New coach Jordan Steranka guides Shady Side Academy baseball

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, April 13, 2018 | 11:00 PM

First-year Shady Side Academy baseball coach Jordan Steranka takes over from Bob Grandizio Jr., who resigned after the 2017 season. Steranka knows he has some big shoes to fill. Grandizio was 242-100 during his 19-year tenure, including a 163-41 section record and 18 playoff appearances and a WPIAL championship in 2009.

“Coach Grandizio has been so helpful in the transition of the program, and I could not be more excited to be given the opportunity to coach at Shady Side,” Steranka said. “I will continue the successful tradition of the baseball program on and off the field. I am a high-energy coach that loves to compete and win. This attitude will be exemplified by the staff and players in the program.”

Steranka, who graduated from Mt. Lebanon, played first base for Penn State and in 2009 was named to the Big Ten All-Rookie team. In 2012, his senior year, he made the All-Big Ten first team. In June of that year, he was drafted by the Pirates in the 21st round.

He played for the Pirates Class A farm team in Bradenton, Fla., in 2014 and '15 and compiled a .262 batting average with 10 homers and 74 RBIs.

Longtime Pirate fans might remember one of his SSA assistant coaches: Chris Peters. The Peters Township graduate played for the Pirates from 1996-2000 before ending his career with Montreal in 2001. He was also one of the batting practice pitchers for the Pirates in recent years.

Steranka is hoping to improve on last year's 7-10 season that ended with a second-round playoff loss to Mt. Pleasant. The Indians return eight starters as captain Nick Tarasi was the lone senior in 2017.

Notable returning starters are Michael George (1B, Jr.), Tevin Anderson (2B, Jr.), Brendan McLaughlin (OF, Jr.), John Salvitti (SS, Soph.), Luke Keenan (C, capt., Sr.), Ben Kosbie (CF, Sr.), Nicholas Becker (P/OF, Sr.) and Colin Kolano (P/IF, Sr.).

Returning letterwinners are Ethan Critchlow (3B/P, Jr.), Heath Newman (3B/DH, Jr.) and Jackson Clark (utility, Sr.).

Promising newcomers include Matthew Wellstead (OF/P, Jr.) and Tyler Hart (IF/P, Fr.).

“We have a solid core group of guys that bring a lot of experience and leadership from previous years,” Steranka said. “The team is a tight-knit group that is very close and we will rely on this team-first mentality during the season.

“I am excited to see how some guys will adapt and perform in certain situations. There will be some guys in new spots due to injuries that we will be counting on, so I am excited to see how they respond to the challenge.

“This is my first year in the section, and being a former WPIAL player myself, I know that you cannot overlook any opponent. On any given day, anyone can beat anyone, especially when you add in the weather component and the competitiveness of WPIAL baseball. Every game will be a battle, and that is how our team views every section game.

“I have very high expectations for the team this year. The talent is there and the desire to win is there, so now it comes down to just trusting in the process we have established and taking it onto the field during the games.”

Marty Stewart is a freelance writer.

Tags: Shady Side Academy