At shortstop, the best in Southeastern Pa. baseball

Memorial Day weekend, with barbecues and pickup baseball in full swing, is as good a time as any to present our list of the best baseball shortstops in Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Our top-10 rankings are based on personal observations and coaches' insights. Also, because the area is filled with slick-fielding and hard-hitting shortstops, we cranked up the list to 15.

1. Sean Coyle, Germantown Academy, senior. Coyle, a North Carolina recruit who could be selected early in next month's first-year player draft, was batting .529 (45 for 85) with 50 RBIs, 39 runs, and 12 home runs through Friday.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pounder had 20 stolen bases (in 20 attempts), 17 walks, 12 doubles, and 3 triples. He had a 1.164 slugging percentage and .694 on-base percentage.

Coyle, an Inquirer first-team all-area pick last year, is scheduled to work out for the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park this week.

2. Tyler Young, Malvern Prep, senior. The Louisville-bound Young was hitting .505 with 46 runs, 38 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and 9 homers. He had 13 triples and a 1.165 slugging percentage.

3. Ian Vasquez, Perkiomen School, senior. Vasquez, headed for Wagner, was batting .528 with 30 RBIs, 12 doubles, 3 triples, and 3 homers. The Cleveland Indians and Houston Astros have come to Pennsburg to watch him.

4. Dylan Tice, Pennridge, junior. In 22 games, the Rams' catalyst hit .597 with 33 runs, 20 RBIs, 8 triples, and 3 homers. He had an .861 slugging percentage and a .701 on-base percentage.

5. Bill Fleming, Council Rock South, junior. Fleming batted .487 with 14 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, 9 doubles, and 2 triples.

6. Jordan Hill, Penncrest, senior. The George Mason signee was batting .431 with 25 runs, 10 walks, 6 doubles, and 2 homers. He had a .706 slugging percentage.

7. Rick Brebner, Neshaminy, senior. Brebner, projected to be a third baseman at Penn, was batting .390 with 26 runs, 17 RBIs, and 14 walks. He had a .661 slugging percentage and .519 on-base percentage.

8. Sean McCormick, West Chester Henderson, senior. McCormick, who pitched a perfect game last month, was hitting .409 with 28 runs, 14 walks, 11 RBIs, and 2 homers. He had a .519 on-base percentage.

9. Mike Douglas, Great Valley, senior. The Pittsburgh recruit's play has been key in the Patriots' drive to the semifinals of the District 1 Class AAAA tournament.

10. Joe DeCarlo, Garnet Valley, sophomore. The up-and-coming DeCarlo, who committed to Georgia, earned first-team all-Central League honors.

11. Kyle McCrossen, Archbishop Wood, junior. From the No. 3 spot, he was batting .516 with 24 RBIs, 22 runs, 11 walks, 9 doubles, 3 homers, and 3 triples.

12. Erich Sirinek, Westtown, senior. Sirinek, who hopes to walk on at USC, hit .413 with 21 RBIs, 16 runs, and 4 doubles. He had a .652 slugging percentage and .492 on-base percentage.

13. Colin Pyne, La Salle, sophomore. The leadoff man and first-team all-Catholic pick had a stellar rookie varsity season, batting .444 with 16 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.

14. Tyler Zeleny, Central Bucks East, sophomore. The 5-10, 145-pounder hit .413 with 23 runs, 22 RBIs, 9 walks, 6 doubles, and 2 homers. He had a .603 slugging percentage.

15. Eric Frain, Archbishop Ryan, junior. In two playoffs games, against La Salle and Wood, the cleanup man went 6 for 8 with four RBIs and three runs.

Others to watch, listed alphabetically: Luke Alba, Downingtown East, junior; Israel Arroyo-Diaz, Frankford, sophomore; Matt Brown, Cheltenham, junior; Greg Corialos, West Chester East, junior; Kyle Davis, New Hope-Solebury, senior; Pete Edgar, North Penn, junior; Eugene Figueroa, Morrisville, senior; Ricky Gorrell, Spring-Ford, junior; Ryan Hartley, Council Rock North, junior; Kurt Johnson, Marple Newtown, junior; Kenny Koplove, Penn Charter, sophomore; A.J. Koscelansky, Kennedy-Kenrick, junior; Brian O'Donnell, Wissahickon, senior; Anthony Ortiz, Roman Catholic, senior; Matt Petrizzi, Conwell-Egan, junior; Jayson Rathgens, Quakertown, senior; Eric Robbins, Upper Darby, senior; Shea Rosadino, Conestoga, junior; John Salvatore, Holy Ghost Prep, senior; Johnny Sciotis, Harry S Truman, senior; Ian Smith, Devon Prep, senior; Marty Venafro, Neumann-Goretti, sophomore; Josh VanHorn, Monsignor Bonner, senior; Connor Wing, Unionville, junior.