Despite '11 Success, New Year for SF Baseball

A 25-5 finish (15-3 league record), a win... a state championship . The baseball team certainly had a lot of fun and proved how much heart it truly had in 2011. Defeating Conestoga in the District Title game, 22-11, aided in giving the Rams enough momentum in the state tournament to put up a big come-from-behind victory over .

A Josh Cratsenberg winning run in the CR South game pitted the Rams against Manheim Township in the semifinals. The win over , 6-5, marked Spring-Ford's 12th consecutive win. But, unfortunately, 13 would prove to be the unlucky number for the Rams, dropping the state final to Conestoga in the 10th inning.

However, head coach Bruce Brobst sees a new year and new opportunities for his baseball squad in 2012. The Rams have taken two trips to the state final, with the other being in 2008.

"What I found out last year – Owen J. [Roberts] went to the state final in 2009," Brobst explained. "Conestoga was in the state final last year and West Chester Henderson was in the state final against Owen J. The year before that, North Penn won, that’s a District One team. The last four years, just looking at that, of the eight teams that have been in it, five had been from District One."

Brobst went on to explain the advantage of playing in the PAC-10.

"Plus, when you’re playing Boyertown, Owen J. and Methacton, who was in the tournament last year, sometimes the hardest thing is just to get out of your league," he said. "You’re playing tough competition when you’re in your league. A comment that was made to me by one of the coaches last year was, ‘Yeah, we had a good season, but we don’t play the kind of competition you play.’ That was another District One coach talking about his league in comparison to our league. I know we play a tough league. District One is tough in of itself. I think that shows in the state tournament."

Unfortunately for the 2012 Rams, seven key players in the 2011 run will be missing from the equation, as Mike Oczypok, Sean Larkin, James Hoff, Ricky Gorrell, Pat Medley, Josh Mellon and Cratsenberg have all moved on to bigger and better things.

With that being said, Brobst expects a big push from the new senior class to once again lead his 2012 team to great things.

Impact seniors this year will include second baseman Tom Grablewski, pitcher Richie Michaud, outfielder Louis Vining, and third baseman Cody Clarke. But, with a dominating performance in the postseason last year, cannot be forgotten. Used primarily as a designated hitter last year, Conway had five home runs and 15 RBIs in the stretch of districts and states.

Even still, Brobst has a short memory, and sees a new challenge ahead.

"This is a new season," Brobst said. "We don’t get any wins for what we did last year, so it’s all that, but to me it’s not rebuilding, it’s retooling. I expect to be competitive every game out."

The juniors are going to have to do their fair share of work this season, too. Brobst said outfielder Connor Simmons should make a difference in 2012, along with Tyler Eckman (pitcher) and R.J. Sheldon. There may even be a spot for a sophomore to step up and show what he's got.

"We’ve always had an impact player from the sophomore class," Brobst said. "Somewhere along the line, they’re going to get some time at JV and is going to be doing something and coach [Jamie] Scheck is going to tell me to get them in the game. It could be pitching, it could be stealing bases, hitting or defense. I don’t’ know, but I certainly expect some sophomore to step up and do something."

Right now, the team is healthy and practicing for another big season. Brobst sees only one hurdle this year.

"I would say the biggest obstacle for us to overcome right now is for guys who are not used to playing at this level to come in and believe in themselves and contribute right away," he said. "To come out and play hard and just be hard-nosed about being a baseball player."

Despite all of that, the Rams should be competitors in 2012, and Brobst said the boys are up to the challenge and ready to have some fun.

"We’ve got some challenges ahead of us, but we know we play in a good league," he said. "It’s always a good ballgame no matter what team we play in our league. They want to beat Spring-Ford, just like everyone wants to beat Boyertown and Owen J. because those teams have been successful."

Spring-Ford 2012 Baseball Schedule

• 3/15 (3:30 p.m.) - Quakertown (home, scrimmage)
• 3/20 (3:30 p.m.) - Daniel Boone (away, scrimmage)
• 3/26 (4:00 p.m.) - @ Phoenixville
• 3/28 (4:00 p.m.) - vs. Pottsgrove
• 3/30 (4:00 p.m.) - @ Pottstown
• 4/2 (4:00 p.m.) - vs. Perkiomen Valley
• 4/4 (4:00 p.m.) - @ Pope John Paul II
• 4/11 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Upper Perkiomen
• 4/13 (7:00 p.m.) - @ Owen J. Roberts
• 4/16 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Methcaton
• 4/18 (7:00 p.m.) - @ Boyertown
• 4/20 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Phoenixville
• 4/23 (4:00 p.m.) - @ Pottsgrove
• 4/25 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Pottstown
• 4/27 (4:00 p.m.) - @ Perkiomen Valley
• 4/30 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Pope John Paul II
• 5/2 (7:00 p.m.) - @ Upper Perkiomen
• 5/4 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Owen J. Roberts
• 5/7 (4:00 p.m.) - @ Methacton
• 5/9 (7:00 p.m.) - vs. Boyertown