If the Parkland baseball team is going to repeat the success of the 2013 season, and claim a second straight District 11 Class AAAA title, the pitching staff will be the key to those wins.

"Pitching depth is the strength to this team," said head coach Tony Galucy, entering his 12th season at the helm. "Six players are returning that have experience on the mound."

Seniors Alex Flynn and Gabe Mosser, and juniors Justin Afflerbach, Connor Higgins, Rhett Jacoby, and Chris Rabasco all bring a knowledge of getting out varsity hitters, and will be relied on to keep their team in games. They helped the team go 22-4 last season.

Along with those six pitchers, the Trojans welcome back four seniors who saw valuable time on the diamond in catcher/outfielder Zach Merkle, catcher Kevin Jones, designated hitter Hudson Rabenold, and center fielder Brad Vasilik.

"Defense should be strong up the middle with the return of [Brad] Vasilik, [Chris] Rabasco, [Alex] Flynn, and [Zach] Merkle," noted Galucy. "The key to the season will be the offense. Returning players will need to improve to make up for the loss of last year's senior class. If the offense can produce runs, then we should be in position to make a run in the playoffs."

Parkland graduated First-Team LVC players Tyler Duff and Damin Muth, along with Tyler Graeff, Jordan Jones, Nate Case, Brandon Evans, Aidan Flynn, and Adam Schneck.

Some of the newcomers that Galucy will be looking at for contributions include senior Zach Miller, juniors Dan Zaccaro, Alec Bartholomew, Evan McAndrew, Jeff Strisovsky, Tanner Stufflet and Harrison Rabenold, and sophomores Tyler Bruno and Isaac Neal.

The ingredients are in place, and the Trojans boast plenty of athletes that have some varsity experience to make a run at another LVC and district final. Last year, the Trojans lost to Whitehall 5-2 in the LVC final, and defeated the Zephyrs 5-2 in the District championship game.

Parkland is fortunate to have six players committed to play collegiately. Seniors Vasilik (Elizabethtown), Merkle (Southern Connecticut State), Mosser (Shippensburg) and Hudson Rabenold (Wilkes), and juniors Jacoby (Penn State) and Higgins (Indiana) all will be playing at the next level after their Trojan careers are over.