Parkland High School Baseball

The JV team moved to 3-0 on the season on a strong pitching performance by Ryan Giovenco in a 5 inning mercy rule win over the Emmaus Hornets.  Giovenco gave up just one hit, recording five strikeouts while allowing 3 walks en route to the 11-1 victory.  The Trojan defense turned in another solid performance, backing up Giovenco's pitching effort with an error free game.

The Parkland offense was led by Matt Mellinger (2 for 3, 3R, 3RBI) who scored the game winning run on a Josh Lee (0 for 0, BB, RBI) walk in the bottom of the fifth.  The Trojans got on the board in the bottom of the first with an Ethan Imler (1 for 1, double, 2BB, 3R,) walk followed by a Mellinger hit by pitch and a Nick Iannotta (1 for 2, BB, 2R) single to load the bases.  Consecutive walks by Nate Markowicz (1 for 3, BB, R, 2RBI) and Will Algard (1 for 1, double, 2BB, 2RBI) scored Imler and Mellinger for the first two Parkland runs.  A single by Colin Calpin (1 for 2, BB, RBI) scored Iannotta to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead after one inning.  After the Hornets scored their lone run in the top of the 2nd, the Trojans picked up another run in the bottom half of the inning on an Imler double followed by a Mellinger RBI single for a 4-1 lead.

The Trojans put the game out of reach in the bottom of the 4th, scoring six runs to take a 10-1 lead.  Joey Bolick (0 for 2, 2BB, R) led off the inning with walk followed by a Christian Kinsley (1 for 4, R) single and an Imler walk to load the bases.  Mellinger singled to score Bolick and Kinsley, making the score 6-1. Iannotta followed with a walk and Imler scored on wild pitch.  Markowicz singled to score Mellinger and an Algard sacrifice fly scored Iannotta, giving the Trojans a 9-1 lead.  Markowicz scored the final run of the inning on a wild pitch.

Justin Petrisko got the fifth inning started with a lead-off walk.  Following a Mellinger fielder's choice ground ball, Iannotta reached base on error.  With two outs, walks by Algard and Lee scored the winning run to secure the 11-1 victory.

The JV team recorded their second win of the season with an exciting 4-3 come from behind victory over the Northampton Konkrete Kids. Starting pitcher Matt Mellinger worked three innings, allowing three runs on two hits and recorded six strikeouts. Nick Iannotta picked up the win throwing four scoreless innings, giving up just one hit and striking out five.  Strong Trojan defense complemented the pitching effort, limiting Northampton to three base runners in the final four innings.

Northampton scored in the top of the first, taking a 1-0 lead.  The Trojans responded with 2 runs in the bottom on the 2nd.  Will Algard (3 for 3, 2R, double, 2 RBI)  singled to score Nate Markowicz who had reached base on error to lead off the inning.  Colin Calpin (1 for 2) singled to move Algard to third who then scored on a wild pitch. Northampton regained the lead, scoring two runs in top of the 3rd to take a 3-2 lead.

After 3 scoreless innings, Christian Kinsley (1 for 1, R) singled to lead off the 7th inning.  Kinsley scored on an Algard single to tie the game 3-3.  Algard moved to second on an Adam Mellinger sacrifice bunt.  Ryan Giovenco (1 for 2, RBI)  singled to score Algard for the walk off 4-3 win.

The Parkland Trojans took a quick 2-0 lead in the 1st inning of their matchup against the Northampton Konkrete Kids when the second batter of the game, Justin Afflerbach (4-for-5, 3R, 3 RBI), singled home Jeff Strisovsky (1-for-3, double, BB, 2R) who had reached base on a fielding error to lead off the game.  After a Chris Rabasco (4-for-5, double, 2-run HR, R, 3 RBI) single and an Evan McAndrew (1-for-2, BB) base on balls, Tyler Bruno (2-for-4, R, RBI) drove in Afflerbach for Parkland's second run.  With two runs in, the bases loaded and still no outs in the inning, the Trojans looked to break open the game before Northampton had a chance to bat.  However, Northampton got out of the inning without any further damage.

The score remained 2-0 until the 5th inning when Strisovsky got things going again for the Trojans with a 1-out double.  Afflerbach singled home Strisovsky again to give Parkland a 3-0 lead.  Starting pitcher Connor Higgins worked six strong innings of shutout baseball allowing only one base hit, four walks, and collecting 5 strikeouts.  Parkland's defense also shined as outfielders Strisovsky and Cullan Wadsworth (1-for-2, R) both made diving catches to rob the Konkrete Kids of base hits. 

