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Conference Preview: WPIAL Class AAA - Section 1

March 8, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

With the start of the high school season less than a month away we will be previewing conferences around the state leading up to opening day. In addition to a look at the top teams we will also highlight some of the top prospects in each conference.

           WPIAL Class AAA - Section 1

Preseason Favorites

Blackhawk (11-8)

Blackhawk looks to return to the top of the Section in 2014 with the bulk of their roster intact from last year. LHP Brendan McKay gives his team an opportunity to win every time he takes the mound and his supporting cast gained a lot of varsity experience in 2013 in what was a rare down year for the Cougars.

West Allegheny (17-7)

The Indians have a strong core of juniors and a deep pitching staff led by their own ace in RHP Colin Claus. The two games played by these front runners during the regular season will likely determine the section title. 


http://www.prepbaseballreport.com/passets/photo/PA/5312608749-McKay.jpgPreseason Player of the Year

Brendan McKay, Blackhawk (Class of 2014)

McKay has had one of the more storied high school baseball careers in recent history in the state. The Louisville recruit will begin the final chapter in a few short weeks with a laundry list of accomplishments to date. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound prospect has gone 22-1 on the mound with just 18 runs allowed in 191 innings, 13 of which have been earned, during his first three high school seasons. The left-handed hitter is also one of the most feared hitters in Pennsylvania, hitting over .500 for much of the 2013 season.

The lefty went 7-0 on the hill in 2013 with a 0.09 ERA, finishing the campaign on a 24 inning scoreless streak. He struck out 101 batters in 53 innings of work and allowed just one earned run all year. McKay is ranked No. 4 in PA and No. 25 in the PBR combined Class of 2014 rankings.

In addition to being named the Prep Baseball Report District 7 player of the year in 2013, the member of Team Pennsylvania at the 2012 Midwest Future Games was also named Gatorade Player of the Year for Pennsylvania.

Top Prospects

ambridge

Shawn Holman, RHP/3B (Class of 2014, Canisius recruit)
Grant Smith, SS/RHP (Class of 2014, Point Park recruit)

Blackhawk

Cody Bain, RHP/1B (Class of 2014, U.S. Coast Guard Academy recruit)
Jake Emge, C (Class of 2014)
Brendan McKay, LHP/1B/OF (Class of 2014, Louisville recruit)
Chase Migliore, 2B/SS (Class of 2014)
Rich Rowe, LHP/OF (Class of 2014)
Joe Campagna, 2B/3B (Class of 2015)
Dante Parente, 3B/1B (Class of 2015)

central valley

Bobby Suder, SS/RHP (Class of 2014)

hopewell

Shane Martin, OF/RHP (Class of 2014)
Austin Mike, C (Class of 2014, Clarion recruit)

montour

David Lyons, SS/OF (Class of 2014)
Brian Penz, 3B (Class of 2014, Ashland commit)
Billy Krull, C/3B (Class of 2015)
Todd Police, RHP/OF (Class of 2015)
Adam Celidonia, C/3B (Class of 2016)
Kailen Grimm, 2B/OF (Class of 2016)
Trent Vietmeier, RHP/3B/1B (Class of 2017)

west allegheny

Tyler Amedure, 2B/OF/RHP (Class of 2015)
Josh Bahr, SS/RHP (Class of 2015)
Colin Claus, RHP/1B (Class of 2015)
Michael Cummings, OF (Class of 2015)
Tyler Eritz, RHP (Class of 2015)
Chasen Claus, C (Class of 2017)

 

view all conference previews & preseason players of the year by conference

 

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