Sun 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.
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.
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.
Preseason Player of the YearConnor 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.
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)
Zack Burkhart, C (Class of 2016)
Dom Dimatteo, OF (Class of 2016)
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)
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)
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)
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)
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