2012 WPIAL Baseball Review and Preview

By: Bruce Markey
Thursday, March 22, 2012 | 2:27 PM

The first pitch will be fired Friday to open up the 2012 WPIAL baseball season. Seneca Valley, Elizabeth Forward, Riverside and Neshannock are ready to defend their district crowns while Riverside and Serra Catholic prepare to defend their PIAA state titles. 

2011 WPIAL BASEBALL REVIEW:

Here are the final WPIAL baseball standings for the 2011 regular season.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA

Section 1: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Seneca Valley Raiders : (9-3) (12-3)
*-Pine-Richland Rams : (8-4) (13-5)
*-Butler Golden Tornado : (8-4) (12-4)
*-Shaler Titans : (8-4) (12-7)
x-North Allegheny Tigers : (7-5) (14-5)
x-North Hills Indians : (2-10) (6-10)
x-Fox Chapel Foxes : (0-12) (3-17)

Section 2: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Norwin Knights :  (12-0) (16-0)
*-Latrobe Wildcats : (8-4) (9-8)
*-Hempfield Spartans : (7-5) (10-9)
*-Penn-Trafford Warriors : (7-5) (9-8)
x-Connellsville Falcons : (6-6) (8-7)
x-Albert Gallatin Colonials : (1-11) (4-14)
x-Laurel Highlands Mustangs : (1-11) (2-17)

Section 3: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Peters Township Indians : (11-0) (16-1)
*-Bethel Park Black Hawks : (9-3) (12-5)
*-Upper St. Clair Panthers : (8-4) (10-6)
x-Mount Lebanon Blue Devils : (6-6) (8-9)
x-Canon-McMillan Big Macs : (5-6) (9-7)
x-Baldwin Highlanders : (2-10) (3-13)
x-McKeesport Tigers : (0-12) (1-12)

Section 4: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Plum Mustangs : (10-2) (13-4)
#-Kiski Area Cavaliers : (10-2) (12-3)
*-Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings : (6-6) (8-8)
*-Penn Hills Indians : (6-6) (7-9)
x-Franklin Regional Panthers : (4-8) (7-11)
x-Woodland Hills Wolverines : (3-9) (5-14)
x-Gateway Gators : (3-9) (4-13)

WPIAL CLASS AAA:

Section 1: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Blackhawk Cougars : (12-2) (13-2)
*-Hopewell Vikings : (8-6) (12-8)
*-Central Valley Warriors : (8-6) (10-7)
*-Moon Tigers : (8-6) (10-7)
x-New Castle Red Hurricane : (6-8) (9-9-1)
x-Ambridge Bridgers : (5-8) (7-9)
x-West Allegheny Indians : (5-9) (7-9)
x-Beaver Bobcats : (3-10) (4-12)

Section 2: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Elizabeth Forward Warriors : (14-0) (18-0)
*-Greensburg-Salem Golden Lions : (10-4) (12-4)
*-Belle Vernon Leopards : (10-4) (11-8)
x-Mount Pleasant Vikings : (7-7) (8-8)
x-Ringgold Rams : (5-9) (7-10)
x-Derry Trojans : (5-9) (5-9)
x-Uniontown Red Raiders : (3-11) (7-11)
x-Yough Cougars : (2-12) (5-13)

Section 3: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Chartiers Valley Colts : (11-3) (14-4)
#-Montour Spartans : (11-3) (14-4)
*-Thomas Jefferson Jaguars : (10-4) (10-6)
x-Keystone Oaks Golden Eagles : (8-6) (10-6)
x-Trinity Hillers : (6-8) (6-8)
x-South Park Eagles : (5-9) (8-10)
x-West Mifflin Titans : (5-9) (7-12)
x-McGuffey Highlanders : (0-14) (0-17)

Section 4: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Mars Planets : (13-1) (14-1)
#-Hampton Talbots : (13-1) (14-3)
*-Indiana Little Indians : (7-7) (8-10)
x-Knoch Knights : (6-8) (7-12)
x-Kittanning Wildcats : (6-8) (6-9)
x-East Allegheny Wildcats : (5-9) (6-10)
x-Valley Vikings : (5-9) (6-10)
x-Highlands Golden Rams : (1-13) (1-15)

