After early struggles, Carlynton baseball chases playoff berth

By: Nathan Smith
Thursday, May 2, 2019 | 4:22 PM

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It was a rough start for the Carlynton baseball team.

The Cougars started the season 1-6, getting outscored 74-21 during the stretch.

But Carlynton weathered the storm. The team bounced back in Section 4-2A play. Now, with a 5-3 section mark, the Cougars are on the prowl for a WPIAL playoff berth.

“We played a really demanding schedule early on,” Carlynton coach Frank Zebrasky said. “We wanted to play competition that could replicate the top teams in our section like (Our Lady of the Sacred Heart) and Avonworth. We wanted an exhibition season that helped us grow and get better each day.”

The Cougars entered the final stretch of the season 5-8 overall.

A four-game section winning streak saw Carlynton play some of its best baseball of the season. The team outscored opponents 40-6 with three shutouts.

“It was a key week,” Zebrasky said. “We have a bunch of kids learning positions that they may not have been comfortable in. That stretch helped give us confidence. It is nice to see that growth and excitement playing good baseball generates.”

Senior Dan Schultz and junior Chauncie Mickens lead the team’s pitching staff. Schultz played several positions in his first three seasons with the Cougars. He has an ERA of 3.05 with 23 strikeouts.

Mickens pitched at various points as an underclassman and has a 2.33 ERA with 25 strikeouts.

“They are capable of winning games any time they are on the mound,” Zebrasky said. “Dan put the time in during the summer to be able to pitch for us this season. Teams need to fight when those two are pitching.”

The staff has built depth with some younger arms. Junior Mark Phillips and sophomore Cade Chauvet have pitched quality innings. Freshman Tim Smith has cracked the rotation.

The rest of the field has been a work in progress. Junior James Lukasewicz typically has been a third baseman but moved to the outfield. Chauvet and sophomore Anthony Devite have split time at first.

Having the players learn several positions has Zebrasky excited for the future of the program.

“It is great to see them grow and mature,” Zebrasky said. “They will continue to get more mature and stronger. I try to tell them to trust the process and believe in themselves.”

The Cougars’ hitting continues to improve. Smith has a .476 average with 10 hits and three RBIs in 10 appearances. Chauvet leads the teams the team with 16 hits. The sophomore has scored nine runs with eight RBIs.

Junior Evan Staker has only six hits but leads the team in RBIs with 13.

A WPIAL playoff berth would be a major opportunity for Carlynton. The Cougars haven’t made the playoffs in three straight seasons in more than 20 years.

“The kids know the guys in front of them built something,” Zebrasky said. “Make the postseason is the ultimate goal. We know we have a couple of kids who give us an opportunity. It will give us an opportunity to develop some of the other kids.”

Tags: Carlynton