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Chartiers Valley’s Horew leads list of baseball all-stars

By Eleanor Bailey 16 min read
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Chartiers Valley captured its first WPIAL title to highlight the baseball season. As a result, the Colts lead The Almanac’s Diamond Dozen list for 2016.

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Cole Horew delivers a pitch to the plate during WPIAL championship action. The Chartiers Valley ace earned Almanac MVP honors for the past baseball season. The senior struck out seven and scattered seven hits in recording his seventh win of the season during the district final.

Cole Horew lets his actions and other people do the talking for him.

After he fired a 1-0 shutout over nine innings against scholastic baseball power Bethel Park, the performance prompted comment from manager Tony Fisher: “Cole was the best pitcher we saw all year.” The Hawks had won the Section 5-AAAA title and competed in the playoffs in the district’s highest division.

Meanwhile, Horew hurled Chartiers Valley to its first-ever WPIAL baseball title. On the mound, he rolled up a 7-1 record, complete with 52 strikeouts in 58 innings. The recent graduate struck out seven and scattered seven hits in the championship game, picking up a 4-3 victory against Blackhawk.

Pitching is not all Horew does. He draws praise from other managers, particularly section opponents, for his fielding and hitting. Those talents enabled the Colts to post a 16-8 record that included a runner-up showing in Section 3-AAA and a PIAA playoff appearance.

”Cole possesses many strong areas of a game,” said South Fayette coach Ken Morgan. “He deals extremely well on the mound. He pitched a gem against us. Cole also is a factor in the outfield where his arm controls the running game very well. He is a force at the plate and is difficult to pitch to with great success.”

Horew, who will play at Point Park next season, batted .351 for the Colts. He drove in 18 runs and scored 16.

“For the combination of reasons I stated,” said Morgan, “Cole would have to be nominated as the MVP that we participated against.”

The Almanac agreed, as Cole headlines this year’s Diamond Dozen list as Most Valuable Player.

CV, CM lead list

With their magical playoff run, it comes as no surprise that Horew and his Colts dominated the conversation and selection for postseason accolades for baseball. So did Canon-McMillan. The two area schools boast four selections, as well as the top pick for Coach of the Year laurels.

After finishing in a three-way tie for second place in Section 3, the Colts went on a tear and captured the first WPIAL baseball title in school history. They edged perennial power Blackhawk, 4-3, in the Class AAA championship game earlier this month at Consol Energy Park in Washington. The Colts finished 16-8 overall.

The Big Macs mounted a late-season rally that vaulted them to the semifinals in the Quad-A playoffs. Canon-Mac, which won nine of its last 12 games, finished 14-9 overall after losing a bid to compete in the PIAA tournament, falling 3-1, to Hempfield in the district third-place consolation contest. Canon-Mac finished 14-9 overall.

Dante Panucci from CV, along with Tanner Piechnick and Zach Rohaley from Canon-Mac, spearhead the Diamond Dozen list as position players.

Panucci had a sensational season, particulary at the plate, to rival Horew’s year. The first baseman ranked among the batting leaders in the WPIAL with a .507 average. He drove in 18 runs and scored as many. He drilled 18 doubles and socked three home runs.

“Dante carried our team most of the year,” said Jim Jaskowski, who has been named Almanac Coach of the Year for guiding the Colts to the WPIAL championship.

In his first year at the helm, Tim Brudewicz gave Jaskowski a run for his money. Brudewicz managed the Big Macs and coached a slew of talented players, including Piechnick and Rohaley, who both earned first-team Section 5-AAAA recognition.

A senior, Piechnick dominated the backstop. He threw out 90 percent of the runners attempting to steal a base. In addition, he batted .431 with a team-high 19 RBIs. Piechnick will continue his playing career at Ohio University.

Piecknick drew high praise from opposing managers. “He was really good,” said Lebo manager Patt McCloskey.

“One of the best players that we faced,” echoed Peters coach Joe Maize. “He is difficult to run again and he does a nice job offensively.”

A sophomore, Rohaley is the future of Big Mac baseball.

On the mound, he won seven of his first nine decisions and finished 7-4 overall. He struck out 75 batters and owned a 1.59 ERA. He spearheaded C-M’s upset win against No. 2 Pine-Richland. In the 5-1 victory, he struck out six.

At the plate, Rohaley batted .306. He socked five game-winning hits, including a bases-loaded double in a 14-inning win against Peters Township.

BC’s team player

Team means everything to Sam Smallhoover. That is why he volunteered to take over the catching duties at Bishop Canevin when the team’s other two players were lost to injuries.

