Deep, experienced Pine-Richland baseball roster hunting another section title

By: Jerin Steele
Sunday, March 31, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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The last couple of years, a young core of Pine-Richland baseball players helped contribute to back-to-back section championships.

Now that group has become the upperclassmen and with the meaningful situations they’ve been in, they are well-equipped to try to make it three section titles in a row.

“They understand the expectations and the culture, but most importantly, they have experience playing varsity baseball in Western Pennsylvania where the talent has grown over the years,” veteran Pine-Richland coach Kurt Wolfe said. “It’s nice to have guys that have been in big games, not only section games, but playoff games. We’re excited to have that experience.”

That experience includes four returning starters in the field from a team that made it to the Class 6A semifinals last year before losing to eventual WPIAL champ Mt. Lebanon.

Peyton Ford has been the team’s right fielder the last couple of years and will move to center following the graduation of Jacob McGuire. Anthony Mengine is back in left field, Tanner Cunningham returns at second base and Jake Waddell at first base.

Tommy Zimmerman, who made starts at designated hitter last year, is injured to start the season.

There are also four pitchers who bring plenty of varsity experience in juniors Tristan Farrar, Keegan Deihl, Noah Mackie and senior Nathan Kush.

They are a part of a deep pitching staff.

“Those four guys pitched significant innings for us last year,” Wolfe said. “We also have a couple of lefties that we really like in Tyler Vogel and Reece Rupert. They’ll be competing for starting jobs. We also have sophomore Drew Boivin, who has a live arm. He’s someone that we’re looking at as a closer or even a starter. Chase Caricato, who’s a senior, is another arm we like. We have some other arms, but those eight will get the bulk of the innings.”

Sam Heckert takes over at catcher. Wolfe said Heckert is a born leader who brings a linebacker mentality behind the plate.

Danny Pedersen moves to shortstop after seeing time at third base last year. Anthony Annichine and Boivin will be at third base. Annichine is a left-handed hitter and Boivin is a righty, so that gives the coaching staff flexibility for matchups. Sophomore Logan Plummer takes over in right field and can pitch as well if needed.

With Zimmerman out, a pair of sophomores, Ben Husted and Evan Johnston, will slide in at designated hitter.

Cody Cutone, Thomas Kapanowski, Ryan Grebinoski, Gavin Stugart will serve as utility players. Wolfe said each one brings position versatility.

This will be the second year Class 6A plays three-game series against section opponents. The Rams are in Section 1 with North Allegheny, Butler, Seneca Valley and Allderdice.

Wolfe enjoyed the three-game series format and is looking forward to doing it again.

“I think we really grew as a team and a coaching staff navigating those three-game series last year,” Wolfe said. “It’s fun. You’re managing. You’re making some decisions that in a two-game series you probably don’t have to make. You need depth, and with our eight pitchers, we feel like that’s a big plus. And with our position players, outside of our starters, I feel like we have guys that can really contribute off the bench, whether it’s a pinch hit or a pinch run. I think we have more depth than we’ve ever had.”

Jerin Steele is a freelance writer

Tags: Pine-Richland