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 utility players.
When we pick the All-Region teams, this is a position that typically boils down to the best two-way players who maybe didn’t make it on our team as just a pitcher or just a position player — or, in the case of 2017 Times-Tribune Player of the Year Austin Gilpin from Wallenpaupack, it’s just the way the team lined up best that year. Other times, however, they’re just extra hitters. In that case, I moved some guys onto lists where they are better fits. Mid Valley first baseman Brendan Kucharski is on the corner infielder ballot, Scranton Prep shortstop/second baseman Noah Granet is on the middle infielder list and North Pocono catcher Jake Mastillo is with the other catchers. (For what it’s worth, Kucharski and Granet both made All-Region teams at those positions, too.)
I should also note that for the first three years of the decade, the All-Region teams had specific spots for designated hitters, so they, too, were folded into other All-Decade ballots. Two of them, Scranton Prep’s Chris Gaetano (outfielders) and Holy Cross’ Vince Rebar (corner infielders) have already appeared on ballots that were released. You’ll find the last one, Mountain View’s Kyle Wilkins, listed below.
Here are the candidates, sorted by the year they made the All-Region team. You can vote for your top three at the bottom of the post.
Brandon Cholish, Valley View
Decade stats: .433, 31 RBIs, 37 runs, 45 hits, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs; 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.”
Kyle Wilkins, Mountain View
Decade stats: .358, 33 RBIs, 16 runs, 19 hits, 3 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs; 5 wins, 77 strikeouts, 3.997 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2010 (designated hitter) — “Hit .358 with 33 RBIs and 16 runs scored while going 5-2 with a 3.97 ERA and 77 strikeouts to lead Mountain View to Division III title. … First All-Region selection.“
Stephen Miller, Lackawanna Trail
Decade stats: 46 RBIs, 46 runs, 51 hits, 10 doubles, 4 home runs; 11 wins, 135 strikeouts
All-Region bio: From 2010 — “Finished ninth in Division III with a .395 batting average. Also placed third with 17 RBIs, was fourth with 18 runs scored, and tied for first in homers (3). On the mound, big righty was third in wins (4), seventh in strikeouts (38). First All-Region team.”
Eric Grabowski, Lakeland
Decade stats: .455, 69 RBIs, 95 runs, 105 hits, 28 doubles, 14 triples, 6 home runs; 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.”
David Chromey, Old Forge
Decade stats: 17 RBIs, 26 runs, 26 hits, 5 doubles; 19 wins, 183 strikeouts, 3.14 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2013 — “Southpaw helped the Blue Devils to the PIAA Class A semifinals by pitching to a 1.50 ERA in 28 postseason innings, while striking out 38 batters against eight walks. … For the year, went 6-2 with a 2.98 ERA and 84 K. … At the plate, batted .302 with 16 hits, 14 runs scored and 10 RBIs. … First-team Lackawanna League Division III coaches’ all-star. … First All-Region selection.”
Dylan Thomas, Mountain View
Decade stats: 45 RBIs, 53 runs, 62 hits, 16 doubles, 7 home runs; 13 wins, 188 strikeouts, 1.93 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2013 — “Anchored both the Eagles’ rotation and lineup. Went 6-1 with a 0.75 ERA and 60 strikeouts against 15 walks in 37.1 innings. … At the plate, batted .359 with 14 hits, 16 runs scored, eight RBIs, five doubles and three home runs. … Lackawanna League Division IV coaches’ player of the year. … First All-Region selection.“
Tyler Ksiazek, Abington Heights
Decade stats: .414, 32 RBIs, 58 runs, 94 hits, 13 doubles, 1 triple; 21 wins, 188 strikeouts, 1.56 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.”
