2015 PIAA Class A State Tournament Preview
May 31, 2015
By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting
And then there were sixteen. The first round of the 2015 PIAA Class A state tournament starts tomorrow, with first pitches for the eight games scheduled on the half hour between 3:30pm and 5:00pm at various sites across the state. Below is a preview of each participating team (listed in bracket order, separated by first-round match-up), followed by how our staff sees the tournament playing out (teaser: there is a consensus favorite).
Note: X-Y before a school name = District-Bid (e.g. 3-2 is the runner-up from District III).
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3-1 Lancaster County Christian Lions (20-4)
The Commonwealth Christian Athletic Conference champs have bookended their season with a 10-game winning streak to start and the current 8-game one they are on. Junior Kyle Ebersole (64.2 IP, 46 H, 9 BB, 69 K) and senior Jensen King (46 IP, 24 H, 21 BB, 78 K) form the 1-2 punch atop the rotation while senior Chandler Petersheim (18 IP, 9 H, 6 BB, 28 K) serves as the relief ace. Petersheim (.443 AVG, 15 XBH, 12 BB vs 3 K, 21 SB), Ebersole (.393 AVG, 18 BB vs 5 K) and King (.452 AVG, 12 BB vs 6 K, 10 SB) are also the top performers in a line-up hitting a composite .364 with a .460 OBP and nearly 3.5 steals per game.
12-1 GAMP Pioneers (7-13)
Played one game all season against a 1A school, as the Philadelphia Public League does not separate its divisions by enrollment. Senior Dylan Anderson (.460 AVG) and junior Matt Ventus (.394 AVG), both 2nd-team all-PPL Division A selections, power the offense, while Ventus also serves as the mound ace. Will have an 11-day layoff between last PPL playoff game and first round of state.
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2-1 Blue Ridge Red Raiders (9-8)
Finishing in a 4th place tie in LIAA Division 4, the Red Raiders don’t sport as impressive a record as others in this bracket, although they did go 8-3 against the 1A competition on its schedule (other games were vs 2A schools). The young squad (only three seniors on the roster) split the regular-season series with the two 1A teams that finished ahead of them in the standings, before knocking off both of them in the district tournament. The sophomore tandem of Jake Decker and Derek Stento could both see time on the bump in the opening round. Decker (.405 AVG) and Stento (.370 AVG) also power the offense, along with senior Kalieb Scheideler (.352 AVG) and University of the Sciences-bound Trey Hillard (.327 AVG).
4-1 Montgomery Area Red Raiders (17-4)
Finished in a tie for 2nd-place in PHAC Division III with 2A Warrior Run behind 2A South Williamsport (and was the only 1A school in the division with an above .500 division record). A twelve-person roster doesn’t afford a whole lot of depth, so expect junior Dylan Gordon, who pitched the district semifinal and championship game (both 1-run wins), to continue to shoulder a heavy load for the pitching staff. A speed-based line-up that has eight senior starters and seven players with at least seven stolen bases is led by Thomas Goetz (.344 AVG, .468 OBP, 10 SB).
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1-1 Christopher Dock Mennonite Pioneers (16-4)
Only one loss to a 1A school all spring, with other three coming against the district's 2A & 3A champs (Devon Prep & Holy Ghost Prep, respectively) and 4A Souderton Area. The top three hitters in the order -- Messiah-bound Jimmy Kustra (.419 AVG, .526 OBP, 33 SB), junior Tyler Alderfer (.435 AVG, .581 OBP, 19 SB), and junior Tim DiLoreto (.500 AVG, 10 XBH, 15 SB) -- have scored an astounding 80 of the team’s 161 runs. Three pitchers have combined to log 93% of the team’s innings, with strike-throwing sophomore Daniel Sabath (44.1 IP, 31 H, 9 BB, 70 K) and senior Evan Trauger (43 IP, 32 H, 35 BB, 70 K) leading the way.