Behind the plate, Smallhoover gunned down six of seven would-be base thieves. On the mound, he mounted a 4-1 record in leading the Crusaders to the quarterfinals of the WPIAL playoffs. He struck out 41 batters and maintained a 0.51 ERA.

In guiding the Crusaders to a Section 5-A runner-up showing, Smallhoover also carried a big stick. He batted .319 with 15 runs scored and eight RBI. On the base paths, he succeeded in stealing all 10 of the bases he attempted.

PT duo shines

Tor Sehnert and Alex Mundy were two key players for Peters Township. They helped the Indians finish runner-up to Bethel Park in the section and reach the quartefinals in the WPIAL Quad-A playoffs. Both garnered all-section acclaim for leading the Indians through a 13-8 campaign.

A junior, Sehnert is committed to Coastal Carolina, which has reached the finals in the NCAA Division I College World Series. The centerfielder led the WPIAL in home runs with eight. He batted .450 with 29 RBI and 24 runs scored. In addition to his roundtrippers, he tagged three triples and drilled three doubles. He maintained a .527 on-base average and a 1.0000 slugging percentage. Defensively, he had 27 putouts and 26 assists while committing just one error. He was not caught stealing, swiping 10 bases.

Meanwhile, Mundy followed Sehnert with a .420 batting average. He smacked a team-high seven doubles and walked 13 times for an on-base percentage of .512. He drove in 17 runs and scored 19. Defensively at shorstop, he had 61 assists and help turn 13 double plays.

“Tor and Alex were two of our leaders in almost every offensive and defensive category,” said manager Joe Maize. “Alex did an outstanding job as our leadoff hitter as he set the tone offensively, and Tor just cleaned the bases. These players face the toughest competition day in and day out, and their performances far exceed the competition that other players face in other sections and divisions.”

Jenkins stars

Nobody has faced the competition Eddie Jenkins has. A three-sport standout – he excelled at quarterback on the football team and point guard on the basketball squad – Jenkins gained all-star recognition for the second straight season at shortstop. The recent Mt. Lebanon graduate, who is bound for the University of Pennsylvania, also earned all-section honors.

Offensively, he batted .367 and maintained a .500 on-base percentage, with nine doubles and a triple. A team captain, he scored 18 runs and swiped 10 bases.

“Eddie carried us both offensively and defensively,” said Lebo manager Patt McCloskey. “He batted at the top of our line-up and was the catalyst for our offense. He anchored our infield, having the best defensive season that I have ever seen one of my players have. His leadership also was critical to our success. We are really going to miss him.”

Four complete list

Bethel Park, Upper St. Clair, Seton-La Salle and Keystone Oaks are also going to miss their senior leaders, as Bo Williams, Andrew Wheeler, Nico Popa and Nick Riggle have completed their scholastic careers. They round out the Almanac Diamond Dozen list.

Bethel Park captured the Section 5-AAAA title with a 9-3 record and returned to the WPIAL playoffs because of Williams. The senior captained the Hawks to a 14-7 season.

“Bo was a key component to our success in both performance and leadership,” said manager Tony Fisher. “He grinded hard in silence and permitted his success on the field to be his roar.”

Williams certainly dominated Quad-A baseball. He ranked ninth with a batting average of .450 and tied for second with four home runs. Voted to the section all-star squad’s first team, Williams owned a .519 on-base percentage and a .902 slugging average with 10 extra-base hits, including a roundtripper at PNC Park. The right fielder, who claimed Pro Grass Player of the Month laurels, will continue his playing career at Slippery Rock University.

Meanwhile, Wheeler takes his talents to George Washington University. A three-year starter and four-year letterwinner, the recent USC graduate ranked as one of the area’s aces, posting a 4-1 record, complete with a no-hitter and a 1.98 ERA. An all-section performer, Wheeler also ranked as a top hitter in the WPIAL with a .424 batting average.

Another four-year varsity starter, Popa is bound for the Univesity of Pittsburgh. He excelled on the mound for the Rebels, who finished third in Section 4-AA and advanced to the WPIAL playoffs. Popa posted a 5-2 record with a 2.60 ERA.

A standout at shorstop, Popa also ranked among the hitting leaders with a .426 batting average. He smacked four doubles, clubbed three triples and drove in 13 runs. He scored 27 times.

“He was our team leader,” said SLS skipper Shawn Trainor. “He plays every game hard. He has a great work ethic.”

Riggle is another of those team leaders, as he guided Keystone Oaks to a section title, a third-place finish in the WPIAL and a PIAA berth. He posted a 6-3 record on the mound, complete with a 2.52 ERA. He struck out 58 in 59 innings. At the plate, Riggle batted .486 with 27 runs scored and 13 RBI.

