The sun has set on another high school baseball season, one that concluded Friday following a rainy afternoon at the PIAA championships.
This season had many highlights. Mt. Lebanon left-hander David Shields drew loads of MLB scouts every time he took the mound. Some were on hand to watch him throw in the WPIAL Class 6A championship, a game that saw Shields’ mound opponent, David Posey, fire a no-hitter to help North Allegheny end Mt. Lebanon’s two-year reign as champion.
Seton LaSalle’s Gio LoNero was busy once again mashing baseballs left and right, while Indiana’s Ben Ryan launched a few of them into orbit. We were introduced to talented freshmen like Mt. Lebanon’s Graham Keen, and watched promising talents such as Knoch’s Zane Pacek, a teen who hopes to one day become the tallest player in MLB history.
Of course, many champions were crowned. Penn-Trafford captured its first WPIAL title, while Avonworth claimed its first in 32 years. Seton LaSalle and Bishop Canevin repeated as WPIAL champions. North Allegheny and North Catholic won titles, as well.
It’s now officially awards season, and no one brings you them sooner than the Pittsburgh Union Progress. Introducing the second-annual PUP baseball awards, which celebrate the best of the best from the 2024 high school baseball season. These aren’t your cookie cutter-type of awards. They are category-based and include such honors as Most Feared Slugger, Rookie of the Year and Best Name.
All players in the WPIAL and City League were considered, and all finalists and winners were selected by the PUP sports staff.
(Winners in bold)
Best Pitcher
David Shields, Mt. Lebanon
Zach Hare, Riverside
David Posey, North Allegheny
Skinny: An illness slowed Shields down early in the season, but once healthy, it was full steam ahead for the talented lefty. The Miami recruit showed why he is expected to be selected in the first couple rounds of next month’s MLB Draft by going 5-1 with a 0.51 ERA while striking out 61 and walking only four in 35 innings, all while typically throwing in front of dozens of scouts.
Best Pure Hitter
Gio LoNero, Seton LaSalle
Zane Griffaton, West Mifflin
Brady Hull, Eden Christian
Skinny: The kid named after Joltin’ Joe DiMaggio put a jolt into many baseballs this spring. A North Alabama recruit, LoNero led the WPIAL with a .632 batting average, marking the third year in a row he hit at least .565. He also scored 37 runs, knocked in 22, and collected 15 extra-base hits for the WPIAL Class 2A champs.
Most Feared Slugger
Ben Ryan, Indiana
Blake Primrose, North Catholic
Gio LoNero, Seton LaSalle
Skinny: This “Big Ben” not only led all WPIAL players with 10 home runs, but a few of those blasts came in some of Indiana’s biggest games. A senior third baseman-pitcher and Quinnipiac recruit, Ryan homered in the WPIAL Class 4A semifinals, WPIAL championship and twice in the PIAA championship.
Best Championship Performance
David Posey, North Allegheny
Cooper Scharding, Avonworth
Joe Safar, North Catholic
Skinny: A senior right-hander and Navy recruit, Posey was a force through the air as he tossed a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts to lead his army of North Allegheny teammates to a 1-0 upset of two-time defending champion Mt. Lebanon in the WPIAL Class 6A championship.
Most Clutch Performance
Brady Alexander, Shaler
Carson Franc, Avonworth
Michael Hershberger, North Allegheny
Skinny: Severe weather forced the Shaler-South Fayette WPIAL Class 5A first-round game to be played over two days. Shaler trailed, 1-0, heading into Day 2, but Alexander, the final hitter of Day 1 and first of Day 2, provided the thunder, hitting a three-run homer on the second pitch he saw to spark Shaler to a 3-1 win.
BMOC Award
Zane Pacek, Knoch
Colby Weber, Shaler
Santino Diulus, Bethel Park
Skinny: Weber and Diulus are both 6 feet 6, but the Big Man on Campus Award goes to the tallest player you might ever see. At 7 feet, 250 pounds, Pacek was a big attraction. Pacek has talent to go along with his size, and considering he was only a sophomore, we’ll likely be seeing a lot more of him the next two years.
Rookie of the Year
Graham Keen, Mt. Lebanon
Josh Burkholder, Seton LaSalle
Ryan Huey, Fort Cherry
Skinny: Keen was no ordinary freshman. A two-way starter for a Mt. Lebanon team that played for a WPIAL Class 6A title for the third year in a row, Keen batted .324 with team bests of six home runs and 24 RBIs while also going 6-1 with a 1.42 ERA. Keen was ranked by scouting services as the state’s top freshman.
Best Brothers
Caleb and Noah Emswiler, Eden Christian
Tyler and Jackson Maddix, Bishop Canevin
Brandon and Brady Brazell, O.L. Sacred Heart
Skinny: The Emswiler brothers played big parts in Eden Christian making it to both the WPIAL and PIAA Class 1A championship games. Caleb, a senior and Gardner-Webb recruit, hit .425 with 16 extra-base hits and 40 RBIs, while Noah, a sophomore, batted .297 with 19 RBIs and scored 30 runs. Each also won two games on the mound.
Best Name
Justus Buckingham, Chartiers-Houston
Cash Wyble, Burrell
Levi Parrott, Eden Christian
Skinny: It’s doubtful that Buckingham lives in a palace, but it’s certain he owns one of the WPIAL’s most unique names. And the heck with justice being served, it was Justus who served opposing pitchers with hard-hit balls. A sophomore, Buckingham batted .333 with 12 RBIs.
Best Video Interview
Tyler Maddix, Bishop Canevin
Cooper Scharding, Avonworth
David Posey, North Allegheny
Skinny: Maddix receives this award for the second consecutive season after showing a lot of composure — on the field AND on film — while helping Canevin repeat as WPIAL Class 1A champion. Maddix was the winning pitcher and added three RBIs, and also remained cool (cold to be precise) while teammates doused him with water as he was being interviewed.
Check back Monday and Tuesday, when we reveal the PUP baseball Player of the Year and Coach of the Year for the 2024 season. The finalists are listed below.
Player of the Year
Jake Robinson, Montour
David Shields, Mt. Lebanon
Gio LoNero, Seton LaSalle
Coach of the Year
Jeff Bywalski, Avonworth
Dan Petroff, Indiana
Lou Cortazzo, Penn-Trafford
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.