A-K Valley baseball preview: Leechburg baseball armed with strong nucleus
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Thursday, March 12, 2026 | 5:38 PM
Leechburg catcher Rocco Vigna helped the Blue Devils to their first section title in 22 years last season. (Chaz Palla | TribLive)
Leechburg senior catcher Rocco Vigna attended the Blue Devils’ school of baseball. When Vigna was in eighth grade, he was chosen by Leechburg coach Heath Shimer to be the team manager for the varsity team.
Vigna was there to count pitches, be on every foul ball and show energy in the dugout.
“It was a great opportunity to get to know the guys I would play with in high school,” Vigna said. “I felt like it helped me create a brotherhood.”
Leechburg, which won its first section title in 22 years last season, hopes Vigna’s return and a deep pitching staff can help the Blue Devils continue to move forward. The Blue Devils, who will open their season with a nonsection matchup Tuesday at Highlands, ended last year with a 6-3 loss to Carmichaels in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs and finished 15-4.
“I always take one eighth grader who will play baseball as a freshman to be team manager,” Shimer said. “I want them to see how I do things, so my whole incoming freshman class isn’t shellshocked for why I do things and how I do things. I teach phys ed, so I’ve known a majority of the kids since kindergarten and that helps.”
Vigna broke his finger sliding into home plate in late April and missed Leechburg’s stretch run last year. What Vigna learned from being team manager, and working with Blue Devil graduate Tommy Burke, was all the responsibilities that come with being behind the plate.
“Embracing the leadership role of the catcher is huge,” Vigna said. “You are the only person who can see the full field. It’s more than just calling pitches.”
Vigna originally was a utility player/infielder until he went to a camp where there were no catchers available to help pitchers warm up. He stepped in and learned the job.
It’s given Vigna an insight to what he thinks could be one of the top rotations in Class A. Juniors Mason Berino, Garrett Jones and Steven Senjan all bring something different to the mound for the Blue Devils.
“Mason is the hardest-throwing kid I’ve caught,” Vigna said. “Garrett is the most accurate pitcher I’ve caught. Steve will mix things up. He is funky and throws a lot of offspeed pitches. Balancing these guys will be hard. Teams won’t be able to get into a rhythm.”
Cam Shimer filled in for Vigna after he broke his finger last season and will return. The Blue Devils also figure to get contributions from sophomore middle infielder Dylan Whitlinger and freshman utility player Dylan Kapalka.
Heath Shimer, who took over the program in 2022, said he would like to lead the Blue Devils to a postseason win for the first time.
“I think the boys are excited to get back to work,” Heath Shimer said. “We need to get the monkey off our back. I need one postseason win to get two. We have our goals set for this year.”
Leechburg is one of many Alle-Kiski Valley teams with high hopes. Fox Chapel reached the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs last season and returns pitcher Blake Krushinski, who is a West Virginia recruit. The Foxes will also have Tristan Blum, a Kent State recruit, available to pitch.
Burrell, Deer Lakes and Freeport were a part of a five-way tie for first place in Section 3-3A last season along with Ligonier Valley and Mt. Pleasant.
Riverview placed third in the WPIAL in Class 2A last season. The Raiders lost in the first round of the PIAA playoffs to Mercyhurst Prep. Plum won the Section 1-5A title but were eliminated in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs by Mars.
Jaron Minford will take over as Valley’s coach for veteran coach Jim Basilone.
