Decorated senior class moves on, but Bethel Park baseball expects to contend again

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Bethel Park has won two PIAA baseball championships and two WPIAL runner-up trophies over the last three years.

The Black Hawks were WPIAL finalists in 2023 but saw their two-year run as PIAA 5A champions end with a 2-1 playoff loss to Bonner-Pendergast out of District 12.

“We graduated 14 seniors, so there are many players that are untested but definitely talented,” Bethel Park coach Pat Zehnder said. “I fully expect us to continue to compete for section, district and state championships this year, but it will be done with a lot of new faces in new roles. We only have one returning hitter and pitcher that started the majority of the games last year.

“We had 30 to 40 players attend most offseason workouts, which will hopefully allow us to start strong against arguably the toughest schedule in the state before section play.”

Last year’s loss in the state tournament ended the outstanding career of Bethel Park senior Evan Holewinski, who finished with a 20-3 career record, 0.68 ERA and 158 strikeouts and 29 walks in 158 innings pitched.

Offensively, Holewinski hit .432 with 46 RBIs. He joined former Bethel Park teammate Eric Chalus at Kent State.

Bethel Park has a pair of Division I recruits this spring.

Junior infielder Ryan Petras is a Northwestern recruit, and junior pitcher Ryan Walsh is a Virginia Tech recruit.

Petras, a shortstop, hit .427 and stole 19 bases in 2023.

“He’s the only returning offensive starter that played the majority of games last year,” Zehnder said.

Joining Walsh on the mound will be senior P/OF Santino Diulus, a Seton Hill commit, and senior P/IF/OF Jack Bruckner, who is headed to Clarion.

“I expect Walsh will be one of the best arms in the WPIAL,” Zehnder said. “He was injured the first half of last year. Santino is the only returning pitcher that threw over eight innings last year.”

Another player looking to make an impact this season is sophomore pitcher/infielder Mike Bruckner.

“Mike started in some games toward the end of last year and into the playoffs,” Zehnder said. “He will have a major impact on the team this year.”

The Black Hawks’ veteran field boss also is looking for significant contributions from juniors Noah LeJeune (C/IF), Ethan Stanhoff (C/IF) and Dylan Schumacher (P/OF) and seniors Kaden Flambard (IF) and Ryan Tierney (OF).

Rounding out the roster are Isaac Wojton (IF), Randy Bergia (OF), Joey Levis (IF/OF), Ben Lentz (IF), Brian Bitkowski (OF), Owen White (P/IF), Nick Rillo (P/C/IF), Dylan Paul (P/IF), Aaron Hofbauer (OF) and Matthew Hughes (P/OF), the only left-hander on the pitching staff.

Diulus, Flambard, Tierney and Petras will serve as team captains.

Bethel Park took first place in Section 2-5A last season and finished 18-6 overall. The Black Hawks were ranked third behind Shaler and West Allegheny in the Trib HSSN WPIAL 5A preseason baseball rankings.

Along with Chalus and Holewinski, there are 17 former Bethel Park athletes continuing their baseball careers in college including Ray Altmeyer and John Chalus at Mercyhurst, David Kessler (IUP) and Jason Nuttridge (Cal. (Pa.)).

Tags: Bethel Park