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Trojans shine brightest again

By Rob Burchianti rburchianti@heraldstandard.Com 7 min read
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Evan Sanders

Connellsville’s Derek Orndorff slides under the glove of Norwin’s Matt Lamanti during in a Section 2-AAAAAA game at Connellsville Area High School, May 3. Orndorff is the Herald-Standard Class 5-A/6-A Co-Player of the Year.

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Rebecca Devereaux | Herald-Standard

Laurel Highlands’ Hudson Novak connects during a non section game against Uniontown at Tom Landman Field, May 10. Novak is the Herald-Standard Class 5-A/6-A Co-Player of the Year.

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John F. Brothers | Herald-Standard

Belle Vernon’s Jacob Callaway (23) scores on a third inning, bases-loaded single by teammate Deven Judy during their Section 3-AAA match-up against Uniontown, April 19, at Hutchinson Park. Callaway is the Herald-Standard Class AAAA Player of the Year.

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Holly Tonini

Waynesburg Central’s Hunter Robinson fires a pitch to a South Side Beaver batter during their WPIAL Class AAA first-round playoff game against South Side Beaver in Upper St. Clair. Robinson is the Herald-Standard Class AAA Co-Player of the Year.

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Kelly Tunney | Herald-Standard

Mount Pleasant’s Jason Beranek approaches home plate to score the Vikings’ third run on a double by Brady Duricko (not pictured) in their first-round PIAA Class AAA playoff game on June 5. Mount Pleasant fell, 6-5, in 10 innings to Huntingdon at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson. Beranek is the Herald-Standard Class AAA Co-Player of the Year.

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Holly Tonini

California’s Nate Luketich (25) pitches a complete game against Neshannock in the Trojans’ 7-4 win in the WPIAL Class AA quarterfinal baseball playoff game, May 22, at Peterswood Park in Peters Township. Luketich is the Herald-Standard Class AA Player of the Year.

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Holly Tonini

Holly Tonini Jefferson-Morgan’s Gage Clark prepares to deliver a pitch against Sewickley Academy during a WPIAL Class A quarterfinal playoff game at Peterswood Park in Peters Township on May 22. Clark pitched into the seventh inning to earn the win in the Rockets’ 7-6 victory. Clark is the Herald-Standard Class A Player of the Year.

If there is one consistent these days in local high school baseball, it’s that California will be in the hunt for a WPIAL championship.

The Trojans reached the final for the third time in the last four years and claimed their fifth WPIAL crown despite moving up a level to Class AA under the new classification system implemented for the 2016-17 school year.

Nick Damico has won two of those five district championships and perhaps no team worked harder, showed more desire and deserved a title more than his 2017 Trojans. California had to work 11 innings before vanquishing Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, 4-3, in the semifinals, then had to grind its way through 10 innings, playing as the away team to boot, before finally putting away Freedom, 3-1, in the championship game.

There were several other highly successful teams in the area.

In addition to California, Jefferson-Morgan, Brownsville and Mount Pleasant each won a section title and a playoff game. In fact, the resurgent Vikings, who tied the Falcons for the Section 3-AAA title, reached the WPIAL Class AAA final.

Another team that showed its mettle was Connellsville, which fought to the final days of the regular season to secure a spot in the postseason.

Carmichaels continued its winning tradition with yet another playoff berth despite going up into Class AA, Belle Vernon came within one win of a section crown, Ringgold regrouped after getting a new coach early in the season and charged into the postseason as well.

Waynesburg Central, Charleroi, Bentworth and Monessen were also playoff teams.

Now here’s a look at the 2017 Herald-Standard All-Area Baseball Team:

CLASS AAAAA/AAAAAA

Players of the Year

Derek Orndorff, Connellsville and Hudson Novak, Laurel Highlands

Coach of the Year

Rob Orndorff, Connellsville

The Elite

Albert Gallatin: Nate Bricker, Adam Simon, Willie Palmer, R.J. Hlatky

Connellsville: Brody Bonadio, Hayden Harvey, Jacob Ansell

Laurel Highlands: Hudson Novak, Travis Sankovich.

Honorable Mention

Albert Gallatin: Dylen Over, Jace Capellini, Austin Bergman

Connellsville: Aaron Nickelson, Aaron Skinner, Chad Workman, Brandon Swaney

Laurel Highlands: Ian Edenfield, Derek Gaisbauer, Mason McManus

NOTES: Orndorff’s Falcons showed their resolve by battling to victories in three of their final four games in Section 2-AAAAAA to get into the postseason, including a walk-off win over Hempfield that cost the Spartans a share of the section title. … Ron Popovich had a successful debut as AG coach leading the Colonials to six wins, including one over rival LH. … Scott Deberry kept the Mustangs in contention for a playoff spor despite losing almost his entire starting lineup from last year’s section title team. … Novak hit .377 with three home runs and 21 RBIs, had a 2.05 ERA and led the Mustangs in innings pitched.

