A-K Valley baseball preview: Section champ Valley among teams adjusting to new surroundings

By: Josh Rizzo
Thursday, March 13, 2025 | 7:22 PM

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Realignment presents challenges for many baseball teams around the WPIAL. That will be the case for some of the teams in the Alle-Kiski Valley this season.

Valley baseball coach Jim Basilone lost three seniors who did a lot of pitching last season, but the Vikings still have their share of versatile players to pick up the slack as they move up to Class 4A.

Valley won Section 3-3A, finishing 16-5 overall and 9-3 in conference last season. The Vikings will now compete in Section 3-4A along with Derry, Greensburg Salem, Highlands, Indiana and Knoch.

“It’s always hard when there is realignment, and you are put in with other teams you aren’t familiar with,” Basilone said. “We know Highlands because they are just up the road, and we played Knoch and Greensburg Salem in nonsection games last season.”

The Vikings benefited from having a number of underclassmen playing last season. Junior outfielder Nicholas Heakins was named to the All-Valley News Dispatch first team by batting over .400 with power.

The Vikings lost two first-team pitchers players in Wesley Schrock and Tyler Danko to graduation. Bailone is confident the group he has returning will be able to pick up the slack.

Sophomores Julian Danko and Ben Mehalick along with juniors Dom Dunkel and Conrad Hoover are versatile players who can fill in several roles.

Burrell finished a game back of Valley in the section race last season and went on to reach the WPIAL semifinals and qualify for the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 2010. The Bucs return ace Stevie Hasson.

Deer Lakes, tasked with replacing graduated all-state outfielder Ryan Cochran, is also back in Section 3-3A.

Kiski Area coach Michael Manning said the Cavaliers will have an energetic sophomore class seeking to make an impact. The Cavaliers have six sophomores who will support returning pitchers Dominick Hand, Jonathan Walker and Austin Bachar.

“They are a fast, springy group that should be able to steal bases,” Manning said. “They will take their lumps at the varsity level like any young players.”

Fox Chapel will lean on an experienced staff this season. Pitchers Blake Krushinski and Jeremy Haigh will lead a strong rotation for the Foxes.

Fox Chapel and Plum, along with eventual WPIAL champ Penn-Trafford and Franklin Regional, were part of an unprecedented four-team tie atop Section 1-5A with 9-3 records last season. Pitcher Michael Tedrick, a Penn State Altoona recruit, is among the top returning players for the Mustangs.

Freeport coach Ed Carr hopes his team can get healthy quickly. The Yellowjackets will have left-handed pitcher Dustin Kohan back after he missed most of last season with an injury.

“We are very banged up,” Carr said. “Kohan can be a workhouse when he is healthy. We want to rely on our defense.”

Knoch finished last season with a bang, sweeping its final section series with Hampton to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs. The Knights return 7-foot ace Zane Pacek.

Riverview has eight of its nine starters returning from last season. The Raiders have hired an assistant coach, Bill Stoops, to specifically work on hitting. Riverview went 13-7 last season and reached the WPIAL Class 2A quarterfinals.

Senior infielder Eli Devita Jr. hit .508 and drove in 23 runs.

“We want the coach to work with them constantly on their approach at the plate,” Riverview coach Bill Gras said. “We want him to reinforce their approach and for them to know what pitches to look for that they are going to throw.”

Apollo-Ridge will have a roster featuring 90% underclassmen. The Vikings only have two seniors. Zac Myers hit .364 as a freshman, and Golden Rams coach Matt Gourley hopes the Vikings can compete for a playoff spot.

Highlands coach Jeff Campbell believes his team will have a good season.

“The staff believes our group will be as good as our senior leadership,” Campbell said. “The young guys have great upside. That said, we are anxiously expecting a successful season.”

Leechburg finished third in Section 2-A and made the WPIAL playoffs last season despite playing without a senior on the roster. The Blue Devils, led by senior Chase Henry, should reap the benefits of the experience they gained.

Springdale also made the playoffs from the section but has moved up to Class 2A this year to join Riverview in Section 3-2A. The Dynamos will have to replace two-time Valley News Dispatch Player of the Year John Hughes.

St. Joseph remains in Section 2-A to battle the Blue Devils for a playoff berth.

Players to watch

Alex Clawson, 1B, Apollo-Ridge

Peyton Mamros, CF, Apollo-Ridge

Ryan Bates, INF, Burrell

Steve Hasson, P, Burrell

Michael Hanz, P, Freeport

Gavin Tola, INF, Freeport

Kristian Kocon, P/CF/SS,Highlands

Carson McGraw, INF/OF, Highlands

Sal Barbarino, INF/OF/P, Highlands

John Deluca, INF, Kiski Area

Noah Madsen, INF, Kiski Area

Sean Morgan, 1B, Knoch

Zane Pacek, P, Knoch

Chase Henry, INF/P, Leechburg

Ryan Lafferty, OF, Plum

Dan Macioce, INF, Plum

Max Vollmer, INF, Plum

Tyler Aftanas, 3B, Riverview

Miles Duncan, C, Riverview

Tags: Apollo-Ridge, Burrell, Fox Chapel, Freeport, Highlands, Kiski Area, Knoch, Leechburg, Plum, Riverview, Valley