After trip to finals, senior-led Norwin baseball ready for encore

By: Bill Beckner Jr.
Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 11:01 AM

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Norwin broke through and reached the WPIAL baseball championship game last season for the first time since 2016.

The Knights were edged by Seneca Valley, 1-0.

Fourth-year coach Craig Spisak expects Class 6A to be ultra-­competitive again and thinks the Knights should remain in the race.

“Although it was a tough loss, the experience of playing three playoff games can only help our team,” Spisak said. “We hope to compete against the top teams in 6A.”

Norwin, which went 14-9 and finished second in Section 2, a game behind Canon-McMillan, returns five starters, all seniors, in catcher Trevor Vitsas, third baseman Jake McKnight, second baseman Tristyn Tavares and pitcher/outfielders Caden Sivrich and Matt O’Neil.

Vitsas hit .406 with 12 RBIs, while Sivrich was 2-1 with a 0.83 ERA in 25 1/3 innings, and O’Neil was 2-1 with a 2.24 ERA.

Spisak said gaudy numbers are nice, but not the goal, for his players.

“This group is far more concerned about winning a game than any individual stats,” he said. “We have to fill the shoes of some important players that graduated. Two pitchers, Ethen Culbertson and Brayden Wardzinski, and several key hitters, Nate Silberman, Jake Sincak, Ben Geissler and Brayden Wardzin­ski.”

Other players looking to add depth to the lineup include — again, all seniors, sense a theme? — outfielders Derek Berger and Ryan Helphenstine, first basemen Liam O’Donnell and Jayden Marcius and pitchers Aiden Catterall and Jake Howard.

Once the slate of three-game series begin for section play, Spisak expects Canon-McMillan to be strong again with its top two pitchers back in MJ Marushak and Seb Shulsky.

“They have a lot of returning starters including Massimo Falconi, Troy Stimpson and Nico Patragas,” Spisak said. “Mt. Lebanon returns their best player, Graham Keen. Dane Barber is a very good player for them. Hempfield has talent and returns Owen Shuglie, Ian Kovalcik, Evan Dunlap and Chase Sikorski. It should be a very competitive section.

“There are a lot of great coaches and players (in 6A).”

It is obvious that Spisak did his homework.

“Butler has two top pitchers back, Nolan Stefaniak and Kyle Casteel, and Boden Lenyk and Mavrik Clement are excellent hitters and defensive players,” he said. “Seneca Valley has Ryan Rebholz back on the mound, along with position players Danny Drennan and Micah Olayer. North Allegheny is always very good. Christian Simons, JJ Mancuso and Nate Surman should provide offense for them. North Hills was young last year and was very competitive in the section, making the playoffs. I suspect they will be much improved. Central Catholic had an off year, but they always have talent.”

Spisak’s newest addition to his coaching staff is former Knights slugger Nick Fleming, who played at Division I Mount St. Mary’s.

Spisak and Fleming are both PIAA basketball referees and have worked games together.

Knights on the road

Due to Norwin’s massive stadium renovation project, several spring sports teams will have to practice and play away from home this season.

The Norwin track and field teams will practice and host meets at East Allegheny, while the boys and girls lacrosse teams will use Yough for practices and games.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.

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