2026 WPIAL Class 4A baseball preseason breakdown

By: Don Rebel
Tuesday, March 10, 2026 | 12:40 AM

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From start to finish, there was no movement atop the WPIAL Class 4A baseball rankings last season.

Indiana was the preseason favorite, remained ranked No. 1 throughout the regular season, and then after finishing with silver in both the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs a year earlier, captured the program’s first district and state championships in crazy fashion.

The Little Indians earned their gold.

Indiana needed nine innings to knock off Ambridge in the 4A quarterfinals, and then defeated Elizabeth Forward in the WPIAL title game in 11 innings, 4-2.

They worked even more overtime in the state playoffs, beating Bellefonte in the opening round in 12 innings, then in the longest PIAA playoff game in history, they outlasted East Pennsboro in a 17 inning, two-day marathon, 6-5.

Here is a rundown of the 2026 preseason top 5 teams, some players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class 4A baseball.

Preseason Top 5

1. Indiana (26-1 last season)

Indiana enjoyed a dream season a year ago, winning both the WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A championships a year after settling for silver in both. Its only blemish was a nonsection loss to Connellsville. Dan Petroff has helped turned Indiana into a baseball power in a short time, and the success should continue despite the loss of key contributors from a year ago. The Little Indians return six starters form the 2025 campaign, including senior third baseman and pitcher Charlie Manzi, a Seton Hill commit. Two other senior leaders with college commits include first baseman and pitcher Sully VanHoose, who is headed to West Chester, and catcher and pitcher Ethan Shank, who will play down the road at IUP.

2. Blackhawk (10-8)

Blackhawk enjoyed another strong regular season last spring, finishing as co-champions in Section 1-4A with Beaver. But the playoffs have been unpredictable for the Cougars the last two years. In 2024, they were a No. 16 seed and stunned top-seeded Belle Vernon in the first round. Last year, they were the No. 6 seed and were upset by Ringgold. Another strong group returns to Chippewa Park led by senior pitcher and infielder Carter Davis, a Pitt commit. Two other standout seniors are outfielder-pitcher Logan Elich and catcher Grant Lansberry.

3. Ambridge (9-11)

So much for having momentum heading into the postseason. Last season, Ambridge lost its final three Section 1-4A games and its final five games overall heading into the playoffs. In the first round, the Bridgers blanked Knoch, 5-0, then they almost upset eventual champion Indiana in the quarterfinals, losing in nine innings, 1-0. There are high hopes for the Bridgers this season thanks to the arms of junior Joseph Leseiko and senior Cody Hetrick, a Pitt-Greensburg commit.

4. Central Valley (14-12)

Central Valley finished in third place in Section 1-4A in 2025, one game behind Beaver and Blackhawk at the top of the section. The Warriors won more than one game in a row only once during the regular season when they had a modest three-game winning streak from April into May. CV got hot in the playoffs, though, beating Greensburg Salem and West Mifflin to reach the district semifinals, where it fell to Elizabeth Forward. The Warriors won their consolation game and stunned Cathedral Prep in the first round of the state playoff before falling to eventual winner Indiana. Back for Central Valley is senior infielder Nate Angelo, a Charleston commit, senior outfielder Jake Hunter, a Seton Hill commit, and junior infielder Blake Heater

5. West Mifflin (15-6)

The players come and go but the aggressive style of ball brought to the program by Jeff Kuzma and staff continues to keep West Mifflin a contender. Last year, the Titans were co-champions with district runner-up Elizabeth Forward in Section 2-4A before falling in the first round to Central Valley. Leading West Mifflin this season are first team all-section infielder Chase Maggio and senior pitcher and utility player Caden Wills.

Players to watch

Charles Smetana, Sr., C, Hopewell (South Carolina-Sumter)

Ben McDonald, Sr., OF, Hopewell

Kingston Krotec, Sr., P, Hopewell

Carter Davis, Sr., INF-P, Blackhawk (Pitt)

Logan Elich, Sr., OF-P, Blackhawk

Grant Lansberry, Sr., C, Blackhawk

Nate Angelo, Sr., INF, Central Valley (Charleston, WV)

Blake Heater, Jr., INF, Central Valley

Jake Hunter, Sr., OF, Central Valley (Seton Hill)

