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Pittsburgh Miners complete successful second season

By Eleanor Bailey 3 min read

In their second year of existence and first year as members of the Western Pennsylvania Elite Baseball League, the Pittsburgh Miners reached the Final Four of the playoffs.

After posting a 14-11 record and placing third in the league during the regular season, the Miners reached the semifinals, where they lost to eventual champions, the Steel City Wildcats, in a best-of-three series. Though the Wildcats swept them, 4-1, and 6-0, the Miners excelled in their playoff match-up against the Sportszone Lookouts.

Behind Logan Corrigan’s six-inning effort on the mound, the Miners won the first outing versus the Sportszone, 4-1. Dakota Forsyth’s two-run homer with two out in the fifth frame snapped a 2-2 deadlocked and propelled the Miners to victory, 7-2, in the second fray. David Lemley and Joe Zufall combined for the win on the mound.

“Last year, we played all of the teams in the league,” said Tony Fisher, who managed the Miners along with Carl Nordstrom. “The league felt that we were a strong program and therefore they voted us in for membership beginning in 2013.

“This league is very competitive from top to bottom and it allows our players to face quality competition every game. It also provides exposure for our players.”

Because of past play in the league, Lemley and Corey Lazor gained the attention of college coaches. A third baseman that batted .392 with 17 RBIs this season, Lemley will play baseball at Otterbein. An all-section outfielder in high school, Lazor will play baseball for La Roche. He batted .350 this summer for the Miners.

Lemley and Lazor are among the number of players on the club that hail from Bethel Park.

Corrigan, who will play baseball at James Madison, and Forsyth were all-state performers for the Bethel Park High School baseball team, which is managed by Fisher. As a pitcher, Corrigan posted a 5-2 record for the Miners. The southpaw owned a 1.88 ERA. A first baseman when not on the mound, Corrigan batted .431 with 22 RBI for the Miners.

An all-section shortstop, Forsyth anchored the Miners’ defense at that position. He batted .304.

Another top player from Bethel Park for the Miners was Joe Zufall. A left fielder and pitcher, he batted .320 while going 4-2 on the mound with a pair of saves and a 3.04 ERA. The rising junior also was selected to the Keystone State Games.

Other Bethel Park players, who contributed to the club included: Matt Nolan, Mitch Nordstrom and Tyler Shoemaker. Luke Hahey, Tyler Grashoff, Connor Nave and Zack Forsyth were “call-up players” listed on the roster but who played for other teams said Fisher.

Robert Klinchock spearheaded Mt. Lebanon’s contingent of players on the roster, which also included Joe Stabile. The rising junior posted a 3-1 record on the mound. The pitcher owned a 1.90 ERA this summer.

The Miners also benefited from the play of Christian Hirt, Chris Eisel and Connor McWilliams. A rising senior at Baldwin, Hirt led the team with 20 stolen bases. A rising senior at Brentwood, McWilliams started every game at catcher for the Miners. Only a freshman, Eisel excelled in right field. “He played like an 18-year-old and he has the potential to be a good college baseball player,” Fisher predicted.

Additionally, Noah Lolley aided the Miners.

“We had a good year,” Fisher said. “We improved. That’s the goal. For all of the players to get better, whether it be preparing seniors for college baseball or underclassmen seeking to improve themselves for the future,” Fisher added.

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