WPIAL baseball preview: Teams set to begin quests for championships

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 23, 2018 | 10:31 PM

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Though the snow on the ground may disagree, it's spring in Western Pennsylvania and high school baseball season got underway Friday.

Pine-Richland (Class 6A), Latrobe (5A), Blackhawk (4A), Riverside (3A), California (2A) and Jeannette (A) are set to begin defense of their WPIAL championships.

Latrobe also captured the 2017 PIAA title.

Here's a look at the top teams and players in the WPIAL:

Class 6A

Preseason Top 5

Team (2017 record)

1. Pine-Richland (18-5) — The Rams claimed their fifth WPIAL title last season and have lots of talent returning for a repeat bid. The group is led by three Division I recruits in junior infielder Troy LaNeve (Vanderbilt), junior outfielder Josh Johnson (Kent State) and junior catcher Matt Wood (Penn State).

2. Canon-McMillan (14-6) — The Big Macs went 12-0 to win Section 3 last season and return a deep senior class, led by pitcher Zach Rohaley, an all-section pick who was 7-0 with a 0.75 ERA. Junior pitcher Cam Weston is a Michigan recruit who was 5-0 with a 1.25 ERA. Senior Ian Hess hit .509 in an all-section campaign.

3. North Allegheny (17-8) — The Tigers return five senior players who will play collegiately — Ben Surman (John Carroll), Brett Heckert (Allegheny), Colin Cain (Slippery Rock), Turner White (Cedarville) and Caiden Wood (Seton Hill). Senior outfielder Luke Trueman was an all-section selection a year ago.

4. Norwin (14-4) — Norwin claimed the Section 2 title last season but returns just two regular starters. Shortstop Nick Zona (Seton Hill) and center fielder Brady Sigut (Seton Hall) were all-section honorees last season. Zona batted .478. Senior Tanner Mahofski saw time at designated hitter.

5. Mt. Lebanon (14-9) — The Blue Devils reached the WPIAL semifinals last season and return several key players, including senior all-section outfielder Matt D'Alessandro and senior pitcher Spencer Curran, who struck out 65 batters last season.

Players to watch

*Ian Hess, Sr., INF, Canon-McMillan

*Ryan Kircher, Sr., P, Plum

*Troy LaNeve, Jr., INF, Pine-Richland

*Justin Meis, Sr., Bethel Park

*Connor Ollio, Sr., P, Butler

*Zach Rohaley, Sr., P, Canon-McMillan

*Brady Sigut, Sr., CF, Norwin

*Josh Spiegel, Sr., C, Penn-Trafford

*Andrew Walker, Sr., OF, Central Catholic

*Justin Wright, Sr., P, Hempfield

Class 5A

Preseason Top 5

Team (2017 record)

1. Mars (14-8) — Mars reached the WPIAL title game for the first time last season and returns several key players for a return trip. Senior catcher Jack Anderson (Northwestern commit) and senior pitcher Frank Craska (Lafayette) were all-section honorees, and junior pitcher Will Bednar (Ohio State) was 4-0 with a 0.46 ERA in the regular season before defeating West Allegheny in the semifinals. Sophomore pitcher Joey Craska is a Virginia Tech commit.

2. Moon (13-7) — After reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals last season, the Tigers return their top two pitchers in seniors Nick Maue and Sevin Schoenweis (IUP recruit), as well as all-section senior outfielder Anthony Fachet. Maue, a Dayton recruit, was an all-section selection who threw a no-hitter in the regular-season finale.

3. Hampton (13-7) — Despite being ousted in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs, Hampton returns seven starters in a talented lineup capable of contending in Section 1. The Talbots are led by senior shortstop Phil Conti (.320), a William & Mary recruit. Senior Greg Susi (.360) and Chris Suddeth (.330) were consistent hitters, and senior ace Kevin Morgan had sub-2 ERA. Junior shortstop Tyler Bischke is a Kent State recruit.

4. West Allegheny (21-3) — Four starters return for West Allegheny, which reached the PIAA playoffs last season. Sophomore Austin Hendrick, a Mississippi State recruit, returns after hitting .371 with 20 RBIs. He also was 5-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 37 strikeouts. Senior Conner Bartley was 4-0 and didn't allow a run in 16 innings. Juniors Trey Zeroski (.338) and Logan Malatak (.333) also return.

5. Latrobe (24-2) — The reigning WPIAL and PIAA champion Wildcats were hit hard by graduation but will lean on senior outfielder/pitcher Griffin Clark, a first-team all-section designated hitter who hit .375, as well as junior infielder Isaac Echard.

