Pretty good decade for Lackawanna League baseball. It saw a couple teams reach the state championship game and of the 46 District 2 titles up for grabs from 2010-2019, the Lackawanna League took home 25.

So, who were the best players?

With the Times-Tribune All-Region teams serving as the pool of players, let’s assemble the Lackawanna League’s All-Decade Team. We’ll break it down position-by-position over the next few days.

Up next: the pitchers. Six Times-Tribune players of the year came from this position, so just a warning, this won’t be easy.

Here are the candidates, sorted by the year they made the All-Region team. You can vote for your top five at the bottom of the post.

 

Logan Kanuik, Valley View

Decade stats: 7 wins, 77 strikeouts, 1.22 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2010 — “Senior had a 7-0 record, 1.20 ERA and 77 strikeouts to lead the Cougars to an undefeated regular season. … Batted .444 with eight RBIs when playing the outfield. … First All-Region selection.

Max Mueller, Scranton

Decade stats: 8 wins, 47 strikeouts, 2.87 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2010 — “Ace of Knights staff, posting an 8-0 record with a 2.87 ERA and 47 strikeouts to help his team to a division and district title. … Also had solid year at the plate, hitting .339 with four homers and 25 runs batted in. … First All-Region selection.”

Mike Burke, Abington Heights

Decade stats: 8 wins, 71 strikeouts, 1.56 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2010 — “Went 8-2 with a 1.20 ERA and 77 strikeouts for the Comets. … Hit .340 with 14 runs and nine RBIs … Second All-Region selection.”

James Dunning, West Scranton

Decade stats: 10 wins, 65 strikeouts, 3.98 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2011 — “Posted a 9-0 record with a 2.00 earned run average that carried West to the District 2 Class AAA title game. In 50.1 innings, averaged a strikeout an inning but held opponents to just 41 hits. Strikeouts (50) were second in Division I. First All-Region pick.”

Brandon Cholish, Valley View

Decade stats: 7 wins, 81 strikeouts, 2.29 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2010 (utility) — “Batted .483 with 22 runs scored and 18 RBIs while giving the team a lift with a 2-0 record with a 0.00 ERA. … First All-Region selection.From 2011 — “His 2.96 earned run average and 5-2 mark helped Cougars win another Lackawanna Division II crown. In 42.2 innings, struck out 59. Tied for third in division in wins and was fourth in strikeouts. At plate, had solid .364 average. Second All-Region selection.”

Cameron Damski, Valley View

Decade stats: 13 wins, 98 strikeouts, 1.73 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2010 (third base) — “Hit .431 with 15 runs scored while posting a 6-1 record with a 1.43 ERA in helping the Division II champion Cougars to an undefeated regular season. … First All-Region selection.” From 2011 — “Posted a 7-0 record with a 2.00 earned run average, striking out 61 in 47.1 innings. Seven wins were first in Division II, while his 61 strikeouts ranked third. Threw four complete games to help the Cougars to second straight D-II title.”

Joe McCarthy, Scranton

Decade stats: 9 wins, 70 strikeouts, 2.88 ERA
All-Region bio (three teams): From 2010 (outfielder) — “Leadoff hitter posted a .394 average with four homers and 24 RBIs as Scranton captured the Division I and District 2 Class AAAA titles. … First All-Region selection.” From 2011 (outfielder) — “Often mentioned in same breath with Bochicchio in discussion of area’s top player. Hit .382 with two doubles, two triples, two homers. His 24 runs tied for second in Division I, and 21 RBIs tied for fourth. Helped Scranton win D-I title. Second All-Region selection.” From 2012 — “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. University of Virginia recruit went 5-2 (1-0 in the playoffs) with a 1.65 ERA to lead the Knights on the mound. Struck out nearly a batter per inning (42 Ks in 42.1 innings) and allowed only 29 hits. At the plate, hit a Division I-best .500 while scoring 22 runs, and driving in 17. Voted the coaches’ Division I Player of the Year. Third All-Region selection.”

