TribHSSN Baseball Team of the Week for the week of April 29, 2019

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, May 5, 2019 | 9:43 PM

The Trib HSSN Baseball Team of the Week is Avonworth, which won a key Section 4-2A game that put it into a tie for first place with three section games remaining.

The week started with a showdown against front-running Our Lady of the Sacred Heart. Leading 3-0 in the seventh inning, the Antelopes held off a late Chargers rally to pick up a 3-2 win.

“It is awesome playing a team of OLSH’s caliber,” coach Dan Pomposelli said. “From the first pitch to the final out, it felt like a playoff game. The seniors really stepped up in big situations.”

The wins over OLSH and Carlynton last week have the Antelopes flying through the rough section terrain, having won five straight games.

“Our focus is not how many games in a row we win,” Pomposelli said. “It’s important to understand that we aren’t going to be perfect, learn from our mistakes and become a better team because of the things we are learning along the way.”

Avonworth enjoyed a breakout season in 2018, reaching the WPIAL Class 3A finals, where it lost to Brownsville.

“Last year was a very memorable year,” Pomposelli said. “It’s been very fun to coach these men again because they come to practice and games with a sense of unfinished business.”

Seniors Turner Grau, Timmy Stewart, Jack Reed, Jake Summers, Jacob Gustic, Ryan Felter, Patrick Gannon and Denny Manko have played key roles in the Antelopes’ resurgence.

“The seniors have been the key contributors,” said Pomposelli. “They have excelled on the mound, at the plate and in the field.”

Tied for first place, the Antelopes finish section play this week with games against Summit Academy, Sewickley Academy and Northgate before preparing for the playoffs.

“The last time Avonworth won a section title, these seniors were freshmen,” Pomposelli said. “They really want to bring another section title back to Avonworth.”

Previous Trib HSSN Baseball Teams of the Week:

South Park Eagles

Laurel Highlands Mustangs

Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles

Union Scotties

Upper St. Clair Panthers

Trib HSSN Baseball Player of the Week: Casey Marshalwitz, Hampton