Burrell returns to PIAA baseball playoffs for 1st time since 2010

By: Michael Love
Sunday, June 2, 2024 | 6:49 PM

Purchase Photo Options

Current Burrell baseball players were 4 years old or younger when the program made its most recent trip to the PIAA playoffs.

The year was 2010, and the Bucs, the WPIAL Class 2A runner-up to Beaver Falls, won a first-round contest at Slippery Rock over District 10 Sharpsville.

Burrell returns to the state tournament Monday with the same goal in mind: take down the best from District 10.

That is Fairview, and the 16-3 Tigers will host the Bucs (13-10) at Mercyhurst with a noon first pitch.

“Practices have had some good energy,” Burrell coach Jay Miller said. “The guys have been pretty active in what we’ve wanted to do with intrasquad stuff and seeing some live arms. We’ve got a good scouting report for what we’re going up against.

“Everybody feels prepared, and you could feel the energy shift from last week’s game as they get the state tournament started.”

Last week’s game was the WPIAL Class 3A consolation matchup against South Allegheny at Washington & Jefferson. The Bucs had hoped to get back in the win column after an eight-inning loss to Avonworth in the WPIAL semifinals May 21.

But the Gladiators were able to limit the Burrell offense and generate hits of their own in the 8-2 win.

“You could see from that game how we kind of went off the rails a little bit and lost our energy,” Miller said. “We talked all year about how mistakes happen. It’s baseball, and it’s never going to be perfect. When one mistake happens, you can’t let it lead to two, three or four, and that hadn’t happened to us for a while.

“The guys understood what happened and were good in resetting and refocusing. We know what it takes to win. We just have to show up ready to play good baseball.”

Miller said playing meaningful baseball in June is not lost on his players or the fact that the five seniors — Dylan McCallip, Cash Wyble, AJ McLafferty, Michael McKay and Justin Hyland — could suit up on Thursday, the same day as Burrell’s graduation.

That is a scenario, along with the possibility of a rematch with Avonworth, that Miller says gives his players added motivation to get the job done Monday outside of simply wanting to knock off Fairview.

Miller said he wasn’t aware of a potential second-round opponent until an interview Sunday morning which, he said, showed how focused everyone has been on Round 1.

“We had talked a little bit about graduation day and what that might look like,” Miller said.

“I’ve talked with (former Burrell coach Mark) Spohn and talked to the AD, Brian Ferra, about what time we could play. But that all would be meaningless if we don’t take care of business against Fairview.”

Fairview has won five games in a row, including the District 10 title triumph, 5-1 over Mercyhurst Prep. It was a measure of revenge for the Tigers, whose last loss was to Prep shortly before the start of the District 10 playoffs.

Fairview’s upperclassmen understand what playing in the state playoffs is all about. Last year, the Tigers won the District 10 title and made it to the quarterfinals by beating East Allegheny before losing to WPIAL champion Riverside.

Fairview, in 2022 as the district champion, lost in the quarterfinals to District 6 champion Central.

The Tigers are making their eighth all-time PIAA appearance and own a 2-7 record in state-playoff matchups.

Senior Aari Fox, a middle infielder, is committed to Slippery Rock. He is second on the team in batting at .365.

Junior Tyler Benford owns a team-best seven pitching wins and is third on the team in hitting (.352).

Junior Caleb Szklenski, who has logged the second-most innings on the mound this season, leads the Tigers with a .375 average, 20 RBIs and the most extra-base hits with eight (six doubles, two home runs).

“All of their players are battle tested, especially when it comes to the state playoffs,” Miller said. “They’ve been there before, and it’s great for us to be in the position to challenge one of the best teams out there.”

Burrell is a combined 7-4 in four previous trips to the PIAA tournament.

The seniors and juniors on the 2010 team were sophomores and freshmen in 2008 when the Bucs, as the third-place team from the WPIAL, made it all the way to championship game before a loss to District 4 power Loyalsock.

Burrell also made the PIAA 2A finals in 2001 before falling to Phoenixville from District 1.

“We had a goal of going out and winning a WPIAL championship this year, and we fell a little bit short,” Miller said. “But, in turn, it opened up new opportunities and goals, and the main goal now is to try and win a state championship. We’re one of the 16 teams left in triple-A who get to play in June. We understand the magnitude of the situation.”

Junior Stevie Hasson, who went 2-1 in three starts in the WPIAL playoffs, will get the nod Monday.

After a pair of wins for the No. 14 Bucs against No. 3 Mt. Pleasant and No. 11 Neshannock in he first two rounds, Hasson had an off day against South Allegheny, giving up five hits, five walks and four earned runs over four innings and 68 pitches.

“The key will be to throw strikes and keep them off balance, and Stevie is a little bit different of an arm than they might be used to seeing,” Miller said. “As long as Stevie is on and throwing strikes, I feel we have a good chance to win this game.”

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