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Pocono Mountain East High School's Alexander Stirr was named the 2026 Pocono Record baseball Hitter of the Year, as voted on by the seven Pocono-area coaches.
Stirr, who just finished his junior season and is currently committed to Bloomsburg University, started 23 games for the Cardinals, recording a batting average of .469, a slugging percentage of .766 and an on-base percentage of .585.
Additionally, he had 27 hits, seven doubles, three triples, two home runs and 23 RBIs.
"It's incredibly humbling knowing that there were a lot of great hitters in the area this year," Stirr told the Pocono Record. "I've worked really hard on my approach at the plate and my consistency throughout the season. But I know this is just motivation to keep working and improving.
"I want to thank my parents and brothers, of course. My brothers played in college, so it's nice to talk to them after games. I also want to thank my teammates who pushed me every day in practice and had my back all season long."
Lets get racing!: Pocono Raceway's Ben May talks changes, gas prices, Prime ahead of race weekend
Stirr missed most of his sophomore season due to injury, so for East head coach Matt DelGiudice, seeing how that didn't slow Stirr down made it that much more rewarding.
"It was fun to watch Xander this year and see all of his hard work pay off. He has worked extremely hard on his offensive approach and on learning how to use all fields," DelGiudice said. "He has always had pull-side power, but this year he really focused on his swing path and driving balls backside for extra-base hits. He was also one of the toughest players to strike out in the conference and did a great job of adjusting his approach from pitch to pitch. Xander is highly critical of himself, which stems from the high expectations he sets. It is genuinely enjoyable to coach him because of how respectful and coachable he is.
"I’m incredibly proud of the player he has developed into and the leadership role he assumed this year, which will pay huge dividends going into his senior season."
The feeling was mutual from Stirr about his head coach, saying, "Coach DelGiudice is top-notch and the most supportive coach I have ever had. What I respect most about him is how he balances being demanding with being supportive. It’s a culture now. He pushes every player to reach their potential but still keeps an eye on team goals."
East won the EPC North title and finished the season with a 15-8 record with an EPC and District 11 5A playoff appearance.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: East baseball's Alexander Stirr voted 2026 Hitter of the Year
Continue reading...
Stirr, who just finished his junior season and is currently committed to Bloomsburg University, started 23 games for the Cardinals, recording a batting average of .469, a slugging percentage of .766 and an on-base percentage of .585.
Additionally, he had 27 hits, seven doubles, three triples, two home runs and 23 RBIs.
"It's incredibly humbling knowing that there were a lot of great hitters in the area this year," Stirr told the Pocono Record. "I've worked really hard on my approach at the plate and my consistency throughout the season. But I know this is just motivation to keep working and improving.
"I want to thank my parents and brothers, of course. My brothers played in college, so it's nice to talk to them after games. I also want to thank my teammates who pushed me every day in practice and had my back all season long."
Lets get racing!: Pocono Raceway's Ben May talks changes, gas prices, Prime ahead of race weekend
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Stirr missed most of his sophomore season due to injury, so for East head coach Matt DelGiudice, seeing how that didn't slow Stirr down made it that much more rewarding.
"It was fun to watch Xander this year and see all of his hard work pay off. He has worked extremely hard on his offensive approach and on learning how to use all fields," DelGiudice said. "He has always had pull-side power, but this year he really focused on his swing path and driving balls backside for extra-base hits. He was also one of the toughest players to strike out in the conference and did a great job of adjusting his approach from pitch to pitch. Xander is highly critical of himself, which stems from the high expectations he sets. It is genuinely enjoyable to coach him because of how respectful and coachable he is.
"I’m incredibly proud of the player he has developed into and the leadership role he assumed this year, which will pay huge dividends going into his senior season."
The feeling was mutual from Stirr about his head coach, saying, "Coach DelGiudice is top-notch and the most supportive coach I have ever had. What I respect most about him is how he balances being demanding with being supportive. It’s a culture now. He pushes every player to reach their potential but still keeps an eye on team goals."
East won the EPC North title and finished the season with a 15-8 record with an EPC and District 11 5A playoff appearance.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: East baseball's Alexander Stirr voted 2026 Hitter of the Year
Continue reading...
