Bethel Park looks to maintain winning baseball tradition
The quest for a third straight PIAA title begins in earnest this week for Bethel Park High School baseball team.
After mounting a 2-3 exhibition record during spring training, the Black Hawks open Class 5A Section 2 action at 7 p.m. April 3 against Upper St. Clair at Boyce Mayview Park. BP then hosts the Panthers at 4 p.m. April 4 at Purkey Field before taking on South Fayette in a back-to-back, away-and-home series at 4 p.m. April 11 and 12.
USC was the WPIAL Class 6A runner-up last season before moving down to Class 5A.
South Fayette, which boasts South Carolina recruit Tyler Pitzer and Duke commit Chase Krewson as well as heavy hitters such as Michael DiMartini and Christian Brandi, lost to the Black Hawks, 3-2, in the quarterfinals of last year’s WPIAL tournament.
“USC and South Fayette have a ton of talent as does Peters Township, Trinity and Connellsville. Our section will be extremely difficult but also very fun as a result,” said BP manager Patrick Zehnder. “Whoever makes it out of this section will be battle tested and playoff ready.
“Our goals and expectations though are the same as every year. Win section, WPIAL, and state championships.”
While winning district banners has been a challenge for the Black Hawks – they lost in the 2021 finals and in the 2022 semifinals before regrouping – state wins have not. BP has won back-to-back PIAA championships.
“The expectation of success for Bethel Park baseball has been established long before these kids or coaches were a part of the program,” said Zehnder, who is in his fourth season at the helm. “Players and coaches of the past have helped raise the bar to such a high level, and the recent teams have been able to continue to raise the bar to a championship level.”
Zehnder noted that not winning at the WPIAL level still lights a fire under the team, and while there is that unfinished business, the pressure to succeed is an honor and a privilege.
“It helps us maintain the intent and sense of urgency in practice to continue to improve throughout the season,” he said.
“The importance of great culture and player leadership along with camaraderie and selflessness by all players in the program helps prepare us for the year ahead. From starters to role players, everyone has to buy in and understand that their roles are all extremely important. The steady leadership and example the captains and seniors have set over the past few years has been amazing to watch. Players enjoying and supporting the success of others even more than their own is as difficult to maintain as it is impressive.”
BP has all those ingredients to succeed this spring as they return six starters and boast 14 seniors on the roster along with talented juniors, sophomores and freshmen, who contributed to last year’s squad.
The Black Hawks, like South Fayette, return a seasoned, 1-2 punch on the mound in Kent State commit Evan Holewinski and College of Charleston recruit Nathan Vargo.
Holewinski was 10-0 last spring with a 0.60 ERA. He tossed a three-hitter in the PIAA title game. He also batted .417.
This spring, Holewinski combined with Sebastian Schein for a two-hit shutout in an eight-inning win against Canon-McMillan, 1-0. He had three hits and an RBI in a 6-3 loss over Seneca Valley, which is ranked No. 1 in Class 6A. He was 3-for-5 with four RBI and a home run in a 10-inning victory against Pine-Richland.
Vargo was 3-3 last year with a 3.01 ERA and a .278 average.
“We are so fortunate to have a 1a/1b punch in Holewinski and Vargo. They work so hard in practice and are also great leaders of the team,” Zehnder said.
“It also can take pressure off of the offense when they know they have such talented and poised competitors on the mound. They will continue to improve and hone their craft on the mound, while also balancing larger offensive roles this year.”
Mercyhurst recruits John Chalus and Ray Altmeyer will be relied on for more offense as BP attempts to fill the voids on the left side of the diamond caused by the graduation of third baseman Cody Geddes and shortstop David Kessler. Chalus is a three-year starter behind the plate. He batted .333 and drove in 15 runs last season.
“John is one of the most underrated players in the WPIAL,” Zehnder said. “He is the best defensive catcher I have ever seen at this level, and has one of the highest levels of character and work ethic you will see.
“To have him as our backstop for three straight years solidifying one of the most important positions on the field has been amazing. He will continue to put in great work defensively and offensively. It is scary to think that his best baseball is still ahead of him.”
Altmeyer batted .351 and drove in 20 runs last season as BP’s designated hitter. This spring, he earned a starting spot in the outfield.
“Ray has worked extremely hard to improve his defensive abilities, and was good enough to play outfield last season if not for talented defensive seniors ahead of him,” Zehnder said. “He will be an extremely important bat this year, and his leadership will be as important — if not more — than any on field performance by him.”
Jason Nuttridge, who started in right field on the 2021 state championship club but was riddled with injuries in 2022, and Ryan Petras, a sophomore who started in center field last season, are versatile veterans that can play infield positions as well for the Black Hawks.
Ryan Walsh, like Petras, was a freshman contributor on last year’s state winner. His appearances may be limited this season due to injuries and the surgery he had during the wrestling season. Though just a sophomore, Walsh is a Penn State commit. He may be able to return before the end of the season.
“We are going to be extra careful with his progress,” Zehnder said. “He has a lot of good years of baseball ahead of him in high school and beyond, and we will not jeopardize that by hurrying him back this year.”
Seniors Lucas Lybarger and Coby Goelz are anxious to make contributions and Zehnder expects them to play more important offensive roles than the ones they played as big-time pinch hitters for the Black Hawks last spring. Additionally, Evan LeJeune and Jack Edner give BP pitching depth along with Schein.
BP will also rely upon Gianni Magnotti, Noah LeJeune, Dylan Schumacher, Kevin Sharp, Nicholas Gasper, Nicholas Calano. Michael Bruckner, Joshua Clunan, Jack Bruckner, Ethan Standoff, Santino Diulus and Dylan Paul in its quest for repeated success this spring.
“We are doing a lot of line-up experiment to fill holes but we have great options,” said Zehnder.
“We expect our veterans to lead the way in how we interact with each other, how we practice and how we approach game days. They have seen what it takes to be champions; it is a 24/7 commitment, and not easy to maintain! The competitive stamina they have shown is impressive, and that will continue to be tested this year.
“We know we are going to get everyone’s best shot as a result of the recent success, so if there is any extra needed motivation, that will also help us maintain the standard of practice and competition that has been established over the past two years.”