Collin Ferguson, Valley View
Decade stats: 35 RBIs, 33 runs, 47 hits, 9 doubles, 1 home runs; 14 wins, 145 strikeouts, 1.94 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2014 — “Hartford recruit posted four wins on the mound with a 1.91 ERA and 63 strikeouts — third-most in the Lackawanna League. … At the plate, batted .302, with 16 hits, nine runs scored, 10 RBIs and four extra-base hits. … Lackawanna League Division I coaches’ first-team all-star. … First All-Region selection.“
Matt Benninger, Montrose
Decade stats: .382, 22 RBIs, 25 runs, 39 hits, 10 doubles; 9 wins, 91 strikeouts, 2.65 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2015 — “Batted .415 with 22 hits, but his best work was on the mound. He went 5-1 with a 1.41 ERA and 57 strikeouts. … Pitched a shutout in the District 2 championship game. … Division IV coaches’ Player of the Year and all-star.“
Jake Decker, Blue Ridge
Decade stats: .401, 52 RBIs, 50 runs, 71 hits, 19 doubles, 2 home runs; 16 wins, 240 strikeouts, 2.04 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2015 — “Sophomore batted .396 and dominated on the mound. Went 8-1 with a 1.01 ERA and a league-best 84 Ks. … Pitched a shutout in the District 2 final. Struck out nine in a PIAA first-round win. … Division IV coaches’ all-star.“
Cole Stetzar, West Scranton
Decade stats: .339, 29 RBIs, 28 runs, 58 hits, 12 doubles, 1 home run; 10 wins, 130 strikeouts, 1.92 ERA
All-Region bio (two teams): From 2016 (utility) — “Central Florida commit went 4-2 with a 1.12 ERA, 44 strikeouts and only 11 walks in 31.1 innings. Posted a 1.05 WHIP. … Also batted .333 with 15 hits and 11 runs.” From 2017 (infield) — “Batted .395 with 17 hits, 13 RBIs and four extra-base hits and went 4-1 with a 1.74 ERA and 46 strikeouts on the mound. … Finishes career with 10 wins, 130 strikeouts and a 1.92 ERA. … Second All-Region selection.”
Mitch Blake, Forest City
Decade stats: .290, 34 RBIs, 31 runs, 54 hits, 13 doubles, 2 home runs; 9 wins, 148 strikeouts, 3.27 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2016 — “Went 4-1 with a 1.02 ERA, 0.855 WHIP and 55 Ks in 55 innings. … Had two wins in postseason, including a gem against Millville in the first round of the PIAA Class A playoffs.”
Austin Gilpin, Wallenpaupack
Decade stats: 27 RBIs, 24 runs, 35 hits, 7 doubles; 10 wins, 148 strikeouts, 1.41 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2017 — “Times-Tribune Player of the Year. Part of the Buckhorns’ dynamic starting pitching duo who helped lead the team to the District 2 Class 5A championship and into the PIAA semifinals. … Went 4-1 and in 45.1 innings, the righty allowed just 29 hits, walked 11 and struck out 71 while posting a 0.77 ERA. … Was even better in the postseason, where he did not allow an earned run in 17.1 innings, walked two and struck out 25. … Over-the-top delivery gives him some deception. … Finished career with 10 wins, 148 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA. … Also batted .246 with 14 hits, 10 RBIs and eight runs. … Division I-II-III Coaches Player of the Year.“
R.J. Kuruts, Forest City
Decade stats: .384, 41 RBIs, 54 runs, 84 hits, 12 doubles; 15 wins, 182 strikeouts, 2.09 ERA
All-Region bio: From 2017 — “Went 8-0 with a 0.28 ERA. In 49.2 innings, allowed 22 hits, 11 walks and struck out 80. … Finished career with 182 strikeouts. … Batted .385 with 20 hits, 14 runs, nine RBIs and two doubles. … Division V Coaches Player of the Year.“
Nate Rolka, Lackawanna Trail
Decade stats: .417, 53 RBIs, 33 runs, 70 hits, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs; 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.”
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, top outfielders and top pitchers of the decade.
Conor Foley goes beyond the box score with in-depth coverage of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, the Triple-A affiliate of the New York Yankees. He has worked at The Times-Tribune since graduating from University of Scranton in 2011, and he has covered the RailRiders since 2017. Contact: cfoley@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; or @railridersTT