close

Seton-La Salle headlines Diamond Dozen list

By Eleanor Bailey 7 min read
1 / 2

Seton-La Salle finished as the WPIAL runner-up, ranking the showing the highlight of the 2014 baseball season in the South Hills area.

2 / 2

Steel Valley celebrates while Liam Sweeney hangs his head after Seton-La Salle lost its bid for a WPIAL baseball title. Despite the defeat, the Rebels advanced the farthest out of any local team this spring.

Though the WPIAL did not dominate the baseball scene this spring, failing to advance any team to the PIAA championships, Seton-La Salle managed to wage a successful campaign in 2014. In dramatic fashion, the Rebels proved giant slayers as they made their way to the district finals. SLS toppled higher-seeded squads such as No. 1 Neshannock and Deer Lakes in extra-inning, 3-2, affairs before succumbing to Steel Valley, 6-5. With two out and trailing by three runs, the Ironmen roared back to win the Class AA championship.

After a short-lived state tournament showing, the Rebels finished the season with a 15-7 overall record. They were 10-4 in section. Hence, it comes as no surprise that Seton-La Salle dominates this year’s Diamond Dozen list.

Shawn Trainor, along with David Doehme, and Matt Wilke, headline the list, which was compiled by surveying the area coaches and consulting statistical information provided. For guiding the Rebels to the finals, Trainor garnered Almanac Coach of the Year laurels while Boehme and Wilke comprise the list of the top 12 players in the area. Both are seniors. Additionally, Liam Sweeney and Nico Popa were designated as Rookies of the Year. Both were sophomore varsity starters.

An infielder, Boehme ranked among the Top 12 hitters in the WPIAL during the regular season. In addition to a .528 batting average, he led the squad in RBI. Boehme scored 18 runs. He socked three doubles and three homers.

An all-section selection, he maintained a 17-game hitting streak during the regular season. His post-season honors included a spot in the Western Pennsylvania Coaches’ Association all-star game, where he gained MVP laurels for his hitting. Boehme plans to play baseball at the next level for Penn State-Behrend.

A shortstop, Wilke also ranked as one of the team’s top hitters with a better-than .470 average and over 20 runs scored and more than 16 RBI. He cranked out four doubles. He is bound for Ohio University this fall.

“David and Matt provided us with strong leadership,” said Trainor. “They helped lay a strong foundation.”

For years, Mt. Lebanon, Canon-McMillan, and Peters Township provided the foundation for Quad-A teams to follow as each had reached the PIAA finals on a regular basis during the late 1990s and through the new millennium. While the clubs continued to be competitive, none advanced farther than the quarterfinals of this year’s district playoffs.

That, however, did not mean there were not quality players on those squads. There were and two each represent those schools on the Diamond Dozen list.

From Mt. Lebanon are: Zach Bahm and Austin Kitchen. Under the guidance of Patt McCloskey, the Blue Devils compiled a 12-10 record and claimed the Section 5 title with an 8-2 slate.

An all-section and WPCA all-star, Bahm led Lebo with a .443 batting average and .534 on-base percentage. The senior first baseman smacked six doubles, drove in 14 and scored 18 runs. As a pitcher, he racked up two wins and two saves.

“Zach was the most consistent hitter,” said McCloskey. “He batted third in our line-up from start to finish. He consistently got hits and either scored or drove in big runs. Plus, he was an effective pitcher.”

Kitchen was the ace on the mound, however. He compiled a 6-1 record with one save. In 42 innings, he fanned 61 batters and maintained a 1.07 ERA. Opponents batted .158 against him. At the plate, the junior batted .380 with seven doubles and one homer. He drove in 18 runs.

“Austin was the best pitcher I have seen this year,” McCloskey said. “He dominated in every game. He was asked to pitch against the toughest teams. As a hitter, he provided a great deal of offense in the middle of the order. He had some of the most clutch RBI of our season.”

Peters Township followed Lebo in the section standings, posting a 7-3 mark. Overall the Indians finished 14-7, falling to Pine-Richland, 5-4, in the playoffs.

Phil Pisarcik and Tyler Schmidt led the way, offensively and defensively. Both earned first-team all-section honors and competed in the WPCA’s all-star game. Both also were three-year letter winners for the Indians.

A senior captain, Pisarcik batted .354 with 11 RBI and 13 runs scored. With nine walks, the second baseman’s on-base percentage swelled to .455.

As a pitcher, Schmidt compiled a 3-0 record, complete with 34 strikeouts and a 1.18 ERA. Defensively, at third baseman, he committed no errors. He made nine putouts and gathered up 25 assists. At the plate, Schmidt batted .308 and had a .387 on-base percentage.

Canon-McMillan, which won a state championship in 2008, finished third in the section behind Lebo and PT with a 6-4 record. Overall, the Big Macs posted a 13-6 mark after falling to Moon, 5-3, in the quarterfinals of the playoffs.

Teagan Piechnick and Jared Beach led the charge for the Big Macs. A senior centerfielder, Piechnick batted .522 with a .620 on-base percentage. He drilled six doubles, tagged four triples and smashed seven home runs. The Rider University recruit drove in 26 and scored 36 runs.

A junior, Beach played right field for the Big Macs. He batted .485 with a .548 on-base percentage. He led the team with 35 RBI and scored 18 runs. Of his extra-base hits, five went for doubles, eight for triples and four over the fence.

Chartiers Valley breezed through the regular season. The Colts claimed the Section 3-AAA banner with an undefeated mark of 10-0. They finished 16-4 overall after their district championship bid ended in a 4-2 loss to rival West Allegheny in the quarterfinals of the WPIAL tournament.

Josh Lapiana and Dominic Castello provided the 1-2 punch on the mound and at the plate.

Lapiana compiled a 7-1 mark with one save. In 53 innings, he struck out 76 and walked 15. He owned a 1.02 ERA. Offensively, the Colts’ clean-up hitter batted .500 with six doubles. He drove in nine runs and scored 15 times.

Castello batted .417 with 15 RBI and 10 runs. He clubbed four doubles and one triple. On the mound, the senior posted a 6-1 slate. He struck out 44 and walked four in 35 innings. He maintained a 1.42 ERA. A multi-purpose player, Castello caught and was also used as a designated hitter for the Colts.

Ben Haus of Upper St. Clair and Tyler Godwin from South Fayette complete the Diamond Dozen list.

A senior bound for VMI, Haus ranked among the hitting leaders in the WPIAL. He helped the Panthers to a 10-8 record by batting 516, fourth best among Quad-A players. The team captain owned a .600 on-base percentage and a .677 slugging percentage. A two-year starter, he earned all-section honors. Haus also led the squad with a team-high 19 RBI.

Godwin completed his fourth year as a starter for the Lions. The senior led SF to a runner-up showing behind CV in Section 3-AAA and a 10-9 overall mark. An all-section and WPCA performer, Godwin batted .439 with a team-high 28 RBI. He scored 21 runs and tagged one roundtripper.

Liam Sweeney and Nico Popa gained Almanac Rookie of the Year honors. Both were varsity starters as sophomores at vital positions for Seton-La Salle. Sweeney caught for the Rebels while Popa owned the hot corner at third base. Both batted well over .400. In addition to driving in 14 runs during the regular season, Popa maintained a high slugging percentage thanks to three homers, three doubles and two triples. Sweeney drove in 22 runs. He drilled five doubles and clubbed two homers.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today