11-1 Tri-Valley Bulldogs (15-8)
Finished in second place in Schuylkill League Division 2 behind district 2A champ Schuylkill Haven Area. Stumbled out of the gate to a 3-5 record before winning twelve of its last fifteen. Frederick CC-bound Hunter Bordner (66.1 IP, 53 H, 18 BB, 92 K) is the lone senior on a pitching staff that has seen four freshman, including Will Kimmel (33 IP, 39 H, 8 BB, 19 K) and Jacob Masser (28.2 IP, 39 H, 7 BB 14 K), log the most innings after him. Junior Hunter Herb (.417 AVG, 11 XBH) joins Bordner (.358 AVG, 16 BB vs 4 K, 10 XBH) in powering the offense.
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5-1 Southern Fulton Indians (22-2)
Come in riding a 17-game winning streak, the last of which avenged an early-season loss to Meyersdale Area when the Indians knocked off the Red Raiders in the district title game for the second straight year. High-octane duo of junior Trent Rider (59.1 IP, 36 H, 5 BB, 93 K) and Cowley County CC-bound Connor Litton (26.1 IP, 13 H, 9 BB, 48 K) lead a pitching staff that is allowing less than two runs per game. The offense is no slouch either, with four regulars hitting over .400: Litton (.415 AVG, 17 SB), sophomore Dylan Gordon (.435 AVG), senior Tristan Douglas (.473 AVG), and Rider (.448 AVG, 13 BB vs 3 K, 11 XBH).
3-2 Millersburg Area Indians (17-6)
The Tri-Valley Athletic Association East Division champ followed a three-game losing streak in mid-April by winning 13 of their last 15 contests. The pitching staff has been primarily a three-man affair of senior Connor Keim (39.2 IP, 35 H, 10 BB, 29 K), sophomore Christian Wingard (36.1 IP, 27 H, 27 BB, 39 K), and senior Ethan Troutman (32.1 IP, 28 H, 5 BB, 31 K). Keim (.438 AVG) and Wingard (.435 AVG), both unanimous 1st-team all-TVAA selections, are the offensive stalwarts.
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7-1 Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions (20-3)
Unbeaten against 1A competition (two of three losses vs 3A schools, other vs independent). Ripped off a 15-game win streak in the middle of the season. Pitching staff is fronted by Campbell-bound Collin Liberatore (47 IP, 24 H, 9 BB, 76 K), the top pitching prospect in this bracket. Sophomore Neal McDermott, senior Cole Reese, and junior J.P. Pellis all logged at least 18 innings with at least a two-to-one strikeout-to-walk ratio. The offense is led by Washington & Jefferson-bound Reese (.470 AVG, 11 XBH, 14 SB) and junior Penn commit Tommy Pellis (.561 AVG, 15 BB vs 2 K, 11 XBH), along with Liberatore (.400 AVG) and senior Nick Roperti (.373 AVG).
6-2 Blairsville Bobcats (16-3)
71% of the innings for the Heritage Conference champ have been thrown by sophomore Ryan Shirley (40 IP, 34 H, 12 BB, 28 K) and senior Joshua Daugherty (31 IP, 21 H, 24 BB, 47 K). Senior Scott Thompson (.538 AVG, 10 XBH, 12 SB) does a little bit of everything to aid run-scoring, while his fellow senior Cameron Livingston (.418 AVG) is also a major contributor for an offense that averages over nine runs per game.
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10-1 Eisenhower Knights (12-3)
As per usual, weather wreaked havoc on the northwest part of the state this spring, so the Region 4 champs come in with less games under their belt than anyone else in this bracket. Athletic junior Casey Vincent (50.1 IP, 16 H, 89 K) is capable of shutting down any team in the state (let alone in this bracket). Vincent (.510 AVG) and senior Kyle Hunt (.500 AVG) lead a line-up that has three other regulars hitting over .300 as well.
9-2 Clarion Area Bobcats (14-4)
Quality wins over Elk County Catholic (whose only other losses on the seasons were to 3A schools) and 2A Cranberry Area (in which it outlasted Pitt-bound Dylan Cyphert for a 10-inning triumph) highlight the schedule for the Bobcats. Senior Derek Lauer (.480 AVG), freshman Spencer Miller (.415 AVG, 12 SB), and senior Max Lane (.289 AVG, 22 BB vs 9 K for a .556 OBP) power the offense. Carleton College-bound Lane (45 IP, 25 H, 12 BB, 54 K), who pitched both games mentioned above, is also the frontman for the pitching staff. Note: stats do not include District IX championship game.
