Trojans shine brightest again
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.