Burrell baseball team wants to build on PIAA appearance

By: Michael Love
Monday, March 17, 2025 | 4:59 PM

Purchase Photo Options

With March weather as unpredictable as it is, the Burrell baseball team rolled with the punches at the start of official preseason practices two weeks ago with workouts the first two days on the football field before practices in the gym at Charles Huston Middle School.

Warmer, dryer weather last week presented a solid opportunity for second-year coach Jay Miller and his Bucs players, who hope for another strong run in the WPIAL playoffs and a return to the PIAA tournament.

“Being outside on a regular basis makes it so much more enjoyable,” said Miller, whose team concluded last season with a 7-3 loss to District 10 champion Fairview in the first round of states at Mercyhurst University in Erie.

“You can see people throw the whole way across the diamond, get a ton of real reps and see that true growth and development.”

Burrell reached the state tournament last year for the first time since 2010. The Bucs, as the No. 14 seed, faced an uphill challenge to start the WPIAL playoffs, but they caught fire in the first round and took down No. 3 Mt. Pleasant, 6-2.

Then, in a Cinderella-type quarterfinal matchup reminiscent of what one could see later this week and weekend in the NCAA basketball tournament, Burrell upended No. 11 Neshannock, 1-0, behind a two-hit complete game from current senior Stevie Hasson.

The win over the Lancers clinched a spot in the PIAA playoffs, but the Bucs wanted more.

Heartbreak followed, however, as Burrell fell to No. 7 Avonworth, 2-1, in eight innings in the WPIAL semifinals.

Burrell finished with a 13-11 record, and despite seven seniors moving on because of graduation, a core of eight starers and major contributors are back to lead the way.

They include seniors in Hasson (pitcher, infield), Isaac Lacinski (pitcher, outfield) and Ryan Bates (middle infield); juniors Brayden Mell (pitcher, infield), Adam Wass (pitcher, outfield), Ryan Wass (pitcher, infield) and David Kleckner (catcher); and sophomore Trey Coury (infield, outfield).

“Last season was definitely enjoyable,” Miller said. “It was a great learning experience for us to build on for this year. It kind of sets the tone. This year, upperclassmen-wise, we should be at about 15. We saw that growth with the work in the offseason. They know what they want to get back to. They know, individually, the goals they want to set. If that is the first step, I am really excited to see what is the second step, the third step, the fourth step and beyond.”

Bates, who will play at Pitt-Greensburg, hopes this spring is a continuation of what the team was able to accomplish in last year’s postseason.

“We have a lot of experience back that knows what it takes to get the job done in big games,” he said. “We were so close to the WPIAL title game, and not a lot of teams in the WPIAL could say they played in the state playoffs.

“We had been going three to four days a week since October, and I think it’s going to play a major part in the season. People are going to see the results of the work we put in.”

Burrell finished runner-up to Valley last year in Section 3-3A. The Vikings and Bucs are no longer section rivals as Valley has moved up to Class 4A.

The baseball version of the Battle of the Bypass is scheduled for Wednesday at 4 p.m. at Valley. The exhibition contest also is the Bucs’ season opener.

Miller said he was excited to see his players test their mettle in a pair of scrimmages: at Armstrong on March 8 and last Thursday at home against Apollo-Ridge.

Burrell will rematch twice with Mt. Pleasant in their revamped section, again face rivals Freeport and Deer Lakes and do battle with Ligonier Valley, Southmoreland and Yough.

“It’s always good, tough games against Freeport and Deer Lakes,” Bates said.

“I like the new teams we’re playing with new faces to go up against. Of course, we know all about Mt. Pleasant. They have two really good pitchers. Our goal is to win the section, and I think we have the talent to do it.”

Miller graduated from Yough, so that home-and-home series, he said, will have extra meaning for him.

Hasson and Lacinski lead what Miller sees as a deep pitching staff. Lacinski started and went the distance against Avonworth. Hasson, who went 2-1 in the WPIAL playoffs, got the call against Fairview.

Lacinski joined the team last week after competing at the PIAA Class 2A wrestling championships March 6-8 in Hershey.

“The guys are itching to get the season going,” Miller said. “They want to be outside playing real games. The coaches are ready to see what the guys can do when they put the cleats on and go live.

“We have a challenging schedule, and the travel is something that will be different. But that only will better prepare us when it comes to playoff time, and we do have to take those hour-long bus rides to (North Allegheny), to Seneca Valley and to wherever else we might playing at that time.”

Michael Love is a TribLive reporter covering sports in the Alle-Kiski Valley and the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. A Clearfield native and a graduate of Westminster (Pa.), he joined the Trib in 2002 after spending five years at the Clearfield Progress. He can be reached at mlove@triblive.com.

Tags: Burrell