TWO TEAMS THAT MISSED SHOTS AT GREATNESS
One in a series looking at notable individuals and teams that had their spring seasons wiped out by the COVID-19 pandemic.
West Allegheny has had some outstanding baseball teams over the years, including four that won WPIAL championships.
So, when coach Bryan Cornell praised this year’s team like he did, it speaks volumes.
“We kept telling the kids that this had the potential to be the best team to ever come out of West Allegheny,” Cornell said.
This West Allegheny team, ranked No. 1 in Class 5A by the PostGazette, was star-studded and deep. Only a few other high school teams in the country boasted an MLB firstround pick like the Indians did with senior Austin Hendrick. The pitching staff was anchored by a pair of SEC recruits — sophomore Gavin Miller (Auburn) and Hendrick (Mississippi State) — and the offense might have been as good as any in the WPIAL.
“Limitless,” senior Cameron Pankyo Morris said of the team’s potential. “Every position was filled with crazy talent. Head to head, I don’t think anyone could match us.”
Added Miller: “I think we would have made a state run.”
Winning a state title is something West Allegheny has never done, but the 12 seniors on this team might have changed that. The group had already done a lot of winning, helping the Indians go 21-3, 16-3 and 18-3 the previous three seasons. They lost only two section games in that span and reached the WPIAL semifinals in 2017 and 2018 before being upset in the quarterfinals last season.
“They worked extremely hard. I knew they wouldn’t take any opponent lightly. They were setting themselves up to make a run,” Cornell said.
Hendrick’s star power would have made West Allegheny games a hot ticket, not only for fans but for MLB personnel. Cornell said he was anticipating between 25-40 scouts at every game. They would have converged on West Allegheny’s home field at Donaldson Elementary School and the fields of the Indians’ opponents to watch Hendrick put on power displays in batting practice and games.
“It would have been a great atmosphere for everyone, not just major league scouts, but for people coming to see Austin, baseball lovers just coming to watch West Allegheny games,” said Cornell, who has guided the Indians to three WPIAL titles since becoming coach in 2004.
Said Pankyo Morris: “It would have been awesome. Something you would only see once in a lifetime.”
Three seniors were slated to start in the outfield — Brandon Norris in left, Hendrick in center and Panyko Morris in right. Around the diamond, junior Luke Lambert was the catcher, sophomore Devan Zirwas at first base, senior Walker Heh at second, Miller at shortstop and junior Brayden Horton at third. Senior twins Zach and Matt Lockwich would have seen lots of time, too.
After averaging 8.7 runs per game a season ago, the Indians hoped to be even more potent with a lineup that featured a top five of Hendrick, Miller, Lambert, senior designated hitter Mason Timko and Pankyo Morris. Each of them hit better than .300 last season, with Pankyo Morris leading the way with a .407 average. Lambert is an Ohio recruit, while Timko is headed to Ohio Wesleyan and Pankyo Morris to Slippery Rock.
“One through nine, there were no holes,” Miller said. “Usually you can get away with a couple batters. There were nine solid guys. I was lucky to not be the opposing pitcher.”
Other teams wouldn’t have been so lucky to face Miller and Hendrick. Miller sparkled as a freshman, going 7-1 with a 1.56 ERA. The Indians were getting back a healthy Hendrick, who got a late start last season due to hernia surgery before going 20 with an 0.72 ERA in limited work.
“They were so reliable. That’s the thing,” said Pankyo Morris. “Pitch Gavin, then give him two days rest. Pitch Austin, then give him two days rest. We had nice relief pitchers, so the rotation really flowed.”
Pankyo Morris was one of those relievers, along with Zirwas and senior Ryan Dorste.
If all had gone as planned, Cornell would have been seeing a lot of his players this spring. They could still be playing now, as the PIAA championships had been scheduled for this weekend. Instead, Cornell hasn’t seen them, other than through a Zoom meeting, since March.
“That’s the thing that stinks, that I couldn’t sit down face to face with them and give them all hugs, especially the seniors,” he said. “We didn’t have that, to be able to sit there and thank them, and tell them how much I appreciate them and what they’ve done for the program.”