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Conference Preview: WPIAL Class AAAA - Section 2

March 3, 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 2

Preseason Favorites

Penn-Trafford (13-8), Hempfield Area (21-5)

The race for the Section 2 title appears to be a two team battle. Penn-Trafford is loaded with young talent and should be very competitive for several years to come with the current core of players on their roster. Hempfield Area graduated eight seniors from their 21 win season of 2013, but return enough fire power to still contend.


In the Hunt

Norwin (10-10)

After winning 40 consecutive regular season games in 2011 and 2012, the Knights struggled through a rebuilding season in 2013. Division I recruits J.J. Matijevic (Arizona), Noah Smith (Mount St. Mary's) and Dom Farina (Youngstown State) will attempt to lead Norwin back to the top of Section 2. 


J.J. MatijevicPreseason Player of the Year

J.J. Matijevic, Norwin (Class of 2014)

The 6-foot-2, 205-pound left-handed hitter has been beating up WPIAL pitching for what seems like a decade. Matijevic burst onto the scene as a freshman when he hit .562 in limiting action. As a sophomore in 2012 the Arizona recruit solidified his place as one of the premier hitters in Pennsylvania when he hit .473 with 35 RBI and six home runs. Matijevic is ranked No. 3 in PA and No. 23 in the PBR combined Class of 2014 rankings.

 

Top Prospects

Connellsville

Ryan Huey, RHP (Class of 2014)
Brock Bonadio, SS (Class of 2015)

Greater Latrobe

Josh Keefe, LHP/OF (Class of 2014, Coastal Carolina commit)
Jon Kolling, RHP/3B (Class of 2014)
Brett Vallorani, RHP/OF (Class of 2014)
Seth Holler, 1B/3B (Class of 2015)

Hempfield Area

Joey DeFloria, OF (Class of 2014, Bucknell football recruit)
Tyler Hensler, C (Class of 2014)
Marc Demilio, RHP/3B (Class of 2014)
Tyler Tubbs, RHP/OF (Pitt-Johnstown recruit)
Noah Beasley, 3B/2B (Class of 2015)
Matt Tarabek, SS (Class of 2016)
Charlie Varriano, 3B/RHP (Class of 2017)
Jordan Fiedor, RHP/OF (Class of 2017)

Kiski Area

Brandon Smail, RHP/1B (Class of 2014)
Cameron Smail, 2B/SS (Class of 2014)

Norwin

J.J. Matijevic, 1B/3B/OF (Class of 2014, Arizona recruit)
Noah Smith, RHP/OF (Class of 2014, Mount St. Mary's recruit)
Dom Farina, C/1B (Class of 2014, Youngstown State recruit)
Connor Perry, LHP/OF (Class of 2015)

Penn-Trafford

Tyler Smith, 3B/RHP (Class of 2014, Canisius recruit)
Shane Churma, 2B/OF (Class of 2015)
Luke Smeltz, OF/SS (Class of 2015)
Scott Koscho, C/OF (Class of 2015)
Shane Mallon, OF/LHP (Class of 2015)
Dom Coconcelli, LHP/OF (Class of 2016)
Zach Jacobelli, 2B/SS (Class of 2016)

 

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


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