Mar 18, 2015 4 min read

Editor’s note: This is the third in a series of stories profiling the area’s high school baseball and softball teams.

By Lance Lysowski

Staff writer

llysowski@observer-reporter.com

The beginning of every baseball season often follows the same trend. Until the weather warms, offense is sparse.

Trinity first-year head coach Matt McCartney is well aware. A former pitcher at Seton Hill, McCartney plans on leaning heavily on his pitching staff as the Hillers wait for their hitters to get in a groove.

Luckily for McCartney, he has what many coaches are searching for – a potential ace pitcher and plenty of depth. Senior right-hander Dom Neff effectively mixes a fastball with a curveball and a changeup. Neff worked as the Hillers’ No. 2 pitcher behind Noah Lolley last season and McCartney will have a few other options on the mound.

Senior Guy Markley, sophomore Kyle Kelly, junior Evan McDaniel and junior Garrett Briant will fill out the rotation.

“Pitching has always been there,” McCartney said. “I honestly think our pitching is our strong point because of the numbers that we have and the quality of guys we have. It’s obviously early in the season, so pitching will be ahead of hitting. Hitting will eventually take over for us because we have a lot of quality players who can hit the ball.”

The top offensive threat for the Hillers also is their top pitcher. Neff will be a steady presence in middle of the order that also will likely be anchored by Markley, Briant, McDaniel and junior catcher Blake Rohrbacher. Though good pitching will be necessary for Trinity to make the WPIAL playoffs for the first time since 2013, it will need more better production from its offense.

The Hillers finished 5-13 last season and were held to one run or less in seven of their losses.

McCartney believes Neff and Markley could be the catalysts for change.

“Dom will definitely be in the middle of our order,” McCartney said. “He’s a guy we’re counting on. We’re definitely counting on him to be a big part of our offense. Guy Markley is another guy who will be big. He proved to the coaching staff that he can drive the baseball.”

With the new look of rugged Section 3-AAA, Trinity will need all the help it can get. Chartiers Valley, West Allegheny and Montour have joined the section.

The Colts finished with a 16-4 record last spring, the Indians won the WPIAL Class AAA title and the Spartans reached the WPIAL playoffs with a 12-7 record.

The two other teams are unknowns. South Fayette and McGuffey both have new head coaches. Former Trinity coach Scott Henson is the new coach at McGuffey, which finished 1-13 last season, but the Highlanders return their top pitcher, senior Matt Chambers, and have a strong junior class.

Ken Morgan took over for James Barton at South Fayette and inherits a program that finished with a 10-9 record.

The Lions lost three seniors but return an experienced team. Justin Foreman is expected to lead the pitching staff, Logan Sharp is a power hitter at first base and Brian Coyne is a speedy outfielder.

“We have a lot of guys coming back, a lot of maturity, a lot of games under their belts,” Morgan said. “Everybody knows their role and these guys are great friends. We have great chemistry and that’s important.”

With three first-year coaches and three of the top teams in Class AAA, Section 3 should be intriguing and McCartney is confident in Trinity’s talent. Attention to detail, success with runners in scoring position and pitching will determine how far the Hillers go. He likes their chances.

“The competition is definitely there in the section, but I think it’s all in our hands,” McCartney said. “It doesn’t matter who we are playing, what their record was last year or who they are bringing back. My staff’s feeling, as well as the players’, is we have to go out there and play. We have to do our best and see how the chips fall.”

Ringgold

The Rams finished last in Section 4-AAA last season with a 4-11 record. Ringgold won its first three games to start the season before losing 11 of its last 12.