After productive postseason, Eden Christian baseball builds toward encore

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Eden Christian Academy’s baseball team enjoyed a banner season in 2024.

Eden finished 20-6 overall, 5-2 in the playoffs, 12-0 in Section 3A and almost ran the table in the postseason with WPIAL and PIAA runner-up finishes.

“I do not know about carryover (from last season),” coach Mark Feldman said. “I know we gained valuable experiences from every playoff game we played.

“Each new season means a new team and new opportunities. This year’s team will have a much different makeup than last year’s team.”

The Warriors, who reached the state finals for the second time in four seasons, are led by five returning starters in 2025 including juniors Noah Emswiler, a left-handed pitcher/outfielder, shortstop Brett Feldman, pitcher/infielder Brady Hull and catcher Josh Tilden. Another team leader is Jacob Janicki, a senior pitcher/infielder.

There are seven juniors, two sophomores, six freshmen and only two seniors — Janicki and OF Chan Kim — on this year’s club.

“I expect a challenging season because our team is young and inexperienced,” coach Feldman said. “We are a work in progress. Our focus has been trying to get better every day. We will only start one senior and potentially could start four or five freshmen or sophomores.”

The Warriors are hoping they’re not too in experienced to challenge for another section title and postseason run.

Eden’s batting order last spring regularly featured four underclassmen, including the first three hitters in the lineup: Emswiler (CF), Brett Feldman (SS) and Hull (1B/3B).

Feldman and Hull both were all-section and all-state selections.

Hull led the club in multiple offensive categories, including batting average (.493), slugging (.863), runs (39), hits (36), RBIs (41) and doubles (12).

“Brady Hull is a Division I player. His bat is elite,” said his coach. “What he doesn’t get enough credit for is his plate discipline. He never chases or tries to do too much. He is a very good baseball player.”

A right-handed hurler, Hull ranked second on the squad in OBP (.576), home runs (five) and stolen bases (21).

The talented athlete took time last season to commend coach Feldman, who was in his first year as the team’s field boss in 2024.

“As a team, we think of each other as family, and we are all brothers,” Hull said. “All coaches want to have and want to build a community and a family where everyone likes everyone. It happened (at Eden) because of coach Feldman. He built a family and a love for the game and a love for playing alongside each other. We always tried to help each other the best we could. But that’s because we wanted to see the best for each other and wanted to see the people around us succeed.

“The community and family built by coach Feldman will never be forgotten by Eden baseball. This year was so special not only because of the winning but also because we loved coming to practice and seeing everyone. Most of us have said we have never enjoyed playing on a team as much as we have this one. It’s a great group of young men run by a great group of coaches. We are brothers in Christ, and that’s been put on us since Day 1. So, props to coach Feldman for making us become a family.”

The Warriors’ “family affair” appears to be prevalent again for this season.

Brett Feldman, the coach’s son and a third-year starter, hit .478 a year ago and finished with a team-leading .604 OBP to go along with a .638 slugging percentage. He had 33 hits including seven doubles, scored 31 runs, led the team in stolen bases (25) and walks (19) and struck out twice in 91 plate appearances.

Defensively, Feldman accounted for 47 assists and committed just one error.

“Brett was our engine all year. He was our heartbeat. His glove is very good,” said his dad. “He worked very hard to become a threat at the plate.”

The three other returning starters should prove to be offensive threats in 2025.

Tilden hit .317 last year with 21 RBIs, Emswiler (.297) scored 30 times, drove in 19 runs and had a .464 OBP, while Janicki finished with a .281 batting average and .468 OBP.

Along with Hull, three other team members — Feldman, Tilden and Emswiler — are considered Division I candidates.

Eden was one of the leading offensive clubs in the WPIAL last season, averaging 9.2 runs. The Warriors had a .327 team batting average and a whopping 239-96 run differential.

Others looking to make contributions this spring include juniors Levi Parrott (IF) and Luke Burford (OF), sophomores Luca Natale (IF) and Noah Wicks (OF), as well as the freshman prospects.

The Warriors pitching staff will consist of freshmen Carson Beck and Levi DeFazio, Hull, Emswiler, Janicki, junior Christian Watkins and potentially a few others.

“We have been focused on building arm strength and stamina to start the season,” coach Feldman said.

Janicki, Feldman and Hull will serve as team captains.

Tags: Eden Christian