Players to watch

*Jack Anderson, Sr., C, Mars

*Will Bednar, Jr., P/INF, Mars

*Phil Conti, Sr., INF, Hampton

*Frank Craska, Sr., P/INF, Mars

*Bryce Harper, So., C, Franklin Regional

*Austin Hendrick, So., OF/P, West Allegheny

*Nick Maue, Sr., P/INF, Moon

*Joey Pusateri, Sr., P, Mars

*Travis Sankovich, Sr., SS, Laurel Highlands

*Logan Vietmeier, Sr., C/3B, Montour

Class 4A

Preseason Top 5

Team (2017 record)

1. Blackhawk (23-3) — Blackhawk claimed its third WPIAL championship last spring and reached the PIAA semifinals. The Cougars return all-section senior pitcher/shortstop Michael Turconi, a Wake Forest recruit who has caught attention of MLB scouts. He hit .523 with five home runs and 42 RBIs. Senior pitcher Andy McClymonds also returns after an all-section campaign.

2. South Park (23-4) — After falling to Blackhawk in the WPIAL title game, the Eagles got revenge with a win over the Cougars in the PIAA semifinals before falling to Dallas in the state final. The Eagles will be led by senior infielder Tyler Bywalski, a Cal (Pa.) recruit, and junior pitcher Kevin Vaupel, who is drawing Division I interest. Both were all-section selections.

3. Hopewell (15-11) — Hopewell finished second in Section 2 a year ago before making a run to the PIAA quarterfinals. Back are seven starters, including the team's leading pitcher and hitter in Ohio recruit Joe Rock (1.19 ERA, 109 strikeouts) and Mitch Heranic (.461, 4 HRs). Senior third baseman Tyler Sabo joined both on the all-section team.

4. Knoch (15-5) — The defending Section 1 champs return seven starters, led by the pitching tandem of Jake Herrit and Jack Bartek. Senior catcher Dylan Swarmer also returns after an all-section campaign. Herrit and senior outfielder Alex Altmire are Gannon recruits.

5. Ringgold (13-6) — Led by senior all-section pitcher Ryan Varley and fellow hurler Bo Haines, Ringgold has its sights set on a section crown. The Rams return seven starters.

Players to watch

*Tyler Bywalski, Sr., INF, South Park

*Richie Dell, Jr., P, South Fayette

*Mitch Heranic, Sr., C, Hopewell

*Josh Hoffman, Jr., SS, Belle Vernon

*Andy McClymonds, Sr., P, Blackhawk

*Ethan Moore, Jr., SS, Quaker Valley

*Joe Rock, Sr., P, Hopewell

*Dylan Swarmer, Sr., C, Knoch

*Michael Turconi, Sr., SS, Blackhawk

*Kevin Vaupel, Jr., P/1B, South Park

Class 3A

Preseason Top 5

Team (2017 record)

1. Riverside (19-2) — Riverside rolled through the 2017 regular season to win the Section 2 title at 12-0 and claimed its fifth WPIAL championship before falling in the PIAA quarterfinals. The Panthers will take aim at a third straight WPIAL title with five returning starters, including pitcher/catcher Gunnar Boehm, shortstop/pitcher Ty Thellman and senior outfielder Austin Dambach, all senior all-section honorees.

2. Steel Valley (16-4) — A trio of all-section players return for Steel Valley, which won Section 1 with a 10-0 record last season before losing in the WPIAL quarterfinals. The group includes senior shortstop Ray Chuba, senior outfielder Andre Good and junior catcher Brady Miller.

3. Avonworth (10-5) — Junior shortstop Turner Grau leads the returning group of Lopes, who finished second in Section 2 last season. The three-sport athlete hit .444 last season with nine RBIs.

4. Brownsville (14-5) — Junior catcher D.J. Zimcosky, senior pitcher Dylan Brosky and senior outfielder Josh Davidson were all-section selections last season for Brownsville, which tied Mt. Pleasant for the Section 3 title and finished fourth in the WPIAL last season.

5. Burrell (10-8) — A Section 1 runner-up last season, Burrell advanced to the WPIAL quarterfinals before falling to Riverside. Junior Luke Virag (1.75 ERA) returns in the infield and on the mound after an all-section campaign, but the Bucs will miss graduated ace Dean Edwards.

Players to watch

*Gunnar Boehm, Sr., P/C, Riverside

*Daylin Brickner, Jr., OF, Beaver Falls

*Ray Chuba, Sr., SS, Steel Valley

*Austin Dambach, Sr., CF, Riverside

*Andre Good, Sr., OF, Steel Valley

*Turner Grau, Jr., SS, Avonworth

*Luke Robinson, So., INF/P, Waynesburg

*Ty Thellman, Sr., SS/P, Riverside

*Brandon Turcheck, Sr., C, Waynesburg

*Luke Virag, Jr., INF, Burrell

Class 2A

Preseason Top 5

Team (2017 record)

1. Serra Catholic (21-3) — After a run to the PIAA tournament, Serra Catholic returns several of its top players to challenge for a WPIAL title. The group features St. John's commit Mark Black, a sophomore catcher, as well as the senior Bowen twins — Ben and Zack. Also back is pitcher/shortstop Nate Piontka. All were all-section selections last season.

