FROM THE PRESS BOX: A GLIMPSE INTO THE CRYSTAL BALL AT THE 2023 BASEBALL SEASON (2022-06-14)

It was another good year for Valley baseball teams, with all four qualifying for the postseason.

Waverly made a run to to the Section IV, Class B championship game, while Sayre and Tioga each recorded one win in the postseason.

The 2023 baseball season is still nearly 10 months away, but the crystal ball is offering a bit of insight, including the fact all four teams will return to the postseason in 2023.

Athens Wildcats: The Wildcats lose a trio of starters, including Karter Rude, but return a strong junior class from a 12-9 team for its final run in 2023.

Athens will return its top four pitchers in Cameron Sullivan, Lucas Kraft, Mason Lister, and Gage Warner, and freshman Troy Rosenbloom should see a bigger role next season.

The Wildcats will need to replace their top two hitters in Rude and Kaden Setzer, but have a large pool of players from this year’s bench, a big JV team, and the junior high ranks to find those replacements.

Athens returns only two players who hit .300 or better this season in Caleb Nichols and Jaren Glisson, so those returning next year will need to be a little better at the plate.

Prediction: Pitching and defense wins baseball games. Athens has the pitching covered, but struggled defensively at times this season. If the Wildcats field the ball, and hit a little more next season, they will vie for a division title, and could make a run in the postseason. … 2023 record: 15-5.

Sayre Redskins: The Redskins were dominant for the vast majority of the 2022 season, but their bats failed to produce with runners in scoring position down the stretch, resulting in a 5-2 loss (13 runners left on base) to Muncy in the District 4, Class AA semifinals.

Sayre graduates seven seniors, including six starters, and will have to a great deal of work to do to fill in the holes.

Coach Jamie VanDuzer will have some good pieces to start his rebuild with, including seniors-to-be Lucas Horton, Zach Garrity and Jackson Hubbard, but after that he’ll be relying on this year’s bench players — Joey VanAllen, Tanner Green, Kegan Hayford, and Jack Ennis, and JV players, or possibly 8th-graders up from a one-loss junior high team.

Prediction: It’s been a while since Sayre has been in this position, but VanDuzer and his coaching staff are top-notch, the kids in this program are use to winning, and with Horton on the mound, the Redskins will have an opportunity to win any big game it plays. … 2023 record: 14-6.

Tioga Tigers: Tioga will graduate six seniors from a team that won the IAC Small School title, reached the Section IV, Class C quarterfinals, and posted a 12-7 record.

The Tigers return five of its top hitters in sophomores Drew Macumber, Karson Sindoni, and Ethan Perry, junior Max Dydynski, and 8th-grader Shea Bailey.

They also return their top two pitchers in Perry and Macumber, and Bailey should also be a major contributor on the mound.

Prediction: Tioga will need re-enforcements from the junior varsity or modified teams to step up and contribute quickly next season if it’s to duplicate this season’s success. The Tigers will likely be the favorites to win the IAC South Small School Division again next year, but how far they go in the postseason depends on next year’s varsity newcomers. … 2023 record: 13-6.

Waverly Wolverines: The Wolverines struggled down the stretch, but did so against a brutally tough non-league schedule that ultimately helped them reach the Section IV championship. Oddly enough, they ended their season at 12-10 with a 12-10 loss to Oneonta in the Class B title game.

Waverly graduates four starters, including pitcher / first baseman Caden Hollywood, but returns a host of talented players led by juniors Ty Beeman and Bryce Bailey, and sophomores Jay Pipher and Joey Tomasso.

Pipher returns as one of the best pitchers in the area, with Beeman, Bailey, and Tomasso also likely to contribute quality innings.

Waverly will also get some re-enforcements from a JV team that reached the championship game of the year-ending IAC tournament. JV grad Sean Bubniak could end up seeing some major innings for the Wolverines in 2023.

Prediction: The Wolverines should have pitching covered, but will need a few everyday players to step it up at the plate. With Notre Dame graduating Owen Stewart, Waverly is the odds-on-favorite to win the IAC South Large School title next year. It’s tough to say what type of schedule coach Kyle McDuffee will put together for 2023. My guess is will be similar to this season, but I expect a little better results. … 2023 Record:  16-6.