Mar 19, 2016 6 min read

Every time Waynesburg’s baseball players walk through the high school gymnasium before preseason practices, they glance at the program’s banner on the wall. The last two section titles listed: 2011 and 1999.

Adding 2016 to the banner is one goal for new head coach Scott VanSickle. Another is winning the program’s first WPIAL title since 1999, when it defeated section rival Brownsvile at Charleroi’s Veterans Field.

“That’s our goal,” VanSickle said of winning a section title. “Our goals are to qualify for the playoffs, win the section, qualify for states and win two championships. Hopefully, we can checkmark them all.”

That might sound unrealistic for a program that hasn’t won a playoff game since a 4-3 victory over Laurel in the 2011 WPIAL semifinals. However, VanSickle has the ammunition for a successful run in Class AA.

Waynesburg returns arguably the section’s top player in junior pitcher/oufielder Hunter Robinson, has a deep and experienced pitching staff and a 32-player roster that features 15 promising freshmen.

All eyes are on Robinson, the Raiders’ top hitter (.500 average) and top pitcher (1.72 ERA) last season, but VanSickle looked to the past to give his players a lesson. Wally Pipp, who is considered one of the best power hitters of the dead ball era, is remembered for losing his starting job to Lou Gehrig after he asked to sit out a game because of a headache in 1925. Gehrig went on to start 2,130 consecutive games.

“We have competition every day,” said VanSickle, who was the head coach for four seasons at Carmichaels (2011-14) and assistant for four others under Dave Bates when the Mikes won two WPIAL titles.

“Some of our guys have never been behind someone else, so it was an adjustment to see them say, ‘OK, I have to try to beat this guy out.’ Every day, you have to go play and that leads to Wally Pipp. Don’t get Pipped today or someone will take your job. We know we have our nine right now, but will that be the same? Who knows in the end.”

The Raiders lost four seniors from last year’s team, which lost a first-round playoff game to eventual WPIAL and PIAA champion Neshannock. Three players who batted over .300 are back – sophomore Brandon Turcheck, who also pitched 22 2/3 innings, senior Nick Fox and Robinson, who led Waynesburg in every major offensive category. Braden Boosel, Dalton Riggenbach and Ryan Braun are also among the returning players. Junior Colin McCracken, who placed seventh at the PIAA Wrestling Championships, joined the team after not playing the past two seasons.

The youth movement also has VanSickle optimistic. Along with his three pitchers, he has six more who can throw and freshman Jacob Phillips is expected to start at second base. The term, ‘expected’ means little as Waynesburg tries to spoil Brownsville and Washington’s bid toward winning the Section 2-AA title.

One of the few guarantees is the Raiders will have three quality pitchers.

“Hunter is our ace as of the first day, but with Rohanna and Turcheck, it’s like having a 1, 1A and 2A,” VanSickle said. “They’re all right there. At any time, we can throw one or the other. We open section play with Brownsville and Washington, so those are two big games right off the bat, and they’ll get to see our guns goin at ’em.”

The Prexies finished second in Section 2-AA last season and lost 3-2 to Riverside in the first round of the WPIAL Class AA playoffs. Despite losing Jonathan Spina, who batted .574 with 19 RBI, head coach Rocky Plassio is optimistic about his returners and a few newcomers who could contribute off the bench.

“I’m really excited about my team,” said Plassio, who is beginning his ninth season. “I’m genuinely excited about them. I don’t know what it’s going to mean in terms of wins and losses, but this has to be the best cohesive group I’ve coached.”

That group is led by junior pitcher Connor Bedillion, who emerged as Wash High’s ace last season, as well as seniors Jordan West and Kurt Adkins. The staff could benefit from the addition of senior Nate Swart and junior Matt Popeck. The duo decided to join the team this spring.

Junior Jackson Interval, junior Frank Hartzell, junior Isaiah Perry, sophomore Jordan Swart and junior Steven Shallcross also return.

“I have a lot of great athletes,” Plassio said. “I don’t have any individual personalities that I have to manage in terms of them being bigger than the team itself. It’s refreshing to see. I have a bunch of kids who are unselfish, work really hard and don’t complain. They’re a neat group to be around.”

The Bulldogs have not made the playoffs since 2012 but head coach Frank Pryor has something every successful team needs: an ace pitcher.

Senior Lane Ziker is back after leading Section 2-AA with 56 strikeouts. Ed Zellie, Jacob Greco, Colton Belmont, Jacob Knizner and Nick Pryor also return.

After losing five starters, Beth-Center, which finished 4-11 last season, will lean on 10 freshmen.

The Blue Devils finished fifth in Section 1-AA last season with a 6-8 record. In six of its nine losses, Burgettstown scord at least four runs, including two defeats despite scoring 10.

A four-game losing streak midway through the season cost the Cougars a playoff spot as they finished tied for fourth in Section 2-AA with a 5-7 record. Four starters are gone, including junior Sam Miceli, who opted not to play this season.

Shortstop Errict Tedrow, who batted .533 last spring, Sam Pager, Josiah Fisher, Josh Mavilla, Cody Koteles and Jake Watkins are returning starters.

The Bucs were in the playoff hunt until they lost their last three Section 2-AA games, being outscored 14-7 by Waynesburg, Brownsville and Washington.

Chartiers-Houston lost only three seniors and seven of nine starters return, including four of the top five hitters in the batting order.

The Rangers were seventh in Section 1-AA with a 4-10 record and 5-12 overall last year. They lost six of their final seven games. Though they must replace Alex Babirad and Shane Turkily, power-hitting sophomore Cam Schaub is back.