Billy Nelson, North Pocono

Decade stats: 20 wins, 221 strikeouts, 4.17 ERA
All-Region bio (three teams): From 2011 (third baseman) — “Power-hitting corner infielder who also hit for average. His .463 average was sixth in Division I, while his 15 RBIs tied for 11th. Also was top 10 in runs (ninth with 19), hits (fourth, 25), doubles (third, 7) and home runs (sixth, 4).” From 2012 — “Hard-throwing righty was at his best in the postseason, allowing only one earned run over 18 innings of work (0.39 ERA) while posting a 0.778 WHIP. A force at the plate, hitting .415 with 28 RBIs, five doubles, one triple and six home runs. Second All-Region selection.” From 2013 — ” With a blazing fastball, the North Pocono ace went 7-2 with a 1.81 ERA in 50.1 innings. Struck out a Lackawanna League regular-season best 81 batters. … Batted .389 with seven doubles and one home run. … Lackawanna League Division II coaches’ player of the year. … Third All-Region selection.”

Nick Demian, Mid Valley

Decade stats: 15 wins, 184 strikeouts, 3.13 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2012 — “Went 4-2 (1-0 in the postseason) with a 1.91 ERA for the Spartans. In the regular season, struck out 50 batters in 40 innings and had a 1.100 WHIP. Ran off five consecutive complete games to begin the season. Also hit .380 at the plate. First All-Region selection.”

Eric Grabowski, Lakeland

Decade stats: 17 wins, 166 strikeouts, 2.25 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams):From 2012 (utility) Did a little bit of everything. At the plate, batted .412 (21 hits), scored 21 runs and drove in 18. Slugged six doubles, three triples and two home runs. On the mound, went 4-4 (1-0 in the postseason) with a 2.82 ERA and 48 strikeouts. First All-Region selection.” From 2013— “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. Went 8-1 with a 0.49 ERA to help lead Lakeland to a berth in the PIAA Class AA playoffs. In 57.2 innings, he struck out 78 batters against 13 walks, and allowed only two extra-base hits. Had a WHIP of 0.694. Pitched a perfect game against Holy Cross and combined on a no-hitter against Meyers. Retired 49 consecutive batters at one point of the season. … At the plate, led the Lackawanna League in hits (30), runs scored (30) and triples (6). Batted .476 with 20 RBIs and 14 extra-base hits. … In the postseason, pitched to a 0.63 ERA and a 0.682 WHIP in 22 innings, and batted .412 with seven runs scored, four runs batted in, two doubles and two triples. … Lackawanna League Division III coaches’ player of the year. … Second All-Region selection.”

John Kranick, Valley View

Decade stats: 14 wins, 138 strikeouts, 1.70 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2013 — “Cougars’ No. 1 went 7-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 52 innings of work. Struck out 69 batters against just 15 walks, leading to a 0.885 WHIP. Against teams that finished with an overall record of .500 or better, had a WHIP of 0.875. … Lackawanna League Division I coaches’ player of the year. … First All-Region selection.

Dave Manasek, Abington Heights

Decade stats: 13 wins, 176 strikeouts, 1.35 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2014 — “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. The Fordham-bound righty finished the season with a 7-0 record and a sparkling 0.28 ERA (only two earned runs) to help the Comets repeat as District 2 Class AAA champions. … Struck out 72 batters against only 13 walks in 50.1 innings. … Posted a WHIP of 0.735. … Led Lackawanna League in strikeouts and ERA and tied for lead in wins. … Was at his best in the postseason, allowing only one earned run in 18.1 innings, with 22 strikeouts against four walks. The one earned run came in a complete-game win against Berwick in the District 2 Class AAA championship. … Allowed one run or fewer in seven of nine appearances. … Division I coaches’ first-team all-star. … First All-Region selection.

