Penn Hills baseball looks to provide run support for top senior pitcher

By: Josh Rizzo
Sunday, March 24, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Edward Bowser found the right focus while pitching for the Pittsburgh Rawling Tigers last summer. The Penn Hills senior knew he had his mind on the task at hand. Following one game, Bowser wrapped up the contest and discovered he had thrown the first no-hitter of his baseball career.

“To be honest, I didn’t know I threw it until after the game,” Bowser said. “I kept the focus that I wanted to keep pitching hard.”

The Indians varsity baseball team wants to discover that kind of collective attention to detail. Penn Hills coach Rodney Stubbs, who said he plans to retire following the season, said the Indians need to figure out how to hit consistently if they are going to challenge for the postseason.

Penn Hills hasn’t made the WPIAL playoffs since 2010 and last had a winning record in 2014.

“We need a little bit more focus at the plate,” Stubbs said. “We have to know the pitch count and take our time. We don’t want to be so aggressive. In the two-strike approach, you have to be ready and know the pitch count. That’s what we’ve been gearing toward this year.”

Bowser has committed to pitching at CCAC Boyce next season. Last season, he had a 1-0 record with a 4.87 ERA in seven appearances. He struck out 23 batters in 23 innings pitched.

“The kid is phenomenal, man,” Stubbs said. “Edward pitches lights out. The problem is that we have to hit for him. The Penn Hills struggle is we never hit. We’ve been working on that this whole offseason.”

Bowser can command his two-seam fastball and curveball the best. He has been working on finding the best situations to mix everything together.

“I have been working on knowing the situation and knowing what pitches work best for me,” Bowser said. “Knowing when to throw them is important too.”

Penn Hills has a deep group of players returning to try and help the Indians compete in Section 1-5A. The Indians have 10 seniors on the roster.

Penn Hills is in a section with Armstrong, Fox Chapel, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Plum and Penn-Trafford. The Indians will get a boost as catcher Connor Lehman returns after a rehab from an ACL injury.

Seniors Isaiah Mitchell (infield), Chyno Spearmen (left field/pitcher), Mack Byrnes (outfield) and Philmore Austin (outfield) will also be counted on to contribute. Freshman Donate Giddens is a fresh face who will make contributions in the infield. Anthony Sipple and Logan Bollinger should be able to make an impact in the infield as well.

Stubbs would like to find a way to manufacture runs and make a run to the postseason this year.

“I would like to go out with a bang,” Stubbs said. “I want to be aggressive on the bases. We have the speed and the talent for those guys. I think we’re going to play a lot of small ball this year.”

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