Varsity Baseball: With New Coach and Pitching, GM Horsehiders Made for Future

The New York Yankees lost Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte in the offseason and they’ve retooled.

The George Mason High School Mustangs lost Andy Koelz and Nick Hurwit and they’ve retooled.

Under first year coach Adam Amerine, who takes over for Tom Horn, the Mustangs bring some serious youth and talent at every position--especially on the mound.

Senior Joe Mauro, a returning All-District outfielder, is now holding the top pitcher’s spot and has two victories so far in his first two starts on the mound (while striking out seven batters and not allowing an earned run).

Mauro should have a splendid senior year on the hill and freshman Byron Mendenhall, the team’s second starter, should have a splendid career there. Amerine expects big things from the freshman, who will also see time in the infield.

“Byron is going to be counted on to pitch many innings for the varsity this year and has a chance to be a dominant force in the Bull Run for the next few years,” Amerine said.

Amerine minces no words in talking about the other freshman on the roster: “Jimmy Piscopo is the leadoff hitter of the future at GM. He has speed, great instincts, and inner spark that makes things happen on the field. He plays the field with flare and should be a crowd favorite in the future.”

In the present, Mason is 2-1 going into spring break. They earned wins against Falls Church High School (13-3) and Dominion (12-0).

The muscle of the lineup is senior shortstop Andrew Yancey, who is hitting third. In the teams’ three gams thus far, Yancey is hitting an eye-popping .636 with five RBIs. The top of the lineup should stay intact, with Mauro leading off followed by fellow seniors Josh Sadtler, Yancey and sophomore Matt Foley batting cleanup.

The fifth-hole is filled by junior co-captain Will Straub. Amerine named Straub a co-captain with Mauro because of their “maturity on and off the field” and their popularity amont their teammates.

Mendenhall, Dan Stroup, Eric Blush, and Paul Mene will round out the Mustang lineup.

Two talented arms--junior Andrew Phelps and sophomore Jon Schwengel--are battling for the third and fourth spots in the pitching rotation.

“This year's pitching staff is going to have more balance than the past two seasons because of the loss of the two horses, Koelz and Hurwit, and that should help develop the staff for future years here,” Amerine said.

When Mauro, Sadtler and Yancey walk down the aisle in the spring, the Mustangs will again bid farewell to a large portion of their talent. But Amerine inhereted a young team full of emerging talent which he is grooming to be a force down the line.

He insists not much will change except for the “personality at the top” of the club. But he adds, “This team will be a well-respected ball club in the Bull Run District and Northern Virgnia.”