High School Baseball: Top Ten Breakthrough Players

By Andrew Marcus
Sportswriter for Lansdale Reporter

Follow me on Twitter @amarcus

We are approximately half way through the Spring Sports season and the baseball teams in the area have done anything but separate themselves. Clearly whoever is pitching, hitting, and definitely fielding the best in May will take home the coveted league and district titles.

But here are 10 players that have separated themselves in the first half. These are not necessarily your stud names that have been inked into the all-state selections for years. Based on what I have seen, read, or heard, these are the breakthrough athletes around the area.

The schools I have drawn from include teams covered by the Lansdale Reporter, Times Herald, Mercury, & Montgomery Media.

Without further adeiu....

10. Brad Misialek (Pennridge) - The junior is receiving his first taste of varsity baseball this season and is playing the shortstop position like a four-year starter. Misialek is a slick fielder who seems to have knack for the timely hits. The Rams have him cemented into the two-hole of their lineup because he can do all the little things. But not many more players on the team have come up with bigger hits.

9. Jack McGlade (Cheltenham) - The right-hander has emerged as the Panthers' ace this season. He too is new the varsity scene and the aggressive hitters that the Suburban One American Conference has to offer. This junior has gone up against some notable aces in his division and got the best of them. He has taken the unexpected innings jump and seized his opportunity. In May he should be starting a District One playoff game.

8. Dan O'Hara (Souderton) - Not sure what is more impressive from the Indians' senior right-hander. His toughness on top of the hill or his smooth stroke at the plate. O'Hara has arrived as a player who can make hitters look lost, but his bat is what really has been special for the Indians. According to their website he leads their team in hits (17) and RBIS (11) all with a .436 batting average. And that goes along with his 34 strikeouts in 25 innings on the mound.

7. Chuck Delagol (William Tennent) - Welcome to the soon-to-be highly touted college players Mr. Delagol. The Panthers big right-hander has flirted with 90 miles per hour this season, which is enough to get any collegiate program to look twice. The senior has stepped into a leadership role and he has his group clawing to stay afloat in the Suburban One National Conference and become a possible playoff team.

6. Brandon Iorio (Norristown) - Oh, ho-hum, this senior has stung pitchers to the tune of a .500 batting average this season. But it is not unexpected by the teammates and coaches that have seen him work hard over the years. The Eagles are shocked when he is not on base and driving in runs. Iorio has solidified centerfield defensively and made the Eagles a tough task for everyone on the schedule.

5. Brady West (North Penn) - Another player that has been a key contributor for a few years, but in his senior season is taking center stage. His combination of speed and power has given flexibility to the Knights' lineup this year, batting him first or fifth. The outfielder always seems to be in the middle of the big inning. I would be tempted to stick West into the three-hole because he has been one of the most consistent bats for coach Kevin Manero all season.

4. Tom Rosenbaum (Archbiship Wood) - There are some heavy hitters in the Vikings lineup this season, but the sophomore Rosenbaum has found his groove. Hitting in the two-hole, protecting senior catcher and Kent State committ John Santospago, the kid has been the glue. Rosenbaum's emergence has extended the Vikings lineup, making it tough for all Philadelphia Catholic League pitchers to navigate.

3. Grant Opalisky (Hatboro-Horsham) - The starting pitching is the reason the Hatters believed they could return to the playoffs and make a deep run. And while they lost some big time hitters to graduation the offense has been stabilized by a run producing third basemen. Opalisky seems to always make good contact  with the baseball and put the ball in play. Opalisky is smart hitter and never tries to do too much at the plate. This senior is going to be a late, great grab for some college.

2. Corey Rantz (Spring-Ford) - Besides squatting behind the dish every game, Rantz has arrived as the Rams bets hitter this season. It seems like if there is every a runner in scoring position for the junior he drives him home. His success has helped coach Bruce Brobst's squad stay in the hunt for a PAC-10 title.

1. Eddie Decker (Upper Moreland) - The junior was just what the Golden Bears needed in order to continue one of the best stretches of baseball in school history. Ace pitchers graduate and another one steps in. Last year Charlie Hooker stepped in for Mike Janas and this year Decker took the rotation spot of Kyle Walder. The one-two punch of Hooker and Decker has been impressive and with an experienced lineup to back them up, coach Ernier Rehr's group is thinking about bringing another banner back to school.