By SETH STASKEY

Times Leader Sports Editor

CADIZ — Scoring runs shouldn’t be a problem for Harrison Central this spring.

Head coach Mike Valesko, who is entering his seventh season, believes — like most skippers — the season’s ultimate success will boil down to pitching.

“I believe this team has the potential to be one of the better offensive lineups we’ve had, but we’ll need our pitching to take a step forward and continue to build off of each day,” Valesko said.

The Huskies return five lettermen from the 2019 season, including senior Kobe Mitchell. The University of Akron basketball signee batted .300 and drove in 17 runs as a sophomore.

Mitchell will play shortstop and headline the pitching staff.

Senior Sam Santille returns at first base. He hit .365 as a sophomore and was named First-Team All-Eastern District.

Trevor Carman is penciled in for the second base job, which he handled as a freshman in 2019. He will also see time on the mound.

Third base looks to be junior Caleb Blawut, who hit .300 as a frosh and drove in 12 runs. He, too, will see time on the mound.

Senior Skylar Mazeroski will be in the outfield and pitch. He has been a mainstay in the lineup.

The catching job is expected to be handled by talented sophomore Treston Nemeth, who according to Valesko is drawing collegiate interest already. He will hit in the middle of the order.

Joining Mazeroski in the outfield are junior Johnathan Vermillion and sophomore Caden Jurosko.

Sophomore Cabot Arbaugh is a utility guy who will see time based on who is pitching.

Valesko also lists junior Jacob Matteron (outfield), junior Trace Rutter (infield, pitcher) and sophomore Jace Madzia (infield, pitcher) as “potential role players.”

“We believe that if Mitchell, Blawut and the rest of our pitching staff has success then we’ll like the postian we’ll be in come postseason time,” Valesko said. “Our goal is to make sure we’re playing our best baseball at that point of the year.”

Others looking to crack the lineup are senior Lane Harding (outfield), juniors Todd Stringer (infield), Joenus Jones (infield), Tristin Miser (outfield), sophomores Zane Ziegler (outfield), Wyatt Pierce (outfield), Andrew Saiter (catcher); freshmen Nate Smith (infield), Ryan Arbaugh (infield), Aubrey Wood (outfield), Jeremy Malcomb (outfield), Jaydis Yoho (infield) and Christian Hunt (outfield).