Riverview baseball leans on experienced lineup, starts 3-0

By: Michael Love
Saturday, March 30, 2024 | 11:01 AM

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Riverview senior pitcher and infielder Jack Loughren is an island unto himself in that he’s the only senior on a youthful Raiders baseball team.

The team’s senior day ceremony will be brief.

But Loughren is not alone in terms of players in the lineup who have varsity experience.

Eight seniors graduated from last year’s team, which suffered a heartbreaking loss to Seton-La Salle in the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals at Gateway.

But a group that experienced that 6-3 loss is back with high goals and expectations.

A 3-0 start this spring, including an 11-2 rout of Brentwood in the Section 3-2A opener March 25, had the team in good spirits.

“I want to go out with a bang,” Loughren said.

“My personal goals are the same goals the whole team has. We’ve been talking about those high expectations of getting to the WPIAL finals and going far in the state tournament. We have a good group of guys with experience and younger guys with a lot of talent. We are all on the same page. We just want to win.

“For me, batting average is great, on-base percentage, and what I do on the mound, too, but it comes down to all of us working together to win titles.”

That experienced core also includes juniors Rece Stempfer, Eli DeVita, Johnny Bertucci and Tyler Aftanas.

The four juniors got extra work together last summer as teammates on the Rawlings Tigers 16U travel team.

DeVita was second on the team in batting in 2023 and is off to a strong start this season.

That was evident in the road win over Brentwood, as he doubled twice and knocked in four runs as part of Riverview’s 11-hit attack.

Stempfer also drove in four runs, and Aftanas had two stolen bases.

Loughren was strong at the plate and on the mound. He had two hits in three at-bats. He also scattered four hits and walked one while striking out 10 in a complete-game victory.

“We’ve had a good start, but we have a lot to look forward to with a young team,” said DeVita, one of six juniors along with one sophomore and six freshmen.

“We’ve put in a lot of work, and we’re ready for what is to come. We’re not trying to look too far ahead, but we’re excited.”

Riverview was to continue its section series with Brentwood on Thursday afternoon at Riverside Park.

The Raiders kicked off the season with nonsection wins over OLSH (8-3) and Laurel Highlands (2-1).

Loughren also earned the pitching win against OLSH.

Bertucci picked up the win for the Raiders in the nailbiter against Laurel Highlands. He surrendered just one hit and no runs while striking out five and walking three over five innings.

Loughren had another 2-for-3 day at the plate, and Stempfer and freshman Lukas Duncan each tallied an RBI.

Nonsection games remain with Shady Side Academy, Bishop Canevin, Valley, Highlands and Ellwood City.

Riverview tied Greensburg Central Catholic for second place in the section last year at 8-4, two games behind section champion Serra Catholic. The Raiders face Apollo-Ridge in a home-and-home series this week, with Jeannette and Ligonier Valley also in the section mix in the coming weeks.

Ligonier Valley also was a playoff qualifier in 2023.

“We started strong but it still is early,” Riverview coach Bill Gras said. “I got excited last year when we got out of the blocks fast in the section. We were 5-0 and then lost to Serra to fall to 5-1. Then we fell apart.

“It is a marathon, not a sprint. But I am pleased with how we came out hitting the ball in those early games. The strikeouts are down. We have been putting the ball in play.”

Gras said he is looking forward to seeing the continued development of Lukas Duncan and twin brother Miles.

“Miles is our starting catcher, and Lukas is kind of a utility player for us,” Gras said.

“Lukas pitches, and he can play third, short, second and in the outfield. They both have adjusted really well to varsity baseball. They are going to help carry us.”

Gras said junior Carter Loughren (infield, outfield, pitcher) is settling into the lineup, and freshmen Rex Roberts and Owen Metz are working their way into the mix with competition in right field.

“We have a nice mix,” Gras said. “They will continue to grow together as a team as we get further into section games. It is a tough section. We have to be ready to play our best game each time out.”

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.

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