The Devon Dialogue
volume vi, issue i | october 2014
Devon Preparatory School
proudly publishing for five decades Reading with a Purpose
The Book Club embraces its new moderator, Mr. George Sheehan. See Page 2
CAP Summer Drive
CAP donates school supplies to those in need. See Page 3
Mr. George Sheehan and Mrs. Tara McKenna The Devon Dialogue interviews the two newest members of our Devon faculty. See Page 7
State Champs! The Baseball team brings home a state championship to Devon! See below.
The Tide Rolls In
Field of Dreams
Graham Alabdulla ’15
Zach Delphais ’16 and Joe Orsatti ’17
O n Aug u s t 2 8, t he De von P rep Pa rent s A s s o c i at ion (DPPA) prepa re d a d ay of f u n, ba rbe c u i ng , a nd a n oppor t u n it y to s o c i a l i z e w it h bot h old a nd ne w f r iend s. It w a s a w a r m s u m mer d a y, t he per fe c t s et t i ng for t he Welc ome Bac k to S c hool P ic n ic . It w a s f i l le d w it h dele c t able h a mbu r ger s a nd hot dog s, g r i l le d b y t he pa rent s of De von P rep, a s w el l a s mout hw ater i ng de s s er t s broug ht b y t he s e vent h a nd n i nt h g r ade s. It w a s a g re at w a y to w elc ome ne w f a m i l ie s a nd s t udent s i nto t he De v on P rep f a m i l y. St udent s h ad t he oppor t u n it y to me et t hei r ne w te ac her s a nd c atc h up w it h t hei r old one s. It w a s a memor able e vent b e c au s e of t he memor ie s m ade a nd t he e x per ienc e s h ad t here. It w a s u ndoubte d l y a f u n, memor able e vent w h ic h c re ate d l a s t i ng memor ie s for ne w a nd ret u r n i ng s t udent s a l i k e.
As you arrive on campus, there is no doubt where the PIAA Class A state championship resides for 2014.
While many people consider Friday the 13th a day of misfortune, this past June it brought nothing but good fortune to Devon Prep’s baseball team. After an hour-long rain delay and nearly nine complete innings the game was still tied, but that all changed in a single moment. After stealing third base, Chris Bauers ’14 immediately saw his opportunity and took it. The ball had been thrown over the third baseman’s head and into left field. He sprinted towards glory, securing Devon Prep’s first state championship in its fifty-eight year history as he dove in to home. After losing the team’s top two pitchers to injury in Zach Schellenger ’14 and Sean Phelan ’15, many people doubted that the team could go back to the state playoffs for a second straight season. They couldn’t have been more wrong. With strong performances on the mound by Pat Rohr ’15, John McSurdy ’16, and CJ Kohlbrenner ’14 and a lineup that could hit from top to bottom, the Tide certainly did start rolling. They rolled right past some of the area’s top teams, such as Conestoga. They rolled right past Calvary Christian in a rematch of last year’s district championship to win their first district title in four years. Finally, they rolled right past the previously undefeated Elk County Catholic in the state final at Penn State University and succeeded in bringing a hard-earned state title back to Devon. Last year was truly a year to remember. Now, we are looking at what could be the most anticipated
season of Devon Prep baseball in the history of the school. The players and coaches who gave us that great memory will take the field next spring under that beautiful banner that reads, “Home of the 2014 PIA A Class A State Champions.” With fourteen returning players from the championship squad, things look promising for back-to-back state titles. The Tide is led by seniors Pat Rohr (pitcher), Dominic Hardaway (catcher), Eric DiPietro (third base), Sean Phelan (first base), and Tyler Klicka (left field) in addition to a strong supporting cast of sophomores and juniors. With many positions left open by the departing of the Class of 2014, coaches Mark Aquilante ’94, Pat Kane, and Tom Graham will look to field the best team that they possibly can and attempt to form another championship team and make sure that the presence of the Tide will be forever felt in Nittany Lion territory. But what was it that set last year’s team apart? Was it the solid pitching performances? Or perhaps it was the near f lawless defense? Or maybe the top-notch first base coaching, or the luck brought by Devon’s secret weapon, Mr. Pat Nattle? Whatever it was, the tight-knit baseball team looks to change Devon’s history books once again. We can look back at last year’s Cinderella story and see the emergence of an everlasting dynasty of dominance over PIA A baseball for years to come. Let’s put our faith in the coaching staff and the team that has already produced a championship win for the record books at Devon Prep.