2026 WPIAL Class 3A baseball preseason breakdown

By: Don Rebel
Wednesday, March 11, 2026 | 12:51 AM

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It was a golden run for Riverside in 2025 as the Panthers swept district and state gold in Class 3A.

But is their run of domination over for now?

Strange to see a preseason ranking this decade without Riverside mentioned.

The Panthers also swept WPIAL and PIAA titles in 2023.

You can’t count out the legendary Dan Oliastro as the 82-year-old returns for his 58th season as head coach at Riverside.

In 2025, Olistro and the Panthers relied on pitching, winning 21 of 23 games and only allowing three runs in their last seven district and state playoff games.

Leading the historic charge was Zach Hare. The senior threw an incredible 34 innings of no-hit ball in the postseason, including a perfect game in the WPIAL championship game victory over Quaker Valley.

Here is a rundown of the 2026 preseason top 5 teams, some players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class 3A baseball.

Preseason Top 5

1. Avonworth (18-4)

Avonworth, the 2024 champion, was in the hunt for more gold last spring. It beat out South Park by a game to win the Section 2-3A crown. But after averaging over eight runs per game during the regular season, the offense went south in the postseason. The Antelopes edged Keystone Oaks in the first round, 1-0, but then saw their season end when they were blanked in the quarterfinals by Quaker Valley, 1-0. The ‘Lopes bring back three seniors who have played a big role in the program’s success the last few years: infielder Jack Dolan (Denison), outfielder Cooper Scharding (Seton Hill) and pitcher Carson Franc (W&J).

2. South Park (17-8)

They were first and second in Section 2-3A last spring and now Avonworth and South Park are No. 1 and 2 in the Class 3A preseason rankings. The Eagles program continues to improve, including a seven-game winning streak last season. However, like everybody else in the state, South Park could not beat Riverside, losing in the WPIAL and PIAA semifinals to the Panthers. Among the senior veterans returning for another run at a title are infielder/pitcher Cooper Hochendoner (Slippery Rock), infielder/pitcher Robert Lenzi, catcher Ryan Spitznagel (W&J) and outfielder/infielder Austin Hays (Bethany).

3. Ellwood City (15-6)

Ellwood City is in a tie with five other schools for the fourth-most WPIAL baseball championships won with five. However, it has been a while since the dear old Lincoln High program has been able to raise diamond gold. The Wolverines’ last district title was 14 years ago. Since them, EC has had to take a backseat to rival Riverside as the Panthers have captured four championships since 2012. The Wolverines finished in second place behind Riverside in Section 1-3A last year and return four key players, including senior infielder/pitcher Aaron Lake, senior catcher Jordan Keller, junior outfielder Maykel Cuevas and senior infielder/pitcher Nathan Kennedy.

4. Seton LaSalle (10-7)

Fielding a young team in 2025, Seton LaSalle finished in a tie for second place with Charleroi in Section 4-3A. The Rebels got a taste of the postseason, falling to Ellwood City in the first round. Now with experience, the Rebels hope to go back to the future thanks to “new” coach Shawn Trainor, who is now in his fourth stint as the green and gold’s head coach. Also returning are senior outfielder Connor Rothhaar (Fairmont State), senior pitchers Mike Cerjrowski (PennWest-California) and Anthony LoCastro (Pitt-Greensburg), senior infielder Roman LoNero and junior infielder Josh Burkholder.

5. Mohawk (13-12)

Consistency is a desired trait by any program, but especially one Mohawk coach Nick Maiorano would love to see come late May. Two years ago, the Warriors were the Class 3A No. 2 seed and were stunned in the first round by East Allegheny. Last year, as a No. 11 seed, they won two playoff games before falling to Quaker Valley in the semifinals. Back for the last of his high school highlights is five-sport star Bobby Fadden, who will help the Warriors in both the infield and on the mound. Two other seniors with strong resumes returning are infielders/pitchers Vinny Pezzuolo and Briar Crawford.

