Apr 3, 2014 By Adam Brewer for The 2 min read

The Mapletown baseball squad will look to continue to climb the ladder in 2014 in Section 1-A and build off of last year’s campaign.

The Maples went 3-13 overall a year ago and posted a 1-9 mark in the section.

Mapletown put up 16 runs in both wins over Hundred (WVa.) and Clairton, and picked up its first section win since 2010 after a 2-1 triumph over West Greene in the section finale.

Coach Brian Lewandowsky will have a lot of returning players from last year’s team and will only need to replace three senior starters.

As it for every baseball team, the goal is to finish above .500 and make the playoffs. The last time Mapletown accomplish those feats was in 2005, posting an 11-9 overall record and losing to Rochester in the first round of the WPIAL Class A playoffs.

The last time the Maples finished the season with more than three wins was in 2008 (six wins) and the last time Mapletown reached the double-digit win total was in 2006 (10 wins).

The Maples opened up the 2014 campaign with a 13-1 victory over Geibel Catholic on March 27.

Sophomore pitcher Patrick Clites picked up the win for Mapletown and tallied seven strikeouts.

The Maples’ offense plated six runs in the first inning, four more in the second frame, and finished off the contest with three runs in the fourth to later evoke the 10-run, mercy rule in the middle of the fifth.

Clites also was credited with a double for Mapletown in the win.

After the season-opener victory, Mapletown has suffered back-to-back losses to Burgettstown (11-0 on March 28) and Bentworth (16-1 on April 1).

The Maples will rely on the starting pitching of Clites and junior Ben Boone this year, as well as the consistent hitting at the plate from seniors infielder Keith Popernack, infielder Colby Kincell and outfielder Kenny Rhodes.

Mapletown will kick off the Section 1-A schedule on April 4 at Avella, followed by a home contest against California on April 7.

The Maples will wrap up the section schedule at Carmichaels on May 1, followed by home games against non-section foes Clay-Batelle (May 6) and Hundred (May 7).

All home games for Mapletown this season will start at 4:15 p.m.