WPIAL CLASS AA

Section 1: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Carlynton Cougars : (11-3) (13-4)
*-Freedom Bulldogs : (10-4) (11-5)
*-South Fayette Lions : (10-4) (10-6)
x-Seton-LaSalle Rebels : (9-5) (10-5)
x-Bishop Canevin Crusaders : (8-6) (9-7)
x-Quaker Valley Quakers : (6-8) (7-8)
x-Sto-Rox Vikings : (1-13) (2-13)
x-Northgate Flames : (1-13) (1-14)

Section 2: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Waynesburg Raiders : (14-0) (15-1)
*-Frazier Commodores : (10-4) (12-5)
*-Washington Little Prexies : (9-5) (9-7)
x-Charleroi Cougars : (7-7) (8-8)
x-Brownsville Falcons : (7-7) (7-10)
x-Fort Cherry Rangers : (5-9) (5-10)
x-Burgettstown Blue Devils : (4-10) (4-13)
x-Southmoreland Scotties : (0-14) (0-18)
    
Section 3: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Deer Lakes Lancers : (11-1) (12-4)
*-Burrell Buccaneers : (10-2) (11-5)
*-Freeport Yellowjackets : (9-3) (11-4)
x-Ford City Sabers : (5-7) (7-7)
x-West Shamokin Wolves : (5-7) (5-10-1)
x-Apollo-Ridge Vikings : (2-10) (2-12)
x-Summit Academy Knights : (0-12) (0-14)

Section 4: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Shady Side Academy Indians : (13-1) (16-1)
*-Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions : (11-3) (12-4)
*-Steel Valley Ironmen : (10-4) (10-7)
x-Riverview Raiders : (9-5) (13-7)
x-Brentwood Spartans : (6-7) (8-7)
x-South Allegheny Gladiators : (3-10) (4-11)
x-Jeannette Jayhawks : (3-11) (4-12)
x-Wilkinsburg Tigers : (0-14) (0-14)
((Wilkinsburg forfeits season))

Section 5: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Laurel Spartans : (11-3) (13-3)
*-Riverside Panthers : (10-4) (12-5)
*-Mohawk Warriors : (10-4) (11-6)
x-Ellwood City Wolverines : (10-4) (15-5)
x-New Brighton Lions : (5-9) (6-11)
x-Shenango Wildcats : (4-10) (7-12)
x-Beaver Falls Tigers : (3-11) (4-13)
x-South Side Beaver Rams : (3-11) (3-14)
((Ellwood City loses tiebreaker to Riverside & Mohawk))
  
WPIAL CLASS A:

Section 1: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-California Trojans : (10-2) (15-3)
#-Beth-Center Bulldogs : (10-2) (12-3)
*-Carmichaels Mighty Mikes : (9-3) (10-5)
x-Jefferson-Morgan Rockets : (7-5) (8-6)
x-Geibel Gators : (4-8) (5-11) 
x-West Greene Pioneers : (2-10) (4-15)
x-Mapletown Maples : (0-12) (0-14)

Section 2: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Serra Catholic Eagles : (12-0) (15-1)
*-Bentworth Bearcats : (8-4) (10-4)
*-Chartiers-Houston Buccaneers : (7-5) (9-6)
x-Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers : (6-6) (7-8)
x-Avella Eagles : (5-7) (8-7)
x-Monessen Greyhounds : (4-8) (6-10)
x-Clairton Bears : (0-12) (0-14)

Section 3: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-Neshannock Lancers : (12-0) (18-1)
*-Rochester Rams : (9-3) (9-4)
*-Western Beaver Golden Beavers : (7-5) (8-6)
x-Quigley Spartans : (5-7) (7-8)
x-Union Scotties : (5-7) (5-9)
x-Cornell Raiders : (4-8) (6-10)
x-Aliquippa Quips : (0-12) (0-12)

Section 4: (Section Record) (Overall Record)
#-North Catholic Trojans : (11-3) (11-4)
*-Vincentian Academy Royals : (10-4) (11-6)
*-Avonworth Antelopes : (10-4) (10-5)
*-Leechburg Blue Devils : (10-4) (10-6)
x-Springdale Dynamos : (8-6) (10-6)
x-Sewickley Academy Panthers : (4-10) (4-11)
x-St. Joseph Spartans : (3-11) (3-12)
x-Elderton Bobcats : (0-14) (0-16)

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2012 WPIAL BASEBALL PREVIEW:

