NA in middle of greatness
North Allegheny already had a proven star up the middle. Two years ago, shortstop Cole Young became the first freshman to ever make the 10-player Post-Gazette AllArea team.
Spencer Barnett, on the other hand, was a relative unknown coming into this season. He was a sophomore ready to assume the starting position at second base for a perennial WPIAL power. But with the cancellation of last season due to COVID-19, Barnett had never been in a high school game before this season.
But Young has proven his worth again, Barnett has used this season as a coming-out party and together the two have given North Allegheny star power up the middle. And Young and Barnett are two of the main reasons North Allegheny will find itself in the middle of the WPIAL Class 6A championship game next week when the Tigers play Hempfield at Wild Things Park in Washington.
“I don’t think there’s a better up-the-middle combination around (in the WPIAL),” North Allegheny coach Andrew Heck said. “From the power side of things hitting, as well as defensively, I think they’ve been unbelievable.”
Young and Barnett are two left-handed hitters who have done a lot of right things for North Allegheny. They have top-end talent with bright futures. Young, a 6-foot, 185pound junior, made a verbal commitment to Duke as a freshman and Heck and others believe the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Young is a good prospect for the 2022 MLB draft and could
possibly be taken in the top 10-15 rounds. Barnett is 6-2, 185, has a truckload of potential and already has made a commitment to play at West Virginia. He would probably be a shortstop for any other team, but won’t play that position at North Allegheny with Young around.
But getting them on the field together this season has been a big problem for North Allegheny opponents.
In 22 games, Young is second on the team in batting average at .431 (25 for 58), even though he doesn’t often see good pitches. Because of Young’s reputation, he sees plenty of off-speed pitches and outside fastballs. It’s one of the reasons he has been walked 22 times.
“One of my main problems is I try to do too much at the plate,” Young said. “The thing for me is staying within myself.”
But Young is still doing plenty. He is a shortstop with power, tying for the WPIAL lead in home runs during the regular season with six. He has 19 RBIs, 4 doubles and 2 triples. Plus, “he just flashes unbelievable plays defensively,” Heck said.
Barnett has made a name for himself with a .390 average (23 for 59) and he leads North Allegheny in RBIs with 29. He has hit a home run in each of North Allegheny’s first two WPIAL playoff games and now has seven for the year in 22 games, to go along with four doubles and one triple.
“We didn’t have a season last year, but we had a preseason and we knew how good he was,” Heck said. “I know inside you can say a kid has a good swing in the batting cages. But with (Barnett), it just comes off the bat differently. There’s a different noise off his bat.
“People ask me about players and I say you have to look at this Barnett kid. Cole Young had one of the most pure swings I’ve ever seen from a kid at the ninth-grade level. But right after him is
Spencer Barnett.”
Barnett and Young didn’t know each other much before this season because of the COVID shutdown last year. But having big success while playing second base and shortstop can create a bond.
“I remember whenever he committed to West Virginia, I was like, ‘Wow, I’m excited to play with him,’” Young said. “As soon as this season started, I knew how good he was. We sit near each other on bus rides to games. We talk a lot at practice now. I love the kid.”
Barnett said, “We knew of each other before but I can’t say we were really close. This year, playing the middle infield, we’ve just come together.”
Barnett is the son of a former North Allegheny player. Ken Barnett was the starting first baseman for North Allegheny’s 1991 team that won the school’s second WPIAL baseball championship. Barnett was 2 for 3 in the 1991 WPIAL title game against Armstrong Central.
Spencer Barnett didn’t come into this season with high expectations. The hitting power has come out more in the past year or so.
“I was just looking to help the team out any way I could. Wherever they wanted to put me, I was happy to play,” Barnett said. “I think I have proven I’m a pretty good player.”
Young has a reputation that stretches far outside Western Pa. This summer, he will play his third season with Canes National, which is made up of top players from around the country. Canes National is associated with Canes Baseball organization, which has national teams at different age levels.
“I know a bunch of agents have reached out to him already,” Heck said. “But he still has to go out and prove it.”
Young would prefer not to talk much about next year and the draft.
“I just want to have fun with whatever I do,” Young said. “That’s the only thing I want to focus on. A lot of people look down the road too much and don’t enjoy the moment.”
Young and Barnett have given North Allegheny plenty of good “moments” this season. Will there be more to come?