HS BASEBALL: Devils look to build off ’26 success, first Schuylkill League playoff appearance
KAYLEE LINDENMUTH / SHENANDOAH SENTINEL - Shenandoah Valley Head Baseball Coach Frank McCole leads practice at Marty Deluca Field in Shenandoah on March 9, 2026.
SHENANDOAH – The Blue Devils baseball team is ready to hit the diamond, hoping to build off the program’s first Schuylkill League playoff berth and a return to the District XI playoffs.
“We did lose a lot of players,” Shenandoah Valley Head Coach Frank McCole, in his second year, told the Sentinel of the offseason. “We’re a young team but I’ll still keep the expectations high.”
Practices began last week and the Blue Devils were busy in the outfield at Marty DeLuca Memorial Field Monday afternoon.
The Devils finished 2025 with a 14-8 record, falling in the Schuylkill League Playoffs to Blue Mountain and later falling to Tri-Valley in the District XI playoffs. The Schuylkill League playoff game was the first ever for Shenandoah Valley since the tournament began in 2008.
“Hopefully we can build off that success into this year,” McCole said. “Last year’s over, now we’ve got to move forward and hopefully we can build off that.”
Key returners include seniors Chase McCole and Haden Kechula.
“That group last year, it was like family, so we’re just trying to build those same bonds this year,” Kechula told the Sentinel.
“Just trying to get back at it, get back into the groove,” the younger McCole said.
Also returning is sophomore Ethan Bench.
“He played a lot as a freshman for us last year,” Coach McCole said.
Jostin Lajara “will catch and play the outfield for us,” he said.
The Devils have about 15 players this year, “a little thin on players compared to last year.”
Asked about key matchups in the upcoming year, Kechula and Chase McCole both cited Mahanoy Area, the school’s rival.
The Devils are hoping to kick off the season Saturday at MMI Preparatory School in Freeland. First pitch is scheduled for 11am. The first scheduled home game at Marty Deluca Field is March 19 at 4pm against Notre Dame East Stroudsburg.
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