WPIAL Baseball – 2011 Season Preview

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Monday, March 28, 2011 | 12:00 AM


The first pitch of the 2011 WPIAL baseball season is set to be tossed on Friday, March 25th. While there were no state champions from the district in 2010, Pine-Richland, Hopewell, Beaver Falls and Serra Catholic now begin defense of their WPIAL titles. Here is a rundown of the Preseason Top Ten and players to watch in each classification.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA PRESEASON TOP TEN:

1) PETERS TOWNSHIP INDIANS (15-7)

2) NORTH ALLEGHENY TIGERS (19-6)

3) PINE-RICHLAND RAMS (20-4)

4) NORWIN KNIGHTS (17-5)

5) UPPER ST. CLAIR PANTHERS (13-7)

6) PITTSBURGH CENTRAL CATHOLIC VIKINGS (12-7)

7) PLUM MUSTANGS (14-6)

8) MOUNT LEBANON BLUE DEVILS (7-12)

9) SHALER TITANS (13-8)

10) BETHEL PARK BLACK HAWKS (8-11)

WPIAL CLASS AAAA PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2011:

Max McDowell – Norwin

Jason Shirley – Norwin

Johnny Leonard – Connellsville

Brian Tougher – Woodland Hills

Russell Clark – Pine-Richland

Zac LaNeve – Pine-Richland

Taylor Schmidt – North Hills

Cody Gaertner – North Allegheny

Tanner Wilt – North Allegheny

Brice Nikithser – North Allegheny

Zack Schramm – Shaler

Ian Happ – Mount Lebanon

Austin Hancock – Peters Township

Brady Sheetz – Peters Township

Justin Bianco – Peters Township

Ryan Minteer – Peters Township

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WPIAL CLASS AAA PRESEASON TOP TEN:

1) MOON TIGERS (18-6)

2) TRINITY HILLERS (12-6)

3) HOPEWELL VIKINGS (23-2)

4) CENTRAL VALLEY WARRIORS (na)

5) ELIZABETH FORWARD WARRIORS (21-6)

6) MOUNT PLEASANT VIKINGS (16-6)

7) CHARTIERS VALLEY COLTS (7-11)

8) BLACKHAWK COUGARS (13-8)

9) HAMPTON TALBOTS (9-11)

10) GREENSBURG-SALEM GOLDEN LIONS (13-6)

WPIAL CLASS AAA PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2011:

Matt Emge – Blackhawk

G.J. Senchak – New Castle

Matt Rubino – Hopewell

Logan Urtz – Central Valley

J.R. Deweese – Central Valley

Johnny Rossi – Central Valley

Christian Herstine – Beaver

Brett Hoffman – Moon

Dan Altavilla – Elizabeth Forward

Nick Riotto – Trinity

Anthony Marks – Montour

John O'Neill – Chartiers Valley

Luke Horew – Chartiers Valley

Bryan Leipold – Chartiers Valley

David Kucenic – South Park

Greg Schneider – Thomas Jefferson

Adam Rzepniak – East Allegheny

Carmen Barone – East Allegheny

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WPIAL CLASS AA PRESEASON TOP TEN:

1) BURRELL BUCCANEERS (14-6)

2) BISHOP CANEVIN CRUSADERS (12-7)

3) SHADY SIDE ACADEMY INDIANS (18-3)

4) FREEPORT YELLOWJACKETS (15-2)

5) LAUREL SPARTANS (15-5)

6) FREEDOM BULLDOGS (13-6)

7) BEAVER FALLS TIGERS (19-4)

8) BROWNSVILLE FALCONS (11-7)

9) ELLWOOD CITY WOLVERINES (13-8)

10) WAYNESBURG RAIDERS (11-6)

WPIAL CLASS AA PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2011:

Mike DelSardo – Seton-LaSalle

Matt Zerishnek – Bishop Canevin

Derek Lehocky – Freedom

Steve McCaw – Waynesburg

Alex Swauger – Waynesburg

Joe Monica – Waynesburg

Zach Hibbs – Brownsville

Gage Nichols – Brownsville

Julien Anderson – Washington

Tyler Pavan – Burgettstown

Dylan Prutz – Southmoreland

Mark Wesolek – Deer Lakes

Dylan Wolsonovich – Ford City

Danny Russo – Ford City

Dave Yakopec – Burrell

John Fetchko – Freeport

Ben Hartz – Shady Side Academy

Cayman Hoggard – Riverview

Ben Bobick – Steel Valley

Greg Lynn – Ellwood City

Kyle Bonner – New Brighton

Rick Jones – Laurel

Daniel Mioni – Mohawk

Johnny Beatty – Mohawk

Dane Gecina – Shenango

Anthony Kosciuszko – Shenango

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WPIAL CLASS A PRESEASON TOP TEN:

1) SERRA CATHOLIC EAGLES (24-2)

2) NESHANNOCK LANCERS (17-6)

3) CALIFORNIA TROJANS (21-4)

4) BETH-CENTER BULLDOGS (11-6)

5) CARMICHAELS MIGHTY MIKES (7-13)

6) VINCENTIAN ACADEMY ROYALS (14-10)

7) NORTH CATHOLIC TROJANS (6-11)

8) ROCHESTER RAMS (5-11)

9) BENTWORTH BEARCATS (17-4)

10) CORNELL RAIDERS (10-7)

WPIAL CLASS A PLAYERS TO WATCH IN 2011:

Matt Sabatini – Beth-Center

Austin Smith – Beth-Center

Mike Bodnar – Beth-Center

Nick Clarke – Carmichaels

Jon Krall – Carmichaels

Dakota Conway – California

T.D. Conway – California

Brandon Kozich – Jefferson-Morgan

Chris Miller – Serra Catholic

Alain Girman – Serra Catholic

Josh Chaussinand – Monessen

Tyler Delval – Bentworth

John Sansone – Neshannock

Chris Tsangaris – Neshannock

Alex Strittmatter – Neshannock

Andre Jones – Union

Alente Johnson – Rochester

Bryan Korzen – Cornell

Zach Chinchilla – Quigley

Adam Dian – Vincentian Academy

Will Hogan – Sewickley Academy

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