Yough baseball looking to build with young players
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Thursday, March 22, 2018 | 4:03 PM
It would be easy to think the Yough baseball team is building for the future.
But that future might not be to far away.
Yough coach Craig Spisak hopes it's sooner than later.
The Cougars finished 2017 with an 8-10 records and 5-9 mark in Section 1-4A behind playoff teams Knoch, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Derry and Greensburg Salem. In fact, the Cougars' win against Derry helped the Golden Lions qualify for the playoffs.
The Cougars graduated five players, including pitcher Ryan Everly; infielders Dom Charletta, Nate Roebuck and Dylan O'Rourke; and catcher/DH JJ Harris.
But they do return nine lettermen, including two-year starter Scott Houseman and left-handed pitcher Jarrett Bach, who was 4-3.
Four sophomores who lettered as freshman are among the returnees.
“We were a young team, a lot of first-year starters,” Spisak said. “We have four players who have gone on to college and are playing.
“Pitching we have Scott (Houseman) back along with Jarrett (Bach) and Dom (Koch), who played but couldn't pitch. We'll have some sophomores on the hill, too — Steve Manon, Nate Wilkins, Ray Halahurich and Mike Bell. This day and age you need at least six pitchers.”
The PIAA adopted a pitch count rule in 2017 and with teams playing, at times, three section games per week, coaches have to keep a close eye on players' pitch count to stay within the rules.
“We're going to have a young pitching staff,” Spisak said. “It's hard to tell how good we'll be. In the gym, we've looked good. Until we start throwing the ball around on the field against some else, then we'll see.”
Spisak said he will be counting on Houseman, Bach, Noah Manns, Koch and Jake Sever to carry the offense.
Yough has two seniors, five juniors and 13 sophomores.
“We have a lot of talent, especially in the younger kids,” Spisak said. “We just have to find the right pieces. We have some depth, like I told one of the umpires at the rules interpretation meeting, ‘You're a smarter coach when you have talent.'
“You coach the same way every year, but we're young, very young. It's the bulk of our team. It's time to see them grow up.”
Spisak said he hopes to see his team play well early in the season and gain confidence.
Yough is scheduled to open the season March 28 at Trinity. The Cougars also play Albert Gallatin and West Mifflin in nonsection games before opening section play at Deer Lakes on April 3.
“It's not as much if we win, although winning is the best way to gain confidence, but if we're playing well and building on that with a young team, that would be a good start,” Spisak said. “Potentially, we can shine during the second half of the season. We're young and I can't stress that enough. Hopefully, we can come around sooner than later.”
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
Tags: Yough
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