Spotlight: Moorestown senior Joey Frey

Joey Frey likes being in the center of the action.

That's why the Moorestown senior is comfortable as the Quakers' catcher.

"I love being able to touch the ball on every play," Frey said. "As a catcher, you are so involved in the game."

Frey is the leader of a Moorestown team that should contend for the Burlco Liberty title as well as the South Jersey Group 3 crown.

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete is one of eight returning starters from a team that went 17-6 and reached the South Jersey Group 3 title game in 2011. Moorestown, ranked No. 8 in South Jersey by The Inquirer, is 2-1, with its lone loss a 5-4 defeat by No. 7 Buena in the opener.

"We're very excited about this season," Frey said. "We've got a lot of guys back, a lot of experience, and we think we can go far."

Frey batted .423 last season with four home runs and 28 RBIs. He's signed to attend Delaware on a baseball scholarship.

"I knew as soon as I stepped on that campus that was where I wanted to be," said Frey, who plans to major in business.

Frey has been a catcher since he was 10. He loves the responsibility that comes with the position, especially in working with the Moorestown pitchers.

While many coaches call pitches from the dugout, Moorestown's Bill Donoghue trusts Frey to handle that task.

"That's one of the best things about catching," Frey said. "You work with the pitchers, trying to figure out what to throw, when to use pitches, how to set guys up."

With his college choice settled, Frey said he is focused on making the most of his senior year.

"There's pressure because I want to lead the team," Frey said. "But it's my senior year. I just want to go out and have fun and help us try to win a state championship."

   - Phil Anastasia