Call to arms: Blackhawk pitchers guiding team toward WPIAL title defense

By: HSSN Staff
Tuesday, May 8, 2018 | 3:15 PM

It's not exactly the Cold War, but there is a legitimate arms race going on inside the ranks of WPIAL Class 4A baseball, and the Blackhawk baseball team is in the lead. The No. 1-ranked Blackhawk Cougars have not one, not two but four standout pitchers to frustrate batters as the Cougars look primed to make a run at a second consecutive WPIAL baseball title.

“Right now, we've been pretty well blessed,” Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia said. “They understand the tradition. They go out and work hard, and honestly my top four pitchers in (Mike) Turconi, (Johnny) Nixon, (Andy) McClymonds and (Tyler) Robinson are all baseball players. They're all leaders, and that makes things easier for you as a coach.”

In addition to pitching, one other thing they all have in common is they were literally born into the winning tradition that is Blackhawk (16-0, 14-0) baseball. All four seniors know nothing else but postseason baseball as the Cougars clinched their 17th consecutive playoff berth.

“It means a lot (to keep winning), and coming up I always went to games,” said Andy McClymonds, a Slippery Rock commit. “From the first time I stepped in the gym with coach, it's been a blast, and he's taught us how to win and be professional.”

McClymonds is Amalia's No. 1A hurler. The 6-foot-5 righty, who also happens to be the biggest eater on the staff, has a 1.30 ERA and 42 strikeouts. Amalia said McClymonds' fastball reaches the high 80's and low 90's. He also throws a changeup and curveball for strikes.

The Cougars No. 1B pitcher is senior Wake Forrest commit Michale Turconi. What the 5-foot-10 righty lacks in size, he more than makes up for it with his fastball.

“Turconi brings a hard fastball and pretty nice curve ball,” McClymonds said. “I've faced it in batting practice, and it's pretty nice.”

Turconi (4-0), who will be looked at as a “position player” when he heads off Wake Forrest, has dominated batters all season. Turconi, who holds the “Mr. Serious” label, has a perfect ERA of .000, tallied 49 strikeouts and has given up just one earned run.

“We're hoping we developed enough pitching that we can be successful,” Amalia said. “It's nice to have two ace pitchers in Andy and Michael.”

Senior Johnny Nixon (2-0) and sophomore Marco Borello (2-0) add to the talented rotation. Borello sports another perfect ERA and Nixon, “the joker,” carries a 1.91 ERA. Borello will be playing at Barton College (N.C.) next spring while Nixon will move on to Washington & Jefferson.

“Coming into the year, (Nixon) has really stepped it up, and Tyler (Robinson) and Marco have come out nowhere,” McClymonds said.

Robinson, a senior, has been the Cougars' ace-in-the hole with two saves and a 2.21 ERA from his closer position. Robinson, “the prankster,” didn't play baseball last season, but Amalia did get 30 games with him last season as a member of his American Legion team.

“I would think that pitching is one of our strengths,” Amalia said. “I'm a big believer that pitching and defense is going to win it for you.”

Every team looks to knock off a defending champion, and Turconi said he's expecting to get every team's best shot in the postseason.

“I think everyone is going to come and try and beat us and give us their best fight,” Turconi said. “We have a lot of experience in the postseason and the WPIAL championship game, having been there last two seasons.”

The Cougars' quartet of starters hasn't given themselves a fancy nickname, but McClymonds said the pitching staff is considering dying their hair blonde.

“We're like a family,” Turconi said. “Everything that we do, we do together. We're just out there having fun and playing the game that we love.”

William Whalen is a freelance writer.

Tags: Blackhawk