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6-1 Juniata Valley Hornets (16-5)
Has not lost a game against a 1A school yet this spring (nine contests vs 2A or 3A schools). Pitching staff is led by the senior duo of Konner Barton (57 IP, 43 H, 21 BB, 61 K) & Zach Beam (38.2 IP, 45 H, 11 BB, 30 K). Offense is powered by La Roche-bound Kordell Collins (.455 AVG, 10 XBH) and stud sophomore Bryce Hensor (.485 AVG, 14 XBH, 21 SB), while four others are hitting over .300.
7-3 Serra Catholic Eagles (18-6)
The other District VII representatives in this bracket are the only two in-state teams to solve the Eagles pitching staff, which has given up two or less runs against all others (save for one game in which the opponent managed three). Sophomore Cole McCombs (32 IP, 15 BB, 60 K) allowed just five hits on his way to recording all three of the team’s wins in the WPIAL playoffs. Senior Zac Quattrone (37 IP, 12 BB, 74 K) and freshman Ben Visnesky (28 IP, 3 BB, 38 K) have given quality innings as well. Offensively, freshmen Nate Pionka and Ben Visnesky have made a huge impact early in their careers, while Quattrone was on fire in the WPIAL tournament.
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9-1 Oswayo Valley Green Wave (20-2)
A program single-season record for wins and its first-ever district title have already led to quite a season for one of the three smallest schools still alive in this bracket. Only one loss vs in-state competition (to 3A Bradford Area), and that came the second week of the season. Offense is led by senior Kent Costello (.425 AVG), junior Dylan Buchholz (.440 AVG, 13 XBH), and freshman Garren Black (.400 AVG, 12 XBH). Despite starting only two seniors and having four freshman in the line-up, have outscored opponents 216-45. Primary pitchers are junior Brandon Brabham, senior Coby Krajewski, and Black.
7-2 California Area Trojans (19-2)
The WPIAL section 1 champs bludgeoned their opponents all season, racking up a composite .416 AVG, .545 OBP, and .590 SLG. Leading the way are athletic Seton Hill-bound Aaron Previsky (.533 AVG, 18 XBH, 14 SB), junior Louden Conte (.550 AVG, 11 BB vs 1 K, 27 SB), and sophomores Nathaniel Luketich (.600 AVG, 14 XBH) and John DeFranco (.520 AVG, 18 BB vs 4 K, 11 SB). Pitching staff is fronted by a pair of Westmoreland County CC-bound arms -- Garritt Woodburn (38.1 IP, 38 H, 9 BB, 31 K) and Chris Swartz (25.2 IP, 28 H, 3 BB, 15 K) -- along with sophomore Drake Johnson (19.2 IP, 14 H, 7 BB, 18 K). Conte (8.2 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 10 K) is the de facto closer, but was rarely utilized due to 14 wins coming by at least seven runs.
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| Williams | Gill | Leitzel | Chimel | |
| Quarterfinalists | LCCS Montgomery Area Christopher Dock Southern Fulton GCC Eisenhower Juniata Valley California Area |
LCCS Montgomery Area Christopher Dock Southern Fulton GCC Eisenhower Juniata Valley California Area |
LCCS Montgomery Area Tri-Valley Southern Fulton GCC Eisenhower Juniata Valley California Area |
LCCS Blue Ridge Christopher Dock Millersburg Area GCC Eisenhower Serra Catholic California Area |
| Semifinalists | LCCS Southern Fulton GCC California Area |
LCCS Southern Fulton GCC Juniata Valley |
LCCS Southern Fulton GCC California Area |
LCCS Christopher Dock GCC Serra Catholic |
| Championship | GCC over Southern Fulton |
GCC over Southern Fulton |
GCC over LCCS |
GCC over LCCS |
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