Parkland then broke the game open in the top of the 7th inning, scoring 8 runs.  Afflerbach led off the 7th with another single, then Rabasco drove a ball off the scoreboard in left-centerfield for a 2-run homerun.  Wadsworth got things going again with a single followed by Bruno's second hit of the day.  Pinch hitter Harrison Rabenold (1-for-1, RBI) then singled home Wadsworth to increase Parkland's lead to 6-0.  Rhett Jacoby (1-for-3, double, BB, R, 2 RBI) then drove a ball into the left-center gap for a double that plated two more runs.  Dan Zaccaro (1-for-4, R, RBI) then followed with an RBI single to bring home Jacoby.  Afflerbach then came to the plate again and collected his second hit of the inning and his fourth hit of the game to score Zaccaro.  Rabasco followed suit getting his second hit of the inning, a double to score Afflerbach, making the score 11-0.  Reliever McAndrew came on to pitch the 7th inning allowing Northampton to score their lone run of the game on a walk and one hit.

The JV team kicked off the 2015 season with a win over the Central Catholic Vikings at Coplay Stadium.  The Trojans pounded out 13 hits in the 12-6 victory.  Parkland scored first in the top of the 2nd to take a 1-0 lead.  Nate Markowicz (2 for 4, 2 RBI, 2B) and Nick Stillitano (3 for 4, 1 RBI) singled to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  After the runners moved up to 2nd and 3rd on a wild pitch, Markowicz scored on a Scotty Hudock (2 for 2, 1 RBI, BB) sacrifice fly.

After Central tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the 2nd, the Trojans regained the lead in the top of the 3rd.  Joey Bolick (1 for 4, 1 RBI, 2B) led off the inning with a double and scored on a Christian Kinsley (1 for 2, 1 RBI, double, walk, HBP) double to give Parkland a 2-1 lead.  The Vikings responded with 4 runs in the bottom of the 3rd to take a 5-2 lead.

After a scoreless 4th inning Parkland chipped away at the Central lead scoring a run in the top of the 5th.  Bolick reached on error and Kinsley walked to put runners on 1st and 2nd.  Ethan Imler (3 for 5, 3 RBI, 2-2B) reached first on a bunt to load the bases.  Bolick scored on a Colin Calpin (0 for 4, 1 RBI, BB) sacrifice fly to cut the lead to 5-3.

The Trojans broke the game open in the 6th inning scoring 9 runs to take a 12-5 lead.  Stillitano and Hudock singled putting runners on 1st and 2nd, moving to 2nd and 3rd on a wild pitch.  With 2 outs, Stilliatano scored on a Bolick ground ball to make the score 5-4 with runners on the corners.  Kinsley was hit by a pitch to load the bases.  A 3 run double by Imler scored Stillitano, Bolick, and Kinsley giving the Trojans a 7-4 lead.  Matt Mellinger (1 for 5, 1 RBI) singled to score Imler. Calpin walked putting runners on 1st and 2nd.  A Markowicz double scored Mellinger and Calpin to make the score 10-5.  Stillitano singled to score Markowicz.  After a Hudock walk, Stillitano scored on a wild pitch making the score 12-5.  Central scored a run in the bottom of the 7th, bringing the final score to 12-6.

Pitching duties for the Trojans were shared by Ryan Giovenco, Collin Duff, and Matt Mellinger.  Giovenco had a strong start for the Trojans, pitching 2-2/3 innings.  Duff recorded the win throwing 3-1/3 scoreless innings giving up no hits.  Matt Mellinger closed the game pitching the 7th inning to secure the 12-6 win.

Perfect Game announced its 2015 Preseason Underclass All-Americans to recognize the top underclass high school baseball players in the United States (Class of 2016, 2017, & 2018).  Parkland's junior second baseman Tyler Bruno and sophomore catcher Austin Mueller received honorable mention in their selection to the 2015 Preseason Underclass All-American teams. 

"To receive the Perfect Game Preseason All-American Award is a tremendous achievement for these high school athletes," said Jerry Ford, President Perfect Game, USA.  "We're proud to recognize their talent as they continue to prepare for their future in baseball."

Perfect Game is the world's largest scouting report service, reporting on thousands of young players each year.  Along with holding top tournament and showcase events, Perfect Game has established a reputation for identifying the top baseball prospects each year.

Congratulations to both Tyler and Austin on this significant honor! 

Click Perfect Game logo for full list of 2015 Preseason Underclass All-Americans. 

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