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Conference Preview: WPIAL Class AAAA - Section 4

March 5, 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 AAAA - Section 4

Preseason Favorite

Pine-Richland (17-6) 

The Rams are the defending Section 4 champions and appear to have enough coming back to make it two title in a row. If Pine-Richland is to repeat they will have to contend with the loss of Marcus Colella (1.96 ERA, 6-2, Williams College), Shane Heim (.389, 22 RBI, California of PA), Jack Hudak (.297, 25 RBI, Nyack College) and Shea Sullivan (.388, 24 RBI, Eastern Kentucky) to graduation.

 

In the mix

Shaler Area (11-10), Moon Tigers (15-7), Woodland Hills (8-14)

Waiting in the wings should Pine-Richland falter are the Shaler Area Titans and the Moon Tigers. Shaler RHP Jake Potock will give the Titans a solid chance to win every time he toes the rubber. Moon will be strong up the middle but graduated nine seniors following the 2013 season. Woodland Hills has one of the top sophomores in the state in the form of C/3B/RHP Jake Jessell. The Pitt commit hit the high school circuit running as a freshman in 2013 and could make life difficult on Section 4 opponents all season.

 

Preseason co-Players of the Year

With the graduation of four seniors that moved on to play college baseball, the Pine-Richland Rams will rely heavily on the Co-Preseason Players of the Year in Section 4.

Jamie SwitalskiJamie Switalski, Pine-Richland (Class of 2014)

Switalski is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound UMBC recruit that hit .387 and led the team with 22 walks and a .558 on base percentage. The two-way prospect ranked No. 39 in the PA Class of 2014 also went 4-1 with a 2.78 ERA. Switalski has a mid-80s fastball and command of his secondary pitches making him a legitimate two-way prospect at the next level.

Daane BerezoDaane Berezo, Pine-Richland (Class of 2014)

Berezo is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound VCU recruit that hit .400 with 27 runs scored and a .487 on base percentage. The left-handed hitter led the Rams in at bats and hits, and only struck out four times in 93 plate appearances. Berezo is ranked No. 71 in the PA Class of 2014.

 

Top Prospects

allderdice

Evan Cheng, 2B/SS (Class of 2015)
Demetrius Haskins, OF (Class of 2015)

Moon

Mason Prickett, C (Class of 2014, Pitt-Johnstown recruit)
Colton Hower, SS/RHP (Class of 2015)
Rocco Maue, 2B/SS (Class of 2015)
Austin Hoffman, SS/2B (Class of 2016)

Penn Hills

Trey Reese, C/3B (Class of 2014)
Cameron Franklin, OF (Class of 2015)
Trevor Miller, 2B/RHP (Class of 2015)
 

Pine-Richland

Daane Berezo, SS/2B (Class of 2014, VCU recruit)
Jamie Switalski, 3B/RHP (Class of 2014, UMBC recruit)
Eric Duran, OF/1B (Class of 2015)
Joey Professori, C (Class of 2015)
Maxx Harpalani, 3B/OF (Class of 2017)

shaler area

Jake Potock, RHP (Class of 2015)

woodland hills

Jake Jessell, C/3B/RHP (Class of 2016)

 

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


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