WPIAL CLASS AAAA
Defending champion: Seneca Valley
Teams to watch: Seneca Valley, Bethel Park, Norwin, Peters Township, North Allegheny, Pine-Richland, Kiski Area, Plum
The lowdown: Seneca Valley should be strong again, especially with the return of ace pitcher Matt Smith, who was 9-1 with a 1.89 ERA a year ago. The Raiders also have first baseman Austin Bream, the son of former Pirate Sid Bream. … Bethel Park has junior pitcher Logan Corrigan, who was 5-2 as a sophomore and also hit .439. … Some standout players graduated from always-strong Peters Township, but outfielder Andrew Erenberg is a top returnee. … Watch out for Norwin, which was 17-1 last season. Catcher Max McDowell, pitcher Nick Kubarney and third baseman Nick Kolat were all-section.  … Kiski Area has three returning all-section players.
Five to watch: Seneca Valley P Matt Smith; Norwin C Max McDowell; Shaler SS Ryan Mincher; Pine-Richland C Russell Clark; Bethel Park P Logan Corrigan.

WPIAL CLASS AAA
Defending champion: Elizabeth Forward
Teams to watch: Blackhawk, Montour, Chartiers Valley, Thomas Jefferson, Hampton, Hopewell, Greensburg Salem, Belle Vernon.
The lowdown: Elizabeth Forward had one of its best teams in decades last season, winning a WPIAL title. But the Warriors lost most of its team to graduation and aren’t expected to be nearly as strong. … Blackhawk seems to be a team many consider No. 1 heading into the season. Brendan McKay is a stellar sophomore pitcher who was 6-0 last season. At catcher, the Cougars have Ohio State recruit Matt Emge. … It will be strange at Hopewell because Joe Colella isn’t around. He coached the Vikings for more than four decades but passed away suddenly in the summer. Assistant coach Joe Rubino takes over. … Chartiers Valley could be strong with the return of all-section pitcher Bryan Leipold and talented shortstop Jake Horew. … Montour has a few all-section players returning. … Belle Vernon could be a sleeper team to watch. … Thomas Jefferson could make a lot of noise. A number of starters return from last year’s playoff team. Pitcher Greg Schneider is a Pitt recruit.
Five to watch: Blackhawk C Matt Emge; Blackhawk P-OF Brendan McKay; Thomas Jefferson pitcher Greg Schneider; Valley IF Zarley Zalewski; Hampton P John Arnold.

WPIAL CLASS AA
Defending champion: Riverside
Teams to watch: Waynesburg, Laurel, Shady Side Academy, Riverside, Bishop Canevin, Greensburg Central Catholic, Deer Lakes.
The lowdown: Waynesburg is strong enough to get to the WPIAL title game again – and win it this time. Steve McCaw is an outstanding catcher for Waynesburg. Also back are two all-section players – infielder-pitcher Joe Monica and center fielder Alex Swauger. … Shady Side Academy has do-it-all Ben Hartz, who hit .533 last year and was 5-2 pitching. Paul McCullough was an all-section infielder last season … Look out for Laurel, which returns third baseman Todd Fennick and shortstop Rick Jones. … Deer Lakes returns ace pitcher Joe Hoffman and could be a sleeper team.
Five to watch: Shady Side Academy P-OF Ben Hartz; Waynesburg C Steve McCaw; Waynesburg P-IF Joe Monica; Deer Lakes P Joe Hoffman;  Bishop Canevin OF Matt Zerishnek.

WPIAL CLASS A
Defending champion: Neshannock
Teams to watch: Neshannock, Serra, California, North Catholic, Chartiers-Houston, Springdale, Leechburg.
The lowdown: Neshannock has one of the WPIAL’s top players in outfielder John Sansone, a Florida State recruit who led the WPIAL in batting last season with a .661 average. Alex Strittmatter was a stellar pitcher for the Lancers a year ago and also returns. … Serra won the PIAA title. The Eagles have some returning starters, including senior pitcher Alain Girman, who has been a guaranteed win when he has pitched the past three seasons. His career record is 24-0. Serra also has Colton Joseph, who was an all-section infielder a year ago. … Watch out for California, led by pitcher-first baseman T.D. Conway, who made the MSA Sports Diamond Studs All-Star team as a junior. Also back is all-section outfielder Matt Bakewell.
Five to watch: Neshannock OF John Sansone; Serra P-OF Alain Girman; California P-1B T.D. Conway; Neshannock P Alex Strittmatter; North Catholic OF Jake Miller.