Owen Beatrice, Sr., INF, North Catholic

Timmy Joos, Sr., INF-P, North Catholic (South Carolina-Sumpter)

Matt Madonna, So., C, North Catholic

Joseph Leseiko, Jr., P, Ambridge

Cody Hetrick, Sr., INF-P, Ambridge (Pitt-Greensburg)

Maddox Tanner, Sr., INF, Beaver (W&J)

Gavin Angotti, Sr., INF, Ringgold

Anthony Koziel, Sr., P, Ringgold

Chase Maggio,Sr., INF, West Mifflin

Caden Wills, Sr., UTIL-P, West Mifflin

Connor Bergman, Sr., INF, Belle Vernon

J.B. Crovak, Sr., OF, Elizabeth Forward (Cal (Pa.))

Jack Crovak, Soph., INF-P, Elizabeth Forward

Noah Lion, Jr., INF-OF-P, Laurel Highlands

Ethan Shank, Sr., C, Indiana

Charlie Manzi, Sr., INF-P, Indiana (Seton Hill)

Sully Van Hoose, Sr., P, Indiana (West Chester)

Julian Danko, Jr., UTIL-P, Valley

Nikolas Heakins, Sr., OF-P, Valley (Seton Hill)

Dom Dunkel, Jr., OF-P, Valley

Cason Long, Sr., INF, Derry

Anthony Sacco, Jr., C, Derry

Zane Pacek, Sr., P, Knoch (Central Michigan)

Kaden Dreher, Sr., OF, Knoch

Robert Visnick, Sr., INF, Greensburg Salem

Brody Chismar, Jr., OF-P, Greensburg Salem

Diamond notes

• This is the 21st season of Class 4A baseball, and if history means anything, the odds are not in favor of Indiana repeating as WPIAL champions. In the 20 previous seasons, only two teams have been able to win back-to-back district crowns in 4A: Peters Township in 2007-2008 and Seneca Valley in 2011-2012.

• A year after losing in both the WPIAL and PIAA championship games, Indiana once again qualified for both title games and turned silver into gold by winning district and state titles. New Castle won PIAA gold in 2021 and Montour won a state championship in 2022. The other three 4A PIAA winners from District 7 were Seneca Valley in 2007, Canon-McMillan in 2008 and Ringgold in 2018.

• Class 4A has been a picture of balance when it comes to WPIAL championships. In the eight years since expansion to six classifications in 2017, the WPIAL has had eight different teams win Class 4A district crowns. The parade of 4A WPIAL champs in the six classification era are Blackhawk (2017), South Fayette (2018), Beaver (2019), New Castle (2021), West Mifflin (2022), Hopewell (2023), North Catholic (2024) and Indiana last spring. There was no baseball season in 2020 due to the covid shutdown.

• There are plenty of teams expected to contend for section titles and playoff berths in a deep three-section classification. Last year’s runner-up, Elizabeth Forward, and Ringgold from Section 2-4A are teams to watch. Section 1-4A is loaded with three teams in the preseason top 5, with Beaver, Hopewell, North Catholic and Hampton, with new coach Brian Junker, all expected to be in the postseason chase. Section 3-4A is also deep with Knoch, Valley, Greensburg Salem and Derry challenging Indiana for the top spot.

• Some WPIAL Class 4A championship anniversaries being celebrated this season include:

Mt. Lebanon rolled past Norwin in the 4A finals 20 years ago to win the second WPIAL Quad-A championship in 2006.

Seneca Valley won the first of back-to-back crowns 15 years ago when the Raiders crushed Peters Township in the 2011 title game, 15-4.

In the final year with 4A as the highest classification, Norwin upended Plum 10 years ago in the 2016 4A championship game, 7-3.

Lawrence County was in party mode as three baseball teams from the northern part of the league won WPIAL titles five years ago. Joining Union from Class A and Shenango from 2A in the district winners circle was New Castle after the Red Hurricanes stormed past Montour in the 2021 finals, 5-0, for the school’s one and only baseball crown.

Alignment

Section 1: Ambridge, Beaver, Blackhawk, Central Valley, Hampton, Hopewell, North Catholic

Section 2: Albert Gallatin, Belle Vernon, Elizabeth Forward, Laurel Highlands, Ringgold, Uniontown, West Mifflin

Section 3: Derry, Greensburg Salem, Highlands, Indiana, Knoch, Valley