Heading into the 2023 season, the Parkland High School baseball team will be strong on the mound with its pitching staff looking to lead the way. The Trojans finished last year 16-7 overall and 12-3 in the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference, winning the West Division. They advanced to the final four of the league and District 11 tournaments, but ultimately fell short of their yearly goal of winning championships.

A core group of the hitting lineup graduated following the 2022 season, including Blake Barthol (EPC MVP, currently starting at Coastal Carolina), Luke Meehan (Arcadia), Sean Superka (Moravian), Jesse Ruisch (Susquehanna) and Sean Rivera (LCCC).

Head coach Kurt Weber will still have some pieces in the lineup returning this season, including senior right-handed pitcher/outfielder Owen Delong (5-1, 1.39 ERA), senior left-handed pitcher/outfielder Bo Barthol (Kutztown commit, .500 batting average), senior outfielder/catcher Dom Medlar (.321 average) and senior catcher Matt Razzis (.306. average). Sophomore catcher Brody Morabito, sophomore right-handed pitcher/first base Mackaden Parsell and sophomore infielder Will Dobil will be relied upon to contribute to the lineup this season as underclassmen.

“We return the majority of our pitching staff, including [sophomore] Steven Sepko and junior Nate Bartholomew,” said Weber. “I think we will play strong defense and we run fairly well. A lot of our offense graduated last year. We will need to get creative on offense and some guys will have to step up on offense.”

Parkland looks to win its first conference title since 2018 and first district championship since the 2015 season. Reigning district champion Liberty, along with Nazareth are expected to be at the top of the league and district this season, according to Weber.

“State runner-up Liberty and Nazareth will be the favorites heading into the season,” Weber said. “By the end of the season I hope that we can contend with them.”

The Trojans have a busy opening few weeks of the season. They began play by hosting Northampton in EPC play on Tuesday, followed by a road game at the Blue Eagles Thursday before wrapping up the week hosting Delaware Valley in nonconference action.