Experienced lineup ready to give Quaker Valley baseball a boost

By: Ray Fisher
Sunday, March 23, 2025 | 11:01 AM

With a solid core of returning starters, the Quaker Valley baseball team looks to make considerable improvement over last season.

A year ago, the Quakers ended up with a 2-10 record in Section 1-3A, 4-13 overall.

“The team has been working very hard in the offseason,” QV coach Rich Garbee said. “With seven returning starters and improved pitching, we expect to win our fair share of games.

“I have been very impressed with the results of scrimmages where we played Northgate and Carlynton. To borrow a phrase from a friend of mine, we really want to ‘get good at getting better.’ One percent improvement every day will move us forward. We are very excited for the season to commence.”

The Quakers’ entire starting infield is back this spring with senior Nolan Wagoner at first base, senior Jack Cindrich at second base, junior Todd Kagle at third base, senior Oscar Roig at shortstop and junior Brad Semonik behind the plate. Kagle is a potential Division I prospect.

Two of last year’s starters in the outfield, senior Ryan Finamore (CF) and sophomore Kolton Johnson, also are back. Finamore, who is committed to Allegheny College, was the team’s leading hitter last season.

“We return our top hitters and pitchers from ’24,” Garbee said. “We expect our seven returning starters to lead the team; six of the seven will pitch for us.”

QV’s field boss is expecting big things from Cindrich, Finamore, Roig and Wagoner, in particular. Cindrich was the ace on the 2024 pitching staff.

“Those four have been strong leaders for the past two years,” Garbee said. “They are ready and excited to pressure test this team against our new section. They are close friends, and I am delighted they have the opportunity to make some magic together their senior year.”

Along with Cindrich, QV’s pitching corps will include Wagoner, Cindrich, Kagle, Roig, Finamore and Johnson. Finamore is the only lefty in the group.

“We will rely heavily on the pitching of our senior captains (Cindrich, Finamore, Roig and Wagoner) and junior Todd Kagle,” Garbee said. “We will be aggressive offensively and have worked diligently to improve our defense.”

Two other returning lettermen are senior 1B/OF Kyle Rader and junior OF/P Henry Zupanc. They are joined by senior OF Wyatt Hamm. Sophomore OF Noah Fardo tore an ACL during wrestling season and is out for the year.

“Henry Zupanc is expected to bat second and man all three outfield positions at one time or another this season as well as pitch,” Garbee said. “Kolton Johnson will be filling the same role as Henry in the outfield and on the mound.”

At the opposite end of the spectrum, QV has 10 freshmen: Aiden Bellissimo (OF), Ian Benson (C), Rafe Furfari (IF), Caden Hanna (C/P/OF), Holden Kirkham (P/OF), Damien McClay (C/3B), Cameron Neal (OF/P), Michael Semonik (IF/OF) and Mason Wydra (IF).

“We have an abundance of riches in a large freshman class,” Garbee said. “To be successful, we will need contributions from any number of them with four or five of them having the potential to earn significant varsity playing time. We have been impressed with their commitment to the offseason strength and conditioning work as well as our voluntary workouts.

“The workouts have been well attended. Effort and energy have been exceptional, and we have a strong crew of upperclassmen returning. We are really looking forward to a number of our freshmen stepping up and contributing in a variety of ways.”

After clobbering Beaver Falls on consecutive days last April, the Quakers went into a tailspin, losing nine of their final 10 games.

Riverside won the section championship in 2024 with an 11-1 record and finished as the WPIAL runner-up. The Panthers were trailed by Mohawk (10-2), Neshannock (8-4), Shenango (6-6), QV (2-10) and Beaver Falls (0-12).

QV is again a member of Section 1-3A along with Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Mohawk, Riverside and newcomer Sto-Rox, which competed in Section 2-3A last year. Neshannock and Shenango have dropped to 2A.

“Our section is always tough with Riverside, Mohawk and Ellwood City returning a number of very good players from last year’s teams,” Garbee said. “We have a number of players returning from injuries suffered last year that are looking to make an impact.”

QV graduate Gavin Fallgren is a freshman catcher on the John Carroll baseball team this spring.

Fallgren was a three-year letterman and team captain for the Quakers who graduated with high honors. He is majoring in sports leadership and psychology.

“Our catcher Brad Semonik has been working extremely hard,” Garbee said, “and returns after apprenticing under Gavin Fallgren last year as our starting catcher.”

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