CLASS AAAA

Player of the Year

Jacob Callaway, Belle Vernon

Coach of the Year

Daryl Hixenbaugh

The Elite

Belle Vernon: Jordan Zilka, Deven Judy, Josh Hoffman, Evan Johnston

Elizabeth Forward: Wes Scott

Ringgold: Ryan Varley, Anthony Pampena

Uniontown: Connor DeMoss

Yough: Dom Charletta

Honorable Mention

Belle Vernon: Ben Cole, Tim Labuda, Joel Engstrom

Elizabeth Forward: Dylan DeRoss, Nate Homa

Ringgold: Matt Morgan, Bo Haines, Colby Bubash, Jake Mayer, Josh Peters

Uniontown: Kaine Frye, Chad Workman, Nik Gibson, Alan VanSickle, Jeremy Saliba

Yough: Jarret Bach, Nathaniel Roebuck

NOTES: The Leopards won their last 12 regular-season games under Daryl Hixenbaugh and handed first-place South Park its only loss in Section 3-AAAA. … Callaway was a close choice over teammate Zilka for Player of the Year. … Don Roberts turned a dire situation at Ringgold into a banner season for the Rams when it took over early in the year and guided them into the postseason.

CLASS AAA

Players of the Year

Jason Beranek, Mount Pleasant and Hunter Robinson, Waynesburg Central

Coaches of the Year

Chris Firmstone, Mount Pleasant and Skooter Roebuck, Brownsville

The Elite

Brownsville: Dylan Brosky, Tyler Herman, D.J. Zimcosky, Josh Davison

Charleroi: Sam Miceli, Josiah Fisher, Emory Anden

Mount Pleasant: Brady Duricko, Brandon McCormick

Waynesburg Central: Brandon Turcheck, Trey Rohanna, Luke Robinson

Honorable Mention

Brownsville: Mason Kelley, Colton Dellarose, Brody Bagwell

Charleroi: Errict Tedrow

Mount Pleasant: George Tetteris

Waynesburg Central: Kyle Blasco, Dalton Riggenbach, Ryley Metheny

NOTES: In two years as Mount Pleasant coach, Firmstone guided the Vikings back into the playoffs in 2016 and all the way to the WPIAL final this year, qualifying for the PIAA tournament as well. … Roebuck has one of the area’s best and most consistentl programs and claimed his third consecutive section title and, amazingly, his 10th overall. … Robinson was one of the WPIAL’s top pitchers with 80 strikeouts and a 0.51 ERA … Beranek was a great leader, hitter and pitcher for the Vikings.

CLASS AA

Player of the Year

Nate Luketich, California

Coach of the Year

Nick Damico, California

The Elite

Bentworth: Riley Nickeson, Josh Hughes

Beth-Center: Nick Pryor

California: Johnny DeFranco, Alex Adams, Brandon Powell, Rich Stimmell

Carmichaels: Joel Spishock, Matthew Barrish

Frazier: J.D. Celaschi, Shane McGavitt, Tyler Dorcon

Honorable Mention

Bentworth: Justin Kisner, Jacob Kisner, Ryan Wise

Beth-Center: Dylan Dingle, Jacob Knizner

California: Tyler Jacobs, Brendan Sheehan, Drake Johnson,

Carmichaels: Logan Mayhle, Dylan Wilson, Nathan Broadwater, Cody Brown, Liam Shea

Frazier: Logan Muzina, Timmy Sedok, Logan Kulikowski, George Smalich

NOTES: Damico guided the Trojans on a 16-game winning streak during the regular season in winning the Section 1-AA title and California went on to win yet another WPIAL championship … Luketich was the Trojans’ best pitcher and one of its top hitters … Carmichaels continued its winning ways under Dickie Krause with another stellar season, finishing second to the Trojans in the section.

CLASS A

Player of the Year

Gage Clark, Jefferson-Morgan

Coach of the Year

John Curtis, Jefferson-Morgan

The Elite

Jefferson-Morgan: Isaac Dean, Eli Rafail

Mapletown: Dylan Rush

Monessen: Antonio Rhome, Cory Fleming

West Greene: Zach Pettit

Honorable Mention

Geibel Catholic: Noah Geary, Hannah Geary, Isaiah Krizner, Dalton Elcock, Jesse Yourish.

Jefferson-Morgan: Jacob Broadwater, Joe Headlee, Zack Gamble

Mapletown: Brian Bogden, Garrett Phillips, Brandon Donley, RJ Durr, Cody Dice

Monessen: Cam Frolo

West Greene: Michael Howard, Zachary Abbott

NOTES: Curtis led the Rockets to eight wins in their last nine regular-season games, including victories on consecutive days over Greensburg Central Catholic, to claim the Section 2-A title, and they advanced to the WPIAL semifinals. Ironically, the two teams J-M beat out for first place wound up playing for the WPIAL title with Jeannette defeating GCC. The Jayhawks, who reached the final four of the state, lost only once at home all season, to the Rockets. … Clark went 7-1 on the mound, including a no-hitter and a playoff win, hit .370, drove in 18 runs and scored 27 times.

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