Rick O'Brien: List of area's best players rounds second

We continue our top 10 baseball tour with a look at the best second basemen in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Our list is based on personal observations and area coaches' insights. Also, we cranked it up to 12.

1. Mike "Zoom" Zolk, Neumann-Goretti, junior. The North Catholic transfer, formerly a catcher, has given the Saints a big boost. Through Thursday, he was batting .594 with 26 runs, 10 stolen bases, 4 doubles, and 3 triples.

2. Brandon Engelhardt, Owen J. Roberts, senior. The quick-footed Penn recruit, who also plays shortstop, helped the 19-3 Wildcats to their second straight Pioneer Athletic Conference championship.

3. Colin Taylor, Avon Grove, senior. Taylor, also a pitcher for the Red Devils, was hitting .408 with 20 RBIs, 15 runs, 10 doubles, 3 home runs, and 2 triples. He had a .732 slugging percentage.

4. Andrew Amaro, Penn Charter, junior. The 6-foot, 175-pound leadoff man, also an outfielder, has committed to Maryland. His brother, Rob, is a freshman infielder/catcher at Virginia.

5. Will Katzka, Haverford School, senior. The Fords' captain, batting third in the order, was hitting .506 with 35 RBIs, 34 runs, and 9 homers.

6. Matt Peters, Upper Darby, junior. Peters, a true five-tool player, was hitting .380 with 29 runs, 21 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, and 6 homers. He had struck out only 3 times in 81 plate appearances.

7. Drew Hayes, Malvern Prep, sophomore. For the Friars, the up-and-coming Hayes was batting .375 with 28 runs and a .450 on-base percentage.

8. Sean Trymbiski, Central Bucks East, junior. He was hitting .368 with 26 RBIs, 19 runs, 13 walks, 4 doubles, and 3 triples. He had a .520 on-base percentage.

9. Dan Hoy, Germantown Academy, sophomore. The leadoff man helped the Patriots place second in the Inter-Ac League.

10. John McCann, Shipley, senior. A Lehigh recruit, McCann was batting .448 with 35 runs, 27 RBIs, 7 doubles, 5 triples, and 4 homers.

11. Scott Todd, Marple Newtown, junior. From the No. 5 position, Todd was hitting .469 for the Central League champions.

12. Drew Mininger, Christopher Dock, junior. He was batting .442 with 21 runs, 20 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, and 4 doubles. Mininger had a .635 slugging percentage.

Fifteen others to watch, listed alphabetically: Matt Doll, William Tennent, junior; Brian Dones, Chestnut Hill Academy, junior; Luke Helm, Quakertown, senior; Ryan Henritzy, Council Rock North, junior; Kevin Jewitt, West Chester Rustin, sophomore; Sean Kovacs, Archbishop Ryan, senior; John Laprise, Devon Prep, sophomore; Brady McNab, Archbishop Wood, junior; Keith Moyer, Souderton, senior; Jerry Mulderig, Council Rock South, senior; Ryan O'Connell, Downingtown East, junior; Brett Saverio, Hatboro-Horsham, senior; Dan Seitzinger, Central Bucks West, senior; Dan Venuto, North Catholic, junior; and Matt Wilson, New Hope-Solebury, junior.

Extra bases. West Chester Henderson's offensive leaders are Kyle Hooven (.422 average), John Iezzi (.413), Sean McCormick (.407), and Chas McCormick (.362). Hooven (7-0 record, 2.21 ERA) and Sean McCormick (6-0, 1.37) also have starred on the mound. . . . Strath Haven outfielder Mike Raimo was batting .377 with 27 runs, 19 RBIs, 8 homers, and 6 doubles. He had a .902 slugging percentage.

Besides Katzka, the area's fifth-ranked second baseman, Haverford School has been paced by Nick Craig (.440 average, 30 runs, 21 RBIs), Rick Tronceletti (.415, 27, 21), and Matt Lipson (.375). . . . West Chester East's Greg Corialos and Bill Fallis were hitting .423 and .415, respectively. . . . Wissahickon's Rob McKenna posted a 6-0 record and 1.52 ERA in Suburban One League American Conference games. The senior was batting .405. . . . Entering the PIAA Class AAA playoffs, Marple Newtown pitcher Sean Stipa is 7-0 with a 1.85 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 33 innings. Tigers ace Chris Kirsch, a lefthander, is 4-1 with a 1.12 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 31 innings.

Council Rock North's offensive leaders include Mike Tentilucci (.545 average, 27 runs, 21 RBIs) and Danny Denton (.521, 17, 20). . . . Holy Ghost Prep righthander Steve Berardi (4-1) has fanned 42 batters in 401/3 innings. . . . Leading the way for Spring-Ford are James Hoff (.419 average, 21 runs, 20 RBIs), Kenny Pierson (.393, 20, 15), and Ricky Gorrell (.389, 21, 23). . . . Abington senior catcher Scott Schwartz batted .353 with 5 homers.

Quakertown's Kurt Roberts, an East Stroudsburg recruit, was batting .488 with 6 doubles. . . . Before Thursday's 4-3 loss to Archbishop Wood, Neumann-Goretti's Al Baur and Mike Riverso were hitting .649 and .587, respectively. Baur was 24 for 37 at the plate, with 28 RBIs and 25 runs; and Riverso was 27 for 46, with 28 RBIs and 7 doubles.