Slow but steady is Lebo’s pace
Blue Devils build up for baseball surge
Mt. Lebanon notoriously is a slow starter in baseball. In fact, the Blue Devils started 0-8 in the past two years only to recover to claim back-to-back district championships.
In 2024, the Blue Devils are off to a so-so start.
Lebo edged arch rival Upper St. Clair, 4-3, but dropped a 10-3 decision to Shaler, which won the WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A titles last spring.
Plus, Lebo has begun the season without their pitching ace. Kevin Shields is sidelined with mononucleosis.
“We do not yet know when he will be able to return,” said Lebo manager Patt McCloskey.
The loss of Shields is a blow. The southpaw was 6-2 last year with a 0.94 ERA and a school-record 106 strikeouts in 67 2/3 innings. Shields also hurled a no-hitter in the WPIAL championship win, 4-0, against North Allegheny last May.
A Miami recruit, Shields, who reclassified as a senior this year so as to be eligible for Major League Baseball’s amateur draft this summer, also is a starter in Lebo’s outfield. He batted .338 last spring.
The Blue Devils return four other starters from last year’s 16-11 club that finished runner-up in the state. They are all infielders, giving Lebo strength on defense.
Nate Girod anchors the unit at shortstop. Brett Hamel returns at second base and Jake Tinnemeyer handles the hot corner at third base. Nolan Smith is the catcher. He also has experience on the mound, having started last spring.
In addition to Shields, Weston Airey and Danny Clevenger are experienced outfielders.
Airey gives Lebo additional strength on the mound. Other aces include Caleb Weidnman and Chase Smith while Maddox Yost spells Nolan Smith behind the plate when he is pitching for the Blue Devils.
Freshman Graham Keen is already filling the void at first base. He smacked a three-run homer in the loss to Shaler. He also socked a two-run round-tripper against USC.
In the seventh inning of that win, Tinnemeyer singled to drive home Frank Taucher with the tying tally. Tinnemeyer, who moved to third on a single by Airey, scored the game-winning run on Nolan Smith’s walk-off single.
“We have some players with some experience with both winning and losing from last year,” McCloskey said. “The seniors have provided great leadership so far and Graham has been hitting a ton. It’s early on in the season and at this point we are working on everything and still trying to figure things out.”
McCloskey hopes to be prepared for the section opener this week. The Blue Devils host Canon-McMillan at 4;15 p.m. April 3. The three-game, home-and-away series continues April 4 and 5. Section 2 also features Central Catholic, Norwin, Baldwin and Hempfield.
“The section is very good,” McCloskey said. “Any one of the six teams could win the section. There will be two good teams that do not qualify for the playoffs.”
Regardless, Lebo’s expectations for the season remain optimistic.
“It’s the same as every year. Fight through a brutal 15 game section season that features five 3-game series,” McCloskey said. “We want to qualify for the playoffs and be playing at our best when the playoffs arrive.
“That’s the one thing I have learned throughout my years of coaching. Just try to get in the playoffs,” he continued. “If you do that, you have a chance.”