Shaler baseball prepares for section play
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Thursday, April 5, 2018 | 11:00 PM
Patrick Gumto and his teammates on the Shaler baseball team went about earning respect the right way.
The senior pitcher — much like last season — felt slighted when the Titans didn't get as much perceived preseason respect as their section rivals. After several weather delays, Shaler finally had an opportunity to prove itself against three teams that made the playoffs last season.
The Titans took two out of three.
Gumto, a Cal (Pa.) commit, was the winning pitcher in both games, most recently in a 6-1 win over Moon on March 31.
He also doubled in a season-opening win against Mt. Lebanon.
Having a few wins over playoff-quality opposition is something Gumto hopes the Titans will carry over when Section 1-6A play starts. Shaler will have to navigate through a tough section that features both teams — North Allegheny and Pine-Richland — that reached the WPIAL finals last season.
“It's really going to help. We're going to have pitchers get arms in shape quick,” Gumto said. “Hitters that have seen live pitching, that will help coming into section play. You don't want to be unprepared. You have to be the most prepared every game.”
Titans coach Brian Junker didn't return calls seeking comment.
Shaler senior Christian Seelhorst has been pleased with how the offense has come along. Even in a 4-3 loss to Penn-Trafford, the Titans were able to put balls in play. Jake Bredl went 2 for 3 with a double and drove in a run against the Warriors.
Against Moon, Nick Rispoli hit a two-run homer. Bredl and Justin Desabato also contributed two hits, and Jake Pollak drive in two runs.
“Our hitting came alive pretty quick,” said Seelhorst, who has committed to pitch at Seton Hill. “I thought it would take more than one game or three games to get going. Our hitting started to come alive, and everyone is pitching good and throwing strikes.”
Hunter Boyan, Bredl and Rispoli give Shaler depth on the pitching staff. The Titans want to see the entire staff make progress so they can exceed their expectations.
“We have a lot of young pitchers this year,” Seelhorst said. “It's really important for them to throw strike one. If we can do that, we can be successful as a team.”
Josh Rizzo is a freelance writer.
Tags: Shaler
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