2) and Nazareth (22-3) are mirror images of each other.

"I heard they mimic our style of play," said Siebler, who's hitting .310 with 12 runs batted in. "We're similar teams. It will come down to who wants it more. We'll have to be prepared to play."

"From what I saw, they look like a very, very good baseball team," Lock said. "They look pretty solid. They're very sound fundamentally."

The game figures to be an outstanding pitching matchup between Nazareth junior Karl Keglovits and Council Rock North senior ace Darren Lauer.

Keglovits is coming off Wednesday's sparkling four-hit shutout against Emmaus in the district title game. The hard-throwing right-hander struck out seven and walked none.

Keglovits is 7-1 on the season with a 1.34 earned run average. He has 71 strikeouts and 14 walks in 52.1 innings.

"When he's throwing like that (against Emmaus), we feel we have a great shot to win the game," Siebler said. "We just have to get our offense going a little bit and we'll be fine."

Lauer didn't pitch in the Indians' last game, a 7-5 win over Council Rock South on Thursday in the District 1 consolation game.

Council Rock North was the top seed in the District 1 tournament but lost, 9-3, to Spring-Ford in the semifinals.

"From what I understand, Council Rock North was the best team in District 1 all year long," Lock said.

Lock expressed some concern that the 6-foot-5 Keglovits would not be going on his normal five days rest.

"I'd be a little happier if he had that extra day," Lock said. "We like to give him five full days. As big as he is, he expends a lot of energy."

Shortstop Ryan Hartley, a University of Delaware recruit, left fielder Dan Denton, second baseman Ryan Henritzy and center fielder Mike Tentilucci, all seniors, are the Indians' top position players. Denton blasted a game-tying three-run homer Thursday as Council Rock North rallied from a 4-1 deficit against Council Rock South.

Nazareth features a high-powered offense led by senior catcher Justin Pacchioli (.457, 29 RBIs, 32 runs), junior shortstop Mike Garzillo (.435, 17 RBIs, 33 runs) and senior center fielder Kris Kent (.429, 16 RBIs, 25 runs).

The Blue Eagles have also utilized their speed, stealing 97 bases in 107 attempts, a success rate of 90.7 percent. Pacchioli is 26 for 28 and Kent has swiped 23 of 25.


"We're not afraid to make a mistake because on this team somebody else will pick us up," Siebler said. "We just have to relax and play our game."

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf/2011/06/nazareth_area_high_school_base_5.html