He could play any position on the field, and often did. His speed created havoc on the bases, which helped his team score runs in bunches. And he provided needed leadership in a club that had few seniors.

While all the above qualities made Marian's Dante Salerno a special baseball player this past season, what set him apart were his contributions somewhere else the batter's box.Finishing with a .478 batting average and getting on base at a .581 clip, Salerno epitomized the role of a leadoff hitter.And as Salerno went, so did the Colts. The junior player was the spark atop Marian's batting order, scoring more than a run per game. His efforts not only propelled his team to a division title but they also earned him this year's Times News Baseball Player of the Year."He had a phenomenal year," said Marian head coach Tony Radocha, whose team went 17-4 and claimed the Schuylkill League Division 3 crown was a 12-1 record. "Being our leadoff hitter, he was a firecracker at the top of our lineup and jump-started our team. Getting him on base would get us going. And he'd always find a way to get on base. If he wasn't walking, he was getting hits. If he wasn't getting hits, he led our team in getting hit by pitches. He'd do anything he could to help the team."He's an aggressive hitter and uses his speed to his advantage. In my opinion, he's the toughest out in the Schuylkill League. He will beg, borrow and steal to get on base."While he admits his aggression can sometimes get the best of him, the Lehighton resident is quick to point out he doesn't mind swinging early in the count."What I try to do is just get on base every time up," said Salerno, who was 32-for-67 at the plate, walked 12 times and was hit by six pitches. "You get about one good pitch every at-bat, so when you get it you should jump on it. If you don't give me a good strike, I'm not swinging. I'll take a walk. Sometimes, though, I'll jump at a pitch like a curveball because I don't pick it up right away and I'll pop it up or get way on top of it."Honestly, my confidence level is sky-high when I go to the plate. I didn't strike out much (twice) this year. I just go up to the plate and try to hit the ball as hard as I can back up the middle."Opposing pitchers who can't stand seeing Salerno with a bat in his hands also dread the thought of his presence on base.That's because any time he got on, odds were good he'd be stealing and eventually scoring.Salerno swiped 28 bases and crossed home 32 times, both team highs. In fact, the junior had a hit and scored a run in 18 of his team's 21 games."If we got him on first, more times than not it would turn into a double," said Radocha. "He reads pitchers so well and can get a good break.""A lot of times I had the green light," said Salerno, who also knocked in 17 runs. "My goal was to get on, steal and then have someone drive me in. You can really cause problems and stir up the defense by stealing bases."Speaking of defense, Salerno's position on the field was the complete opposite of his spot in the lineup. As set as he was in the leadoff role, he'd have to check the scorebook every game to know where he should go on the diamond."He's so athletic and he's such a good baseball player that he can play in a variety of positions," said Radocha. "We moved him to the outfield because he has great speed and a good arm and makes great breaks on the ball. We can always bring him in for long-term relief or as a spot starter in some games and he does an excellent job on the mound. There was a game or two where we wanted to spell K.J. (Snerr) behind the plate, and he was also able to do that."Salerno played six positions this past season and actually enjoys catching the most. Because of his size (5-6, 150 pounds), though, his opportunities there are limited.One spot where he may see more time is pitcher. In eight appearances and 23 innings, he posted an 0.91 ERA. He walked 11 and struck out 15 while opponents managed a .235 batting average against."He's got a deceptive fastball and works on location," said Radocha. "He's got good off-speed and is very calm so you can put him into any tough situation. ... As far as next year, you're probably going to see him in the rotation a little bit and we'll use him in long-term relief again. Basically, wherever we need him I know he's going to be ready to go."The versatile player will be going to baseball showcases over the summer as well as playing Legion ball for Northern Valley. He also plans on lifting weights to get a little stronger for next season, which he hopes ends on a brighter note."We had a great regular season, going 17-2," he said. "But what matters is that we went 0-2 in the playoffs. We have to work on turning that around next year and winning a district championship."His coach, meanwhile, is just glad he'll be returning for another season."What I expect to get out of him next year is his best effort day in and day out," said Radocha. "He has a very high baseball IQ, and that coupled with his athletic ability and his striving to get better is a great combination. He's got a bright baseball future."