Eden Christian baseball team primed for bright future

By: Ray Fisher
Saturday, June 22, 2024 | 10:23 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Eden Christian Academy’s baseball team finished as the Class A runner-up in the WPIAL and PIAA this spring.

The Warriors, who reached the state finals for the second time in four years, finished 20-6 overall, 5-2 in the postseason and 12-0 in Section 3A.

Great things appear to be on the horizon.

The Warriors batting order this season regularly featured four sophomores, including the first three hitters: center fielder Noah Emswiler, SS Brett Feldman and 1B/3B Brady Hull, as well as four seniors and one junior.

Hull was the team’s leading hitter with a .493 batting average and .863 slugging percentage.

“I think we’ll be very good next year,” Hull said. “We have four sophomores who want to get back at the teams that beat us. We have guys who want to be great and want to win, like myself. But we need people to buy in next year like people did this year. And then I could see us being WPIAL champs.

“Having three sophomores all hitting above .300 has lots of upside. But we need more bottom-of-the-order guys like we did this year.”

Seniors Caleb Emswiler (P/INF), Enzo Natale (P/INF) and Carter Cropper (C/OF) served as co-captains in 2024.

Mark Feldman was a first-year coach for the Warriors and was assisted by Andrew Parrott and Timothy Lipp.

Hull also played basketball at Eden last winter, as did Natale, Caleb Emswiler, senior 2B Charlie Wolf and freshman outfielders Noah Wicks and Eli Nestor.

Quaker Valley’s Roig honored

Quaker Valley’s Lucy Roig was named to the All-WPIAL girls lacrosse team in Class 2A.

Roig, a sophomore midfielder and team captain, also was an All-WPIAL selection in 2023. She has accounted for 137 goals and 20 assists in her two years with the Quakers, including 61 goals and 11 assists in 2024.

“Lucy really understands the game and is able to read what the other team is doing in order to force turnovers and gain possession,” QV coach Laura Peery said. “Her strength is her ability to cut and get open in tight places. She does a great job of making quick cuts with her eyes up, reading the goalie and (getting) the open spots.

Roig’s top offensive game this spring was an eight-goal, three-assist performance March 21 against Seton LaSalle.

Eannarino an Academic All-American

Sewickley Academy’s Libby Eannarino, a senior midfielder, was honored as an Academic All-American.

Eannarino and senior midfielder Ashley Close were first-team all-section selections, and senior Claudia Kronk and junior Lauren Retzlaff, both defensive players, were named to the second team.

Senior Kendall Sykes and freshman Grace Jardini landed honorable mention status.

Three freshman players on the Sewickley boys lacrosse team were honored as all-section selections: GK Nick Neavin (first team), MF Eli Stephan (second team) and MF Jake Donesec.

Strange but true

Did you know that the Quaker Valley boys basketball team competes in WPIAL Class 4A while the girls compete in 3A?

The QV boys are members of Section 2-4A along with Ambridge, Avonworth, Beaver, Central Valley and Hopewell.

The QV girls are in Section 1-3A with Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Mohawk, New Brighton, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, Riverside and Sto-Rox.

Full scorecard

There will be 63 teams competing in Class 2A boys golf this fall, including seven in Section 9: Aquinas Academy, Eden Christian Academy, Hopewell, North Catholic, Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy and Winchester Thurston.

Tags: Eden Christian, Quaker Valley, Sewickley Academy