It hasn’t even been two months since the high school baseball season ended, but Tamaqua head coach Jeff Reading is already looking forward to next year.

It’s not hard to see why.

With arguably the top battery around returning in 2025, it could be a special season for the Blue Raiders.

Mason Ligenza, the Times News Player of the Year for his excellence at the plate and on the mound, was recently named as a first team selection to the Pennsylvania High School Coaches Association Class 4A All-State team, while his catcher — Luke Kane — received second team honors.

Palmerton’s Jacob Grammes was also rewarded for his outstanding season by making the Class 3A second team as an infielder.

While Grammes made his mark during his senior campaign, the two Tamaqua players were only juniors and will be back on Reading’s squad again in March.

“We’re thrilled to have both of them back,” said Reading. “They’re great kids to be around. We’re definitely looking forward to watching them and having them for one more year on the diamond.”

While Ligenza was named to the team as an outfielder, he also excelled on the mound. But where he especially stood out was in the batter’s box.

Ligenza hit .500 (33-for-66) with 14 extra-base hits, including seven home runs. He scored 32 runs, knocked in 18, walked 16 times and stole 16 bases. His on-base percentage was .600 while his slugging was .955.

“He did it all for us, with his bat, with his pitching, with his legs running the bases,” said Reading. “He’s one of those kids that you can say has baseball IQ. He understands the game, and he works at being the best that he can and wants to get even better.

“For him getting all-state, it’s well-deserved, absolutely. And I’m tickled pink to have him back for another year.”

The left-hander also tossed 43 2/3 innings, walking just 13 while striking out 75. He pitched to an 0.96 ERA while opponents hit just .174 against him.

“His velocity didn’t change a whole lot on the mound, but his command on the mound did,” said Reading. “And nothing seemed to faze him. He kept the same demeanor whether things were going well or if they weren’t ... He would keep his composure and always did everything in his power for us to win.

“And at the plate, just hearing how the ball comes off his bat is just different ... It just makes a different sound.”

Kane made his own noise at the plate, hitting an impressive .455 (35-for-77) with 10 extra-base hits (seven doubles and three homers). He scored 16 times, knocked in 20 and stole 12 bases while slugging at a .662 percentage.

He also played solid defense behind the plate.

“Luke has blossomed twofold in the past two years,” said Reading. “He started catching for us a freshman, platooning, and last year he took on the catching duties full-time. And this year, he was the best catcher in the league — both defensively and with the numbers he put up at the plate.

“He has that raw talent, but has also been working on getting better. He’s displayed power. He’s another one that hits the ball hard. He’s just like Mason.”

With the two leading the way, the Raiders posted a 13-7 regular-season record and won the Schuylkill League championship.

“We made Luke our No. 3 hitter and he took on that role very well for us,” said Reading. “He’s got a good work ethic, and he’s fun to be around.

“They’re both good kids and we’re blessed to have them, to have them both on the team.”

While Tamaqua celebrated a banner season, Palmerton didn’t have the same success. But it was no fault of Grammes.

The Blue Bomber finished with an outstanding .475 batting average, collecting 29 hits in 61 at-bats. He only struck out four times and knocked in a team-high 23 runs. His .529 on-base percentage and .557 slugging resulted in a 1.086 OPS.

“Jake had a fantastic season for us,” said Palmerton head coach Tyler Svetik, whose team was 6-14. “He was a big presence in our lineup. He hit, literally, all season. There was a span where he was literally getting two, three hits a game. It was line drives up the middle, nothing cheap.

“He would go up to the plate this year, and he would look to hit it up the middle. He would just look to hit it hard somewhere, simplify his approach at the plate. He was so consistent for us, and he’s really deserving of getting all-state.”

Grammes also pitched, striking out 29 in his 28 1/3 innings of work. His opponents hit .248 against him and finished with a 3.46 ERA.

“He always did what the coaches asked of him and never questioned it,” said Svetik. “He just went out and did his job.

“Jake’s pretty quiet and reserved. The way he leads is by doing things the right way. He’s not a very vocal leader, he’s not going to get on you or things like that, but he showed up at practice, and took practice seriously. And then when the lights came on, he was always performing.”