Quaker Valley navigates tough section schedule to earn spot in WPIAL baseball field

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 11:01 AM

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Quaker Valley’s baseball team shook off a few late-season losses with a four-game winning streak resulting in a 12-6 overall record.

As a result, the Quakers received the No. 7 seed for the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs and a first-round game with No. 10 Ligonier Valley.

“It is always difficult to seed teams from the various sections,” QV coach Rich Garbee said. “There seems to be a very strong group of teams from all sections. Of course, Avonworth and Riverside will be rightfully looked at as the favorites, but there are many other strong teams in 3A that could be right there.

“And I am sure, like us, most teams are nursing some form of nagging injuries, but it’s hardware time, so all hands on deck that can play. We are very grateful that the seeding committee recognized the challenging section we played in as well as the nonsection schedule we took on.”

The top four teams in Section 1-3A this season were Riverside (9-1), Ellwood City (8-2), QV (6-4) and Mohawk (5-5).

The Quakers accounted for 138 runs in 18 games, averaging 7.6 runs per contest, and allowed 90 runs, or 5 runs per contest. The QV pitching staff tossed three shutouts.

Ligonier Valley started out 1-6 this year but won nine of its final 10 games including the last eight in a row to take a 10-7 overall record into the postseason.

QV’s starting lineup heading into the playoffs consisted of senior SS Oscar Roig, junior LF Henry Zupanc, senior CF Ryan Finamore, junior 3B Todd Kagle, senior P Nolan Wagoner, senior 2B Jack Cindrich, sophomore RF Kolton Johnson, junior C Brad Semonik and senior DH Kyle Rader/freshman 1B Mike Semonik.

Roig hit .382 with a .547 on-base percentage this spring. He also scored 31 runs, which ranked among the WPIAL’s leading run producers.

Other top offensive threats for the Quakers included Finamore (.500), Kagle (.489), Zupanc (.309) and Johnson (.297). Cindrich had a .455 OBP.

Kagle ranked among the WPIAL leaders in RBIs with 29 and belted four home runs and 10 doubles among his 24 base hits.

Finamore led the club in stolen bases (15) and OBP (.649).

Defensively, catcher Brad Semonik threw out six of the last seven runners that attempted to steal a base, and Mike Semonik turned in an outstanding job at his first base position.

Wagoner proved to be QV’s most consistent hurler and when not pitching has played all over the field. He finished second on the team in RBIs with 20.

Other pitchers with at least one victory this season were Cindrich (4-1), Johnson (3-1), freshman Holden Kirkham (2-0), Kagle (2-1), Finamore (1-0) and Roig (1-1).

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