Senior class filled with college recruits puts North Allegheny baseball in good place

By: John Grupp
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 11:01 AM

Purchase Photo Options

Purchase Photo Options

Previous Next

North Allegheny ninth-year baseball coach Andrew Heck considers every senior class special.

But this year’s group could be extra special.

“They do a really good job of making sure they keep everything light and tight-knit,” Heck said, “and that’s what you like to see as a coach.”

The 10-player Class of 2025, eight of whom have committed to play in college, is trying to add to its already-proud legacy.

The top-seeded defending WPIAL Class 6A champion Tigers (14-6) were scheduled to open the playoffs against No. 8 seed Hempfield (8-12) on May 19. They are trying to become the first NA team to win back-to-back WPIAL baseball titles since 1990-91.

“I think we’re in a good place,” said Lycoming-bound third baseman Miles Pealer, who is batting a team-best .349 with 23 stolen bases. “We’re starting to find the bats. I think that’s the big part we were missing.”

Since scoring a total of three runs in their first three-game losing streak in seven years, the Tigers have gone 6-1 and averaged 7.3 runs per game.

“I like where our team’s at,” Heck said. “We’re barreling baseballs really, really well right now, and that’s great to see. We’re not missing pitches anymore. I felt we were missing some pitches in those (losses).”

On the mound, senior left-hander Jackson Walsh, a Gannon recruit, is 1-0 with a 0.58 ERA in his past two starts, striking out 16 in 12 innings. North Alabama-bound Nico Varlotta is 2-2 with a 2.92 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings. He is also hitting .311 with 10 RBIs.

While the roster is dotted with talented youngsters, the seniors have led the way. Nate Persinger (Cal. Pa), who four-hit Seneca Valley earlier this season, Varlotta and Walsh anchor the pitching staff.

Shortstop Augie Maslo (St. Joseph’s), second baseman Mason Smith (Dartmouth) and Pealer are sure-handed infielders.

Fleet-footed Sean O’Donnell (South Carolina Lancaster) has played error-free outfield. Ben Wilcox (LaRoche) and Colin Moore, who tossed four shutout innings of relief in a 5-4 comeback win over Central Catholic, provide valuable pitching depth. Utility man Carson Burns rounds out the senior class.

“I really like how these guys have stepped up and pushed the younger guys a lot, as well as welcomed them,” Heck said. “That has been awesome for us as a program.”

O’Donnell will play next season at USC Lancaster, a tiny school in the National Junior College Athletic Association.

“It shows how much we love this game enough to go and continue to play in college,” O’Donnell said, “and have the opportunity to go and play.”

The seniors entered the playoffs with a record of 48-21 in the past three seasons, along with one WPIAL title and one WPIAL runner-up finish. Heck is proud that so many of them have the desire and ability to play at the next level.

“It’s awesome to see,” Heck said. “I think this is the most that we’ve had, eight out of 10 of them are going and playing (in college). … I think our sophomore class has the potential to beat that number.”

Tags: North Allegheny