Western Wayne baseball team will look to challenge for a division title this spring

VARDEN — John Boandl is entering his sixth season as head coach of Western Wayne’s varsity baseball team.

In that time, he’s worked tirelessly to build a program that can consistently compete in the always-rugged Lackawanna League.

The good news for local fans is that this may well be the year the Wildcats finally turn the corner and challenge for both a division title and district crown.

Led by battle-tested veteran players like Lance Maiocco, Ethan Lamberton, Ethan Grodack and Michael Durso, Western Wayne should be right in the thick of things in this year’s Division II championship chase.

“I’m definitely excited for the season,” said Boandl. “We have a bunch of starters back and some pretty talented underclassmen coming up. It’s a really nice mix of kids. I can’t wait to get out on the field and see what they can do.”

More: Honesdale varsity baseball team entering a new era this spring

Also by Kevin Edwards: Western Wayne baseball team turning heads in Division II action

Weather permitting, the Wildcats will be back on the diamond for the first time this spring Monday, March 18 on the road versus Elk Lake.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at Schautz Stadium in Scranton.

Eyes on the prize

Western Wayne posted a 5-15 overall record last spring.

The Wildcats went 3-11 in Lackawanna League action, finishing seventh in the Division II standings. However, those numbers are poised to improve dramatically this year as a talented nucleus of veteran players returns.

A total of eight starters are back in the fold, making Boandl genuinely optimistic for the upcoming campaign.

“This is a great group of kids,” the veteran skipper said. “They put in a ton of work during the offseason. They have really good chemistry and are just a lot of fun to work with.”

Four players in particular will be expected to provide leadership on and off the diamond … all of whom donned their uniforms for the first time this spring during Media Day at PNC Field in Moosic.

The second annual event took place Sunday, March 3. It was organized by North Pocono manager Brian Jardine in memory of former University of Scranton coach Bill Howerton who died in 2012 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Maiocco, Lamberton, Grodack and Durso represented Western Wayne. All are upperclassmen and each will play a key role for the Wildcats this season.

Maiocco is a junior who pitches and plays the outfield. A solid hitter with a little bit of pop, Maiocco batted .250 with two doubles and nine RBIs in league action last spring.

“Lance really came on strong for us as a sophomore,” Boandl said. “He pitched some key innings and delivered some big hits. We’re looking for Lance to be a key part of the lineup this year.”

Lamberton is a junior catcher who excels defensively and does real damage at the dish. He batted .263 last year and was among the team leaders in both RBIs and runs scored.

“Ethan has been a varsity starter since his freshman year,” Boandl said. “He’s going to be a mainstay behind the plate again and anchor our lineup offensively.”

Grodack is a multi-sport standout who also excels on the football field. A right-handed pitcher who plays third base and outfield as well, Grodack enjoyed a breakout season at the plate last spring. He batted a robust .344 with 13 RBIs and 12 runs scored

“Ethan really came into his own as a junior,” Boandl said of Grodack who, along with Frankie Leyshon, are the only two seniors on the roster this spring. “He throws hard on the mound and swings a really good bat. Ethan will probably be hitting third in the order, and we’re looking for him to drive in runs.”

Durso is another junior who cracked the varsity lineup as a frosh. A versatile player who can man multiple positions, Durso uses quickness and speed to wreak havoc on the basepaths.

“Michael is a talented, hard-working kid,” Boandl said. “He can play shortstop and outfield and should bat lead-off for us. Michael may be the fastest player on the team. He definitely makes things happen when he gets on base.”

Stage is set

Pitching and defense will be key for the Wildcats this year as they look to climb the power rankings in Class 4A.

Western Wayne surrendered double digit run totals in 10 games last season and were outscored overall by a margin of 189-79. Those numbers must improve if the ‘Cats are to overtake teams like Honesdale, Old Forge and Mid Valley.

The good news is that Coach Boandl’s team showed toughness and resilience, winning several close games against perennial title contenders like Dunmore and Holy Cross.

“Our division is always tough, but I think we have a chance to really make some noise this year,” he said. “If we keep working hard and play our game, we should be able to compete with just about anybody.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Western Wayne well-represented at second annual Media Day in Moosic