“I think Nick was one of the best players in AA and in this area,” said Keystone Oaks manager Scott Crimone. “He goes down as the player that has been on the team for the most wins in KO baseball history.” Riggle had been a four-year varsity starter for the Golden Eagles.

Lebo has ROTY

Having lost 16 seniors, Mt. Lebanon started anew this baseball season, and plenty of new faces stepped in and stepped up for the Blue Devils.

No one made a bigger impact than Ethan Cuccarese. The sophomore started at third base, batted .322, scored 11 runs and swiped all six of the bases that he attempted to steal.

“Ethan had a tremendous year for us as a young first-year varsity player,” said Patt McCloskey. “He started every game at third base and batted second in our lineup. There was a lot of pressure put on our defense this year, and time and time again Ethan bailed us out with great plays. Offensively, he had a very solid year and was extremely productive in critical situations late in games.”

For his efforts, Cuccarese has been named Almanac Rookie of the Year.

Honorable mention

Among the players to earn honorable mention status included:

• Colin Loughman, Zack Straub, Rob Morosetti, Jeremy Lazzeri, Tylar Shoemaker from Bethel Park. Except for Shoemaker, all are juniors.

Loughman batted .274 with 13 runs scored. He swiped eight bases and recorded four saves on the mound for the Black Hawks. His forte, however, was his glove. At shortstop, he pieced together a 15-game errorless streak. “Colin is one of the slickest infielders in the area,” said manager Tony Fisher.

A southpaw, Staub maintained a 2.48 ERA. He chalked up wins against Peters Township, Baldwin and Upper St. Clair to assure the Hawks a section championship.

A third baseman, Morosetti batted .308 with 11 RBI. He drilled six doubles.

A second baseman, Lazzeri batted .313 with 14 RBI. He scored 13 runs.

Shoemaker played left field and pitched for the Hawks. He owned a .403 on-base percentage and scored 12 runs.

• Tyler Lampus, Austin Liebro and Justin Dix from Bishop Canevin.

Lampus batted .400 with 15 runs scored. He drove in eight and swiped five bases.

Liebro batted .358 with 11 RBI and 14 runs. He stole two bases.

A pitcher and catcher, Dix recorded 30 strikeouts on the moun. He batted .304 with 10 RBI and six runs scored.

• Tyler Wormsley from Chartiers-Houston. He batted .309 and swiped 11 bases in helping the Buccaneers to a Section 3-AA runner-up showing and a post-season playoff berth. Char-Houston finished the year at 14-6 overall.

• Brad Gulakowski from Chartiers Valley. This shortstop batted .371 with two home runs, including a two-run shot in the WPIAL final. He drove in 17 runs and scored 20 times for the Colts.

• Connor Coleman, Ian Hess, Nick Serafino, Matt Mish from Canon-McMillan.

An all-section performer, Coleman batted .313 with 18 runs scored. He started at shortstop. “Connor played great defense for us,” said Brudewicz.

A sophomore, Hess batted .377 with 15 RBI and seven extra base hits. He started at first base for the Big Macs.

A senior third baseman, Mish batted .380, while Serafino, a sophomore centerfielder, batted .414.

• Ryan Roell, Sephen Kazalas-Kelley, Dylan Procopio from Keystone Oaks. All were seniors.

While Roell batted .476 with 34 RBI, Kazalas-Kelley batted .441 with 19 RBI. Kazalas-Kelley was, according to his coach, “the best catcher in AA.” Procopio batted .383 with 13 RBI and 11 runs scored.

• David Abbondanza, Joey Lowen, Bridge Dudley, Pat Mahon from Mt. Lebanon.

A first baseman, Abbondanza batted .333 and led Lebo with 20 RBI. “He had an excellent debut season,” said Patt McCloskey.

Lowen came on strong, particularly during the second half of the season, pitching well down the stretch against section rivals, Bethel Park and Upper St. Clair. He finished 3-1 with a 1.74 ERA. Offensively, he consistently delivered in key situations, said McCloskey.

According to McCloskey, Dudley was the “glue” that held the Blue Devils together. “While we don’t have stats to illustrate this, he saved an innumerable number of runs with his defense this year. If it wasn’t for what he did behind the plate, there’s no way we would have made the playoffs. He was the unheralded star of our team, and was everything you want a senior to be.”

Mahon batted fourth in the lineup and maintained a .446 on-base percentage. “Pat was a real role model to all the players in our program,” McCloskey said. “He excelled at everything we asked him to do. He started in both left field and at second base, playing very good defense at both.”

• Eric Riotto and Matt Waigand from Peters Township. While Riotto doubled as a pitcher and a third baseman for the Indians, Waigand played first base.

