Shady Side Academy baseball showing flashes of potential

By: Josh Rizzo
Saturday, March 28, 2026 | 11:01 AM

The Shady Side Academy baseball team doesn’t want to dwell too much on a defeat. The Bulldogs were eliminated in the first round of the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs last season by eventual state champion Riverside in a more exciting than anticipated 4-3 loss.

The Panthers went on to win the state title and only allowed a total of three runs during their next seven playoff games.

Shady Side Academy, which got off to a 2-1 start this season, wants to see the same type of growth this year. The Bulldogs finished last season 8-14.

“It was heartbreaking for them to beat us with a suicide squeeze, but it was good to have a team of that caliber on the ropes,” Bulldogs coach Sean Wilson said. “I felt that in the offseason, and I feel that now. The team is comfortable and confident.”

Shady Side Academy beat Highlands, 3-2, on March 24 and split a pair of games in Vero Beach, Fla. The Bulldogs beat Blair (N.J.) Academy, 11-6, and lost to DePaul (Ill.) College Prep, 11-1.

“It was nice to have some good weather,” Wilson said.

Wilson said he already is pleased to see how the offense has performed.

It’s part of the progress he has seen from the returning players.

“Being able to take swings at the varsity level,” Wilson said. “We also want to see the turnaround on defense as well. The ability to make the routine play. We grew a lot.”

Bash Woodhouse (2B/3B), Leland Wilson (infield), Charlie Wanless (shortstop), Sam McComb (catcher), David Dillon (CF), Rhett Brush (1B) and Gabe Center (pitcher) have all filled in key roles thus far this season.

Dillon and Wanless also will be counted on to pitch.

“We have a lot of ballplayers who are stepping up and learning,” Wilson said. “We have a bunch of freshmen and sophomores. Between having some guys who moved up and other guys starting to step up, it’s fun to watch.”

The Bulldogs were scheduled to open section play against South Allegheny in a game that was too late for this edition. Shady Side Academy is in a section with Avonworth, South Park, Steel Valley and Allegheny along with the Gladiators.

The Bulldogs are hoping to do better than their fourth-place finish last year.

“If we can grow like we did last year, I would be really happy,” Wilson said. “If we can make the routine plays and pitch with confidence, we should do well.”

Tags: Shady Side Academy