2. OLSH (16-6) — Defending Section 2 champion OLSH returns five starters after reaching the WPIAL semifinals a year ago. Back are senior pitcher/shortstop Patrick Brogan, a Cal (Pa.) recruit who hit .452 as a sophomore, and senior infielder/pitcher Scott Symons, who hit .432 last season. The Chargers have won section titles in four of the last six seasons.

3. Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic (12-10) — The Trojans return three all-section selections after reaching the WPIAL quarterfinals last season. The group includes senior pitcher Joe Alampi (3.46 ERA), and senior infielders Luc Madonna and Dan Lynch (.388). Lynch also had a 2.41 ERA in more than 20 innings last season.

4. California (20-3) — California swept to the Section 1 title at 14-0 and then claimed a WPIAL championship with a 3-1 win over Freedom. The Trojans, however, return just three starters — senior pitchers Brandon Powell and Richie Stimmel and outfielder Brandan Sheehan.

5. Freedom (16-6) — Freedom advanced to the WPIAL championship game for the first time last season before falling in 10 innings to California. Junior infielder Noah Henderson returns after batting .420 with 32 RBIs.

Players to watch

*Matt Barrish, Jr., P, Carmichaels

*Mark Black, So., C, Serra Catholic

*Ben Bowen, Sr., OF, Serra Catholic

*Zack Bowen, Sr., OF, Serra Catholic

*J.D. Celaschi, Sr., OF, Frazier

*Noah Henderson, Jr., P/3B, Freedom

*Dan Lynch, Sr., SS, CW North Catholic

*Luc Madonna, Sr., 3B, CW North Catholic

*Nate Piontka, Sr., P/SS, Serra Catholic

Class A

Preseason Top 5

Team (2017 record)

1. Vincentian Academy (12-6) — The 2017 Section 1 co-champion Royals have five starters back, led by senior UConn recruit Kyler Fedko at shortstop. Senior pitcher Aidan Thomson also returns after an all-section campaign.

2. Jeannette (15-7) — The Jayhawks claimed the first WPIAL title in program history a year ago, but will have to adjust to graduation losses on the mound and behind the plate. They will be led by pitcher/infielder Tre Cunningham and pitcher/catcher Zander Malik. Also back are Drake Petrillo and Tyler Elliott in the infield and Seth Howard and Alex Vickers on the mound. Elliott and Howard were all-section selections last season.

3. Greensburg C.C. (14-6) — Seven starters return for the 2017 WPIAL runners-up, including senior shortstop James Rice, a Mt. Aloysius recruit, and Anthony Cavallo, a senior pitcher who had a 1.63 ERA and hit .480 in the playoffs. Also back is senior infielder Nick Ruggeri, who had 17 stolen bases.

4. Sewickley Academy (11-6) — Sewickley Academy reached the WPIAL quarterfinals last season after finishing second in Section 3. Though all-section picks Derrick Littlefield and Joe Straka graduated, the Panthers return sophomore infielder/catcher Dimitri Gary (.362) and junior infielder John DelVecchio (.306) to bolster the lineup. DelVecchio and junior Cole Karlik return to the mound.

5. Rochester (11-7) — The Rams won the Section 3 title a year ago and return five starters from that team, including outfielder Jullien Doran and third baseman Kadin Mersing.

Players to watch

*Tre Cunningham, Sr., P/3B, Jeannette

*Tyler Elliott, Sr., SS, Jeannette

*Kyler Fedko, Sr., INF, Vincentian Academy

*Cory Fleming, Sr., P, Monessen

*Seth Howard, Jr., P/OF, Jeannette

*Zach Pettit, Sr., OF, West Greene

*Seth Pinkerton, Jr., OF, Union

*Antonio Rhome, Sr., INF, Monessen

*Dylan Rush, Sr., SS, Mapletown

*James Rice, Sr., SS, Greensburg C.C.

Bill Hartlep is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bhartlep@tribweb.com.

Tags: Avonworth, Blackhawk, Brownsville, Burrell, Canon-McMillan, Hampton, Hopewell, Knoch, Latrobe, Mars, Moon, Mt. lebanon, North Allegheny, Norwin, Pine-Richland, Ringgold, Riverside, South Park, Steel Valley, West Allegheny