Schuykill Hawks 1898 Preview
1897 Recap
With a one game lead heading into the penultimate weekend of the 1897 season, Schuykill collapses, losing their last two and ending up in third place. Sophomore Pete Soto carried the load as the starting pitcher, appearing in all 14 games with 13 starts. He struck out 32 batters over 97.1 IP and finished as the runner-up in balloting for the league's Outstanding Pitcher.
Leading the hitters was junior first basemen Bill Clark, who finished the campaign with a .400/.422/.550 triple slash and drove in a league-high 15 runs. Frosh SS Calvin Leonard chipped in with a .358/.393/.528 triple slash, but committed an unsightly 14 errors. Catcher Steve Gordon led the team with six extra base hits.
Key Losses
The biggest loss was senior OF and captain Roy O'Hagerty, who finished third on the club with 18 hits. In total, the team returns eight players who started at least eight games in 1897.
New Additions
Three newcomers have made the active roster, with another promising prospect being held in reserve this coming season.
Alec Boyd, a junior from Philadelphia, joins the team after transferring from Raritan University. Boyd has a solid bat and will play a number of roles as a utility infielder and pinch hitter this season.
Speedy freshman OF Wilbert Ferris comes to the team from Easton, PA. He has significant upside as a future lead-off hitter for the Hawks, but will spend the 1898 season as a pinch-runner.
Freshman Chris Long comes to Schuykill from Avon Lake, OH. He has good hands in the infield, and may end up competing with Calvin Leonard at shortstop if the incumbent Leonard continues his poor fielding. Long offers limited upside with the bat, but has very good speed that could factor in in the late innings.
Finally, Pottsville, PA native Don White is a potential weapon out of the bullpen this year. But, with a strong stable of returning pitchers, White will probably spend most of the season on the bench.
Starting Lineup
Skipper Donnie Gallego will most likely start the following lineup when they open play on March 19 at Holland.
Quote:
CF Bill Meeks (Soph)
2B Harry Cook (Soph)
LF Norm Ellis (Soph)
1B Bill Clark (Senior)
C Steve Gordon (Senior)
3B Keith Green (Senior)
SS Calvin Leonard (Soph)
RF Daniel Hargrove (Senior)
P Pete Soto (Jnr)
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Hargrove and senior relief pitcher Jason King will serve as co-captains this year.
Outlook
Early predictions have Schuykull competing with defending champion Dover State for league supremacy this year. The five seniors in key roles will need to lead the way for a super-talented underclass contingent.
Best guess for 1898: 9-5 and league champs.