Max Kranick, Valley View

Decade stats: 12 wins, 201 strikeouts, 1.17 ERA
All-Region bio (three teams): From 2014 — “Virginia recruit went 6-0 with a 1.58 ERA and 58 strikeouts. … In three games (11.1 innings) against Abington Heights, pitched to a 1.23 ERA with 15 strikeouts and four walks. … Batted .386 with 22 hits. … Lackawanna League Division I coaches’ player of the year and first-team all-star. … First All-Region selection.From 2015 — “Virginia recruit went 4-2 with a 0.98 ERA. Hardest thrower in the league, the junior struck out 67 batters. … Division I coaches’ all-star. … Second All-Region selection. … Also batted .393 with 24 hits and nine doubles.” From 2016 — “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. Went 5-0 in his senior season and led the Cougars to the District 2 Class AAA final. His 0.31 ERA topped in the Lackawanna League. Struck out 66 and walked eight in 45.1 innings while posting a 0.794 WHIP. … Went 16-3 in his career — he only lost one game as a starter — and had a career 1.17 ERA and 0.969 WHIP over 138.1 innings, struck out 201 and walked 37. … His .509 batting average was second best in the Lackawanna League this season. He had 28 hits, six doubles, two home runs, 15 runs and 16 RBIs. … Third All-Region selection. … Selected by Pittsburgh in the 11th round of the MLB Draft in June and signed with the Pirates on June 27, forgoing his commitment to the University of Virginia.”

Josh Zilla, Dunmore

Decade stats: 8 wins, 100 strikeouts, 1.84 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2014 — “Bucks’ ace went 7-0 with a stellar 0.52 ERA while helping his team to the Division III title. … Led Division III in ERA, wins and strikeouts (61). … Allowed runs in only three of his nine appearances. … Lackawanna League Division III coaches’ player of the year and first-team all-star. … First All-Region selection.”

Tyler Ksiazek, Abington Heights

Decade stats: 21 wins, 188 wins, 1.58 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2014 (utility) — “Anchor of the District 2 champion Comets’ offense, and ace 1A in the rotation. Batted Division-I best .441, and his 26 hits were the second-most in the Lackawanna League. … Went 5-3 with a 2.02 ERA and 62 K. … Lackawanna League Division I coaches’ first-team all-star. … First All-Region selection.” From 2015 — “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. Monmouth recruit went 9-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 78 strikeouts, helping the Comets reach the PIAA Class AAA final. Also batted .472 with a Lackawanna League-best 34 hits. Had seven extra-base hits. … In the postseason, pitched to a 0.97 ERA and had five wins — striking out 37 — while also batting .483 with 14 hits and four extra-base hits. … Went 21-5 with a 1.58 ERA and 188 strikeouts in his career, and also had 94 hits. … Division I coaches’ Player of the Year and all-star. … Second All-Region selection.”

Zach Manasek, Abington Heights

Decade stats: 5 wins, 54 strikeouts, 3.37 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2015 — “Southpaw went 5-1 with a 1.20 ERA and 46 strikeouts. Was key in the postseason for the Comets, most notably a 10-strikeout performance against Manheim Central in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals.

Ryan Deom, North Pocono

Decade stats: 17 wins, 170 strikeouts, 1.60 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2016 — “Went 6-1 and his 0.41 ERA was second best in the Lackawanna League. … Was at his best in the postseason, where he allowed one earned run in 25.1 innings..” From 2019 — “Went 6-3 with a 2.05 ERA and 88 strikeouts. … Hurled two-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts in District 2 Class 5A first round. … Batted .324 with six doubles, one triple, two homers, 14 runs and 16 RBIs.”

RJ Boyle, Holy Cross

Decade stats: 13 wins, 163 strikeouts, 2.86 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2016 — “Went 7-0 with a 1.27 ERA and 57 Ks. … Allowed two earned runs over eight innings in Division III title game against Lakeland. … Had 13 wins and 163 strikeouts in his career.”

