Knights see plenty of new faces

Middletown graduated 13 seniors, including The Gazette and Monocacy Valley Athletic League Piedmont Conference Player of the Year Ty Main, and All-Gazette selections Jake Atherly, Nathan Miss, Brandon Kline, Kevin Murphy and Kevin Linehan. In October, The Gazette’s Coach of the Year Mike Warrenfeltz resigned.

Baker is a familiar face around Middletown. He’s coached the junior varsity for the past four seasons and has been on the staff since 2002.

‘‘It sure does sound good knowing that I’ve coached these guys for two years in baseball and some of them for two years in football,” Baker said. ‘‘I think there is something to be said for that. There is an advantage where they know my expectations and they know my style of baseball. It’s basically a review rather than teaching them a lot of new things.”

Virtually the Knights’ entire lineup is gone. Seniors Steve Shriner (shortstop-pitcher), Nathan D’Alessio (pitcher-outfielder), Buddy Brashears (outfielder-infield) and Ryan Fisher (catcher-third base) are the lone remnants of last season’s 20-4 outfit. Of the group Shriner has the most experience seeing the mound a handful of times last season.

D’Alessio and junior Andrew Pierce will log a lot of innings this season. Shriner and sophomore third baseman Koby Cavanaugh are expected to provide some pop at the plate.

There may be a lack of experience, but there’s no lack of effort.

‘‘They come out and work hard, that’s what we ask of them,” Brown said. ‘‘Our practices are fast-paced and they come out ready to work and get better.”

Knights’ softball returns standouts

The Knights softball team will try to rebound from an 11-8 season with standout senior pitcher Erin Warrenfeltz, senior first baseman Caitlin Selzer and junior shortstop Casey Burtner. Key underclassmen include sophomores Jordyn Russo (outfield), Jenna Hoffman (catcher) and Kali McCarty, and junior Heather Bowen.