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Conference Preview: WPIAL Class AAAA - Section 1

March 2, 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 1

Preseason Favorite

Seneca Valley (18-8)

The Raiders continue to reload and make a WPIAL and deep state playoff run nearly every year. Last year North Allegheny topped Seneca Valley by identical 4-2 scores in the WPIAL finals and the state quarterfinals. That is not likely to happen this year as the Raiders return enough talent to take Section 1 and should contend once again for a possible WPIAL title.

 

In the Hunt

North Allegheny (20-5)

The Tigers got within one run of a spot in the state finals in 2013. They will have to reload in a hurry in order to make a similar run this year. A talented group of seniors with limited varsity experience are untested but ready to make some of their own history for a program that has seen its share of success over the years. The 1-2 punch of Mitchell Machi and Jason Monper on the mound will keep the Tigers in a lot of games. 


Connor CowardPreseason Player of the Year

Connor Coward, Seneca Valley (Class of 2014)

Coward, a Virginia Tech recruit, is ranked No. 10 in PA and No. 80 in the PBR combined rankings for the Class of 2014. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound righty is capable of touching 90 mph off the mound and is a two-way prospect that can play shortstop and outfield at a high level. Coward went 7-1 on the hill as a junior with his only loss coming at the hands of North Allegheny in the WPIAL championship game.

 

Top Prospects

Butler

Cory Wheeler, SS (Class of 2014, IUP recruit)
Nick Patten, 3B/SS (Class of 2015)
Garett Goslaw, 3B/2B (Class of 2015)
Mark Gross, RHP/1B (Class of 2015) 

Fox Chapel

Zack Burkhart, C (Class of 2016)
Dom Dimatteo, OF (Class of 2016)

New Castle

Julian Cox, OF/RHP (Class of 2014, Albany football recruit)
Ethan Pagley, C (Class of 2014)
Mark Graziani, 1B/LHP (Class of 2014)
Joseph Gunn, OF/LHP (Class of 2016)

north allegheny

Mitchell Machi, RHP/OF (Class of 2014, University of Buffalo recruit)
Jason Monper, RHP/3B (Class of 2014)
Tyler Saundry, RHP (Class of 2014)
Justin Abbs, 3B/RHP (Class of 2014)
Dan Trettel, C/3B/OF (Class of 2014)
Brandon Rossier, 1B/3B (Class of 2014, Walsh recruit)
Jonathan Dignazio, LHP/OF (Class of 2016)

North Hills

Adam Serpa, 3B/RHP (Class of 2014)
Tyler Pusateri, C/OF (Class of 2015)
Vince Ruggieri, 3B/2B (Class of 2015)
Andrew Toplak, RHP/3B (Class of 2016)

Seneca Valley

Connor Coward, RHP/OF (Class of 2014, Virginia Tech recruit)
Alex Hajduk, RHP/SS (Class of 2014)
Matt Rafferty, RHP/OF (Class of 2014)
Taylor Mantick, RHP (Class of 2014, Lehigh recruit)
Corbin Kessler, SS/3B (Class of 2016)
Jake Laskey, OF (Class of 2014)

 

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

 

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