On the mound, Riotto was 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA. He struck out 37 batters in 47 innings. At the plate, Riotto batted .320 with 14 RBI. He clubbed four doubles, two triples and one home run. “Eric was our go-to-guy on the mound,” said Joe Maize. “He did an outstanding job, particularly in our first-round playoff win (1-0 against Fox Chapel).”

While Riotto was a second-team all-section performer, Waigand gained all-section, first-team distinction as a designated hitter. He batted .359 with three doubles and a triple. He drove in seven and scored 12 runs. Defensively, he committed just two errors and owned a .981 fielding percentage.

• Andrew Lease, Jimmy Wheeler, Jared Capozza from Seton-La Salle.

A catcher, Lease batted .410 with 18 runs, 19 RBI and two home runs. “He was a strong kid that hit to all fields,” Trainor said.

A junior infielder, Wheeler batted .450 with 14 RBI. “He was our most improved player from last year.”

A junior infielder, Capozza batted .416 with 12 RBI. “He was very consistent both in the field and at the plate,” Trainor said.

• Tristan Tinney and Spencer Barber from South Fayette.

A pitcher and outfielder Tinney batted .322 with 14 doubles, three triples and two homers. He drove in nine and scored 12 runs. On the mound, he was 5-1 with 52 strikeouts and a 2.719 ERA.

“Tristan was the anchor of our team’s rotation,” said SF manager Ken Morgan. “He brings maturity on the mound and no spot is too big for him. He shows the ability to bring good velocity while mixing in off speed pitches to keep batters off balance. We look for him to improve even more through the offseason, in particularly, gaining velocity and improving his accuracy.

“At the plate Tristan is a force. There is no good way to work him at the plate, and any ball he puts in the gap, he has the opportunity to stretch for an extra-base with his elite speed. We look for him to continue to grow as a hitter, use both sides of the field and to continue changing games when he is on the basepaths.”

A second baseman, Barber batted .314 with eight doubles, five triples and a home run. He drove in 12 runs and scored 14.

“Spencer is a special player in that he was by far our biggest power threat but he lacks intimidating physical size,” Morgan said. “Spencer is gifted with tremendous hands and is able to maneuver the bat threw the zone with great speed. Spencer rose to the occasion this season, when he was moved to the leadoff role. He was able to work great counts, which allowed the batter behind him to see a good amount of pitches before their at bats. He possesses great maturity, and he will certainly be successful in college and throughout his life.”

Barber will attend Duquesne University. He plans to become a dentist.

• Dom Cepullio, Jason Ferrie, Matt Colton, Ronaldo DelDuca, Adam Baltutat from Upper St. Clair.

A sophomore, Cepullio batted .508 with five doubles. “He is an exceptional athlete,” said manager Jerry Malarkey. “He’s a very good defensive outfielder and one of top hitters in WPIAL.”

A shortstop, Ferrie batted .364 with 11 RBI. Malarkey described the two-year starter as “very smooth defensively” and added he has a “strong arm and quick release.”

A first baseman, Colton batted .276 with three homers and 15 RBI.

A junior second baseman, DelDuca batted .277. He is a two-year starter.

A three-year letterwinner, Baltutat proved a “solid defensive catcher” for the Panthers and a “consistent hitter.” He batted .286.

Players to watch

Among the players to watch are:

• Justin Meis from Bethel Park. The sophomore posted a 5-0 record, complete with two saves and maintained a 1.10 ERA. In 32 innings of work, he struck out 38 batters.

• Brian DeSchon and Ryan Eisenbeis from Bishop Canevin. DeSchon maintained a 1.75 ERA on the mound. Offensively, he struck out only five times, drove in seven, scored 10 runs and swiped five bases. Eisenbeis was 2-0 as a pitcher.

• Konnor Corchado from Chartiers Valley. The sophomore batted .338 with 20 RBI and 17 runs scored. He tripled to drive in the tying run in the WPIAL final and scored the game-winning tally against Blackhawk.

• Cam Walker and Cam Weston from Canon-McMillan. A freshman who played “great defense” at second base, Walker batted .400 with 15 runs scored, while Weston was a freshman hurler. “He pitched lights out during the end of the season and throughout the playoffs,” Brudewicz said.

• Jerry Volpe from Keystone Oaks. A sophomore, he posted a 4-2 record on the mound and owned a 2.83 ERA.

• Richie Dell from South Fayette. He batted .316 with 10 RBI and eight runs scored.

• Dylan Winseck from Upper St. Clair. A junior, he owned a 2.50 ERA with 20 strikeouts.

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