Players to watch

Aaron Lake, Sr., INF-P, Ellwood City

Jordan Keller, Sr., C, Ellwood City

Maykel Cuevas, Jr., OF, Ellwood City

Nathan Kennedy, Sr., INF-P, Ellwood City

Bobby Fadden, Sr., INF-P, Mohawk

Vinny Pezzuolo, Sr., INF-P, Mohawk

Briar Crawford, Sr., INF-P, Mohawk

Nicholas Bohenek, Sr., P, Riverside

Todd Kagle, Sr., INF, Quaker Valley

Jack Dolan, Sr., INF, Avonworth

Carson Franc, Sr., INF-P, Avonworth

Cooper Scharding, Sr., OF, Avonworth

Case Latore, Sr., C-INF, Avonworth

Cooper Hochendoner, Sr., OF-P, South Park

Robert Lenzi, Sr., INF-P, South Park

Ryan Spitznagel, Sr., C, South Park

Aiden Hays, Sr., OF-INF, South Park

Adam Jackowski, Sr.,INF- P, South Allegheny

Caleb Jackowski, Sr., OF, South Allegheny

David Dillon, Jr., OF, Shady Side Academy

Sam McComb, Jr., INF-C, Shady Side Academy

Kason Barker, Sr., C, Freeport

Gavin Tola, Jr., INF, Freeport

Luke Whitfield, Jr., INF, Freeport

Jake Williams, Jr., INF-P, Yough

John Steban, Jr., INF, Yough

Nathaniel Bell, Sr., INF-P, Yough

Brayden Mell, Sr., P, Burrell

Trey Coury, Jr., OF, Burrell

Dane Firmstone, Sr., INF, Mt. Pleasant

Santino Marne, Sr., OF, Mt. Pleasant

Jordan Grieff, Sr., INF-P, Mt. Pleasant

Austin Harr, Sr., OF-P, Ligonier Valley

Jacob Petalino, Sr., INF-P, Ligonier Valley

Miles Smith, Jr., UTIL-P, Ligonier Valley

Brenden Geho, Sr., OF, Southmoreland

Andrew Connelly, Jr., P, Deer Lakes

Connor Rothhaar, Sr., OF, Seton LaSalle

Mike Cerjrowski, Sr., P, Seton LaSalle

Anthony LoCastro, Sr., R, Seton LaSalle

Roman LoNero, Sr., INF, Seton LaSalle

Josh Burkholder, Jr., INF, Seton LaSalle

Brock Henderson, Sr., OF, Charleroi

Logan Usher, Sr., P, Charleroi

Nate Rohe, Sr., DH-P, Keystone Oaks

Brady McDine, Jr., OF, Keystone Oaks

C.J. Corwin, Sr., OF, Waynesburg Central

Austin Surber, Sr., P, Waynesburg Central

Caleb Patton, Sr., INF, Washington

Ayvari Chandler, Jr., OF-P, Washington

Sam Stout, Sr., C, McGuffey

Diamond notes

• Twenty years ago, Pine-Richland was wrapping up a WPIAL Class 3A three-peat, winning WPIAL titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006. That was followed up by West Allegheny winning back to back crowns in 2007 and 2008. However, that has been the end of the repeat performances in 3A baseball. Riverside will try to break that drought as it tries to repeat for the second time in three years.

• A year after having not one single co-section champion in the 3A four sections, Section 3-3A took sharing a section championship to the extreme in 2025. Somehow, someway, five teams finished tied for first place for the very rare quintuple section champions. Freeport, Burrell, Mt. Pleasant, Ligonier Valley and Deer Lakes all finished with 8-4 section records, proving their section indeed was balanced. Only Yough (2-10) and Southmoreland (0-12) did not receive a section championship plaque. In the 3A 18-team playoff bracket, Deer Lakes got the No. 6 seed, Burrell was No. 7, Ligonier Valley No. 10, Mt. Pleasant No. 12 and Freeport No. 13.

• In the last two years, the WPIAL Class 3A championship game has been must see. Two years ago was the famous 14-inning marathon with Avonworth outlasting Riverside, then last spring, Riverside senior pitcher Zach Hare continued his historic no-hit record by not only no-hitting Quaker Valley, but throwing what is believed to be the first perfect game in district baseball championship history.

• Riverside captured its second PIAA Class 3A championship in the last three years. The last district teams to win state gold in 3A prior to 2023 was when Knoch beat Abington Heights to win the 2015 PIAA 3A championship.

• Besides the top 5 teams to watch listed above, other teams that could make some diamond noise in 2026 include the two finalists from a year ago, Riverside and Quaker Valley from Section 1, Shady Side Academy and South Allegheny in Section 2, Keystone Oaks and Charleroi from Section 4 and after last year, each and every team from Section 3.

• Some WPIAL Class 3A championship anniversaries being celebrated this season:

One-hundred years ago, McKees Rocks won the 1926 WPIAL championship with only one district classification

Fifty years ago, Elizabeth Forward captured the lone WPIAL baseball crown in 1976, beating Springdale at Three Rivers Stadium, 4-3.

Forty years ago, Connellsville outslugged Mt. Pleasant to win the 1986 Class 3A crown, 13-11.

Thirty years ago, North Allegheny captured the third of its nine district crowns by winning 3A gold in 1996.

Twenty-five years ago, Franklin Regional outlasted Mt. Lebanon in eight innings, 9-8. It was the first WPIAL title game played at newly opened PNC Park.

Twenty years ago, Pine-Richland captured the third of three straight WPIAL titles with wild win over Hampton, 6-5, to win the 3A championship in 2006.

Ten years ago, No. 8 seed Chartiers Valley upset No. 3 Blackhawk to win the 2016 Class 3A title game, 4-3. It was the final championship in the four classification era.

Five years ago, in the first 3A championship game in two years following the cancellation of the 2020 season, Hopewell defeated South Park in a 3A thriller, 6-5, to win 2021 district gold.

2026 Alignment

Section 1: Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Mohawk, Quaker Valley, Riverside, Sto-Rox

Section 2: Avonworth, East Allegheny, Shady Side Academy, South Allegheny, South Park, Steel Valley

Section 3: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Yough

Section 4: Brownsville, Charleroi, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, Seton LaSalle, Washington, Waynesburg Central