Brad Richards, Lakeland

Decade stats: 15 wins, 172 strikeouts, 1.90 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2017 — “Crafty southpaw went 6-1 with a 1.30 ERA and 63 strikeouts, helping the Chiefs to an undefeated regular season. … Finished career with 15 wins, 172 strikeouts and a 1.90 ERA. … Division IV Coaches Player of the Year.

Aaron Husson, Wallenpaupack

Decade stats: 10 wins, 119 ERA, 2.70 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2017 — “UMBC commit was of Buckhorns’ dynamic starting pitching duo who helped lead the team to the District 2 Class 5A title and into the PIAA semifinals. … Went 5-1 and in 50 innings, struck out 62 and walked 17, posting a 2.80 ERA.

Jack Kelly, Scranton

Decade stats: 8 wins, 98 strikeouts, 2.46 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2017 — “Knights ace went 4-4, but had an ERA of 1.54 and struck out 50. … He was at his best in the playoffs, where he went 3-0 with a 0.70 ERA. In 20.1 postseason innings, he allowed just 13 hits and three walks while striking out 29.”

Mason Black, Valley View

Decade stats: 12 wins, 123 strikeouts, 1.19 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2018 — “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. Ace of the staff that helped the Cougars win their first District 2 title since 2000 and finish runner-up in PIAA Class 4A. … Went 7-1 overall with a 1.15 earned-run average. In 55 innings, allowed just 12 runs (nine earned), 36 hits, walked only eight and struck out 77. … Did not allow a run during the Lackawanna League regular season. … Tossed a four-hit shutout with eight strikeouts against defending state champion Dallas in a 1-0 victory in the district final. … Also batted .327 with 16 hits, including eight doubles and one triple, seven runs and 14 RBIs. … Division I-II-III Coaches Player of the Year. … Continuing career at Lehigh University. … First All-Region selection.”

Cory Wall, North Pocono

Decade stats: 11 wins, 115 strikeouts, 2.42 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2018 — “One-third of pitching triumvirate that led the Trojans to Lackawanna Division II title, District 2 Class 5A crown and PIAA quarterfinals. … Went 6-0 with a 0.96 ERA and 70 strikeouts. … Also batted .417. … Fordham recruit.”

Justin Gohsler, Mid Valley

Decade stats: 15 wins, 152 strikeouts, 1.85 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2018 — “Went 6-1 with 1.80 ERA and 71 strikeouts to help the Spartans reach the PIAA Class 3A quarterfinals. … Emerged in the postseason with pair of no-run, one-hit games vs. Hanover Area, North Schuylkill.”

Nate Rolka, Lackawanna Trail

Decade stats: 11 wins, 316 strikeouts, 1.995 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2018 (utility) — “ Led Division V with .541 batting average. Had 20 hits, including five home runs, and 23 RBIs. … Was also 4-2 with 1.69 ERA and league-high 96 strikeouts. … Lackawanna Division V Coaches Player of the Year.” From 2019 — “Went 5-0 with 0.66 ERA and Lackawanna League-leading 112 strikeouts in 42.2 innings. Gave up just four hits, walked 39. … Threw no-hitter with 17 strikeouts April 16 vs. Blue Ridge. Second All-Region selection.”

Jake Hodorovich, Lakeland

Decade stats: 19 wins, 240 strikeouts, 1.56 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2019 — “Virginia recruit went 5-1 with a 1.07 ERA and 92 strikeouts. … Fired no-hitter with one walk and 16 strikeouts against Old Forge on May 8. … First All-Region selection. … Career 1.56 ERA with 240 strikeouts.

 

CLICK HERE TO VOTE

In case you missed it, check out the candidates for the Lackawanna League’s top catcher, top corner infielders, top middle infielders and top outfielders of the decade.

Still to come are the players who made All-Region teams as utility players.

Lakeland starting pitcher Eric Grabowski.