Head Coach: Rich Evanko – 10th year (118-60)
Assistant Coaches:
John Cooper
Mike Pascoe
Jake Taras
Team: Panther Valley Panthers
League: Schuylkill League Division 1
2024 Record: 14-8 – Lost to Blue Mountain in the League Semi-Finals, Lost to Pine Grove in Districts
Returning Players:
Sr. Brady Jones (P, OF)
Sr. Logan Fisher (1B)
Sr. Chase Krynock (P, INF)
Jr. Brody Breiner (P, 2B, SS, OF)
Jr. Danny Wehr (P, !B, 3B)
Key Players Lost:
Stephen Hood (P, 1B, 3B, SS, RF)
Chase Weaver (CF)
Tyler Black (P, RF, INF),
Drew Kokinda (2B,SS)
Hayden Goida (C, 3B, LF)
Brennan Kunkle (OF)
Newcomers:
Sr. Connor Penberth (P, INF, OF)
Jr. Ben Baneravage (P, C, INF)
Sr. Cameron Caffery (P, OF)
2025 Outlook: We had a fairly successful 2024 season and graduated nine seniors, five of which were starters, we also lost a junior starter from last year’s team. It will be very hard to replace those seniors from last year. With that being said, we do return five guys who have seen varsity time last year, three of which were starters. To be successful we need to have some underclassmen to step up. We need to play together as a team and not worry about individual numbers.
We need to consistently throw strikes and play solid defense and not give opposing teams more than 3 outs in an inning. Offensively we need to pass the stick to the next person by doing whatever is called for: a sacrifice, hit and run, walk, ground ball to the right side and if we can do that will can be successful. Our goals every year are the same, we want to qualify for Districts and have an opportunity to qualify for league playoffs. However, that will not be easy at all. Two schools left the Schuylkill League and they realigned to two divisions and Panther Valley is in Division 1. Division 1 teams are Tamaqua, Blue Mountain, North Schuylkill, Pottsville, Pine Grove, Tri-Valley, and Panther Valley.
For us to be in every game we need to play very good defense, and our pitchers need to throw strikes.
