Baldwin baseball improves, falls short of playoffs

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, May 18, 2018 | 11:00 PM

The Baldwin baseball team displayed improvement in the season's second half, but couldn't overcome a tough start in the first month.

The Highlanders, who started 0-4 and 1-8, went 5-3 down the home stretch to end up 6-11 overall.

“This season was honestly disappointing in a number of ways,” second-year coach Rocky Plassio said. “Our record obviously wasn't what we had hoped for. We got off to a bad start, and in such a shortened season due to weather and other factors in regards to scheduling, it makes things difficult when you fall behind early in the standings.

“The frustrating part is that we were able to win some good games, including two wins over Mt. Lebo. We also lost a handful of close games to USC, Canon-Mac and Bethel Park; all three of those teams made the playoffs. The margin for error is so small in such a competitive conference like this one.”

Baldwin finished with a 4-8 record in Section 3-6A, as Bethel Park, at 11-1, won the section title, followed by Canon-McMillan at 9-3.

Upper St. Clair, Peters Township and Mt. Lebanon tied for third place with 6-6 records.

“We struggled to put together complete games in all phases on a consistent basis,” Plassio said. “Early in the season, our defense was a major issue. We then began to improve in that area, but our pitching would struggle. Then in games where both our pitching and defense were there, our offense lacked the timely hitting it needed.

“We would see signs of breaking through on all fronts, then only to revert back to one or more of those areas failing us at key times.”

Baldwin won three one-run games this season, against Mt. Lebanon (7-6), Allderdice (11-10) and Keystone Oaks (4-3), and dropped two one-run decisions, to Bethel Park (2-1) and USC (6-5).

The Highlanders were led offensively by junior outfielder Andy Sopato (.393), senior first baseman Kory Tierney (373), sophomore infielder Nick Dolan (.370) and senior infielder/pitcher Jake Monroe (.295).

Dolan, a two-sport athlete, and Tierney led the club in RBIs with 12 and 10; Tierney also slugged two home runs and scored a team-high 15 runs. Sopato scored 13 runs, and led the team in total hits.

“Although we fell short of our goal of making the playoffs, I believe the team worked hard this year,” said Dolan, who also competes in basketball at Baldwin. “Even though we are graduating 10 seniors, I think the underclassmen got valuable experience this year, and that should give us a good foundation to build on for next season.

“I had a positive year offensively and defensively, but I still have a lot that I can improve on to benefit my team.”

Tierney and Monroe were joined by seniors Jake Panchak (OF), Ray Luffy (C), Scott Meyer (OF), Pete Aul (OF), Jordan Rush (SS/2B), Caleb Giel (OF), Robert Wolfson (OF) and Jon Otto (P/DH) on this year's squad.

“We will miss the contributions and the camaraderie that those guys helped to foster on our team,” Plassio said. “It was unfortunate we fell short of our goals for that group, but as I told them, I hope they can feel like they are a part of something bigger in the sense that they were in the group that began to change things for the better for Baldwin baseball.”

Offensively, Baldwin accounted for 75 runs in 17 games, an average of 4.4 runs per game. The Highlanders were shut out twice, and logged one shutout.

Mason Stahl, a sophomore outfielder, led the team in stolen bases, with nine in 10 attempts.

“We obviously need to improve on all aspects of the game,” Plassio said. “Pitching is so key to a team's success, and we are in need of major improvements on that front. Hopefully, the experience gained on the mound this season will pay off for these guys next year. We return most of the key members of our pitching staff next season.”

Sopata, Dolan, juniors Harry DePetro and Aaron Exler and sophomore Bryce Chapla will make up the bulk of the pitching staff next year.

“While there may not be a true ‘ace' on that staff,” Plassio said, “I feel if those kids apply themselves during the offseason, we can be stronger overall as a staff in 2019.”

Sopata, Exler and junior outfielder Victor Silvestre are expected to return as starters next year. Plassio is counting on Dolan, Stahl and sophomore infielder Josh Dadig to also earn starting roles.

Ryan Butler, a junior catcher, and Noah Fischer, a sophomore outfielder, are expected to contribute, as well.

“(Our) expectations for next year are to make the playoffs; that is always the expectation,” Dolan said. “If we work hard in this offseason, I have no doubt that we can get there. The team can improve by working together, and mentally and physically preparing next year. I'm looking forward to a successful 2019 season.”

Plassio said the Highlanders will need to tweak their defensive effort in order to make a playoff run next season.

“Defensively, we have some holes to fill and a few spots that will hopefully be earned through some strong competition during the winter and early spring,” Plassio said. “Overall, our defense needs to improve significantly if we are going to contend for a playoff spot next season.

“We also need to improve our physical strength and mental toughness as a team to give us a better opportunity to compete at the level this conference demands.”

Plassio said the 2019 season will be an important one for the Baldwin baseball program. He is looking forward to the Highlanders making a stronger playoff push in the section despite losing 10 seniors to graduation from this year's club.

“Our goal is to make the playoffs and work to contend for a section championship,” Plassio said. “We have a long way to go, but we are still setting our goals and expectations high for this returning, and incoming, group of players.

“Next year will be a key season for us as a program and will help define a clear path to success in the years to come. We need to win more games and probably more importantly, we need to expect to win more games.”

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin