FAIRLESS HILLS — Conwell-Egan seniors Dylan Held, Zach Linn and Scott Ray were determined to make their final year of high school baseball a memorable one.

The Eagles went 4-8 in the Philadelphia Catholic League last season (6-13 overall) in former major leaguer Jeff Manto's first year as head coach, which followed a 1-10 PCL campaign (1-13 overall) in 2022.

A much-improved pitching staff, plus increased confidence/aggression and better defense, has Conwell-Egan 7-3 and third in the PCL (10-4 overall) after Monday's 1-0 home win over Lansdale Catholic.

A victory over 2023 PIAA Class 4A state semifinalist Archbishop Wood (5-4 PCL) on Wednesday would increase the chances the Eagles gain a spot in the District 12 Class 4A championship game against the Public League top seed for a trip to the state playoffs. Conwell-Egan hasn't won districts since 2017, when it was a 3A school.

"The difference is night and day," Linn said. "Our team chemistry is outstanding this year. As a group, we all bond and are always with one another."

"All the hard work we put in is actually paying off now," Held said.

Perhaps the biggest jump has been in the pitching department, where seniors Kyle Tuthill, Gianni Serenelli, junior Chase Forester and freshman Brady Guzzie have led an effective group after C-E's team ERA was 5.40 a year ago.

Tuthill threw a 1-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts against Lansdale Catholic. Guzzie allowed just one hit and struck out 12 during a 4-1 victory against Archbishop Carroll.

"I feel like last year the pitchers were just trying to pitch around guys," Ray said. "This year they're going after guys. The coaches have really helped them to find the strike zone and pound strikes the whole game. The pitching has been incredible this year."

Having gone through one year with Manto and his staff also helped the Conwell-Egan players become familiar with the coaches and understand what's expected of them.

"The coaches from Day 1 were telling us (we could win the Catholic League) so that builds our trust in them," Ray said. "We really believe in the coaching staff. They really helped us become better players and also better people."

"I think the biggest difference is everyone is onboard with all the coaching improvements," Held said. "Everyone has the same goal — win the Philadelphia Catholic League."

The Eagles last won the PCL in 2006.

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"These three guys, especially, have bought into the program and believed in what we're trying to do," said Manto after Monday's win. "When you have leadership like that, it's a lot easier as a head coach to implement what you need to."

Conwell-Egan's most impressive result so far is probably a 4-3 victory over Bonner-Prendergast. It dropped a 1-0 decision to PCL second-place team Neumann-Goretti.

Linn had three hits, including a double, in a 5-3 loss to PCL leader La Salle, while Ray contributed two hits and an RBI in a 6-1 win against Archbishop Ryan and Held had two hits in a 2-0 non-league victory over Pennington.

"From what I've heard in the past (Linn attended Pennsbury through his sophomore season), it's a complete 180," Linn said. "To come in and be a part of this is just the best feeling in the world."

Ray and Held know it, too.

"Before it was like we were just going through the motions at games," Ray said. "Now it feels like we really have something and have a chance. It's a completely different environment. It's much more fun to play like this."

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly is a sports columnist for PhillyBurbs.com. Support our journalism with a subscription.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Three seniors helping Conwell-Egan to fine PCL baseball season