Seneca Valley riding Greiner’s hot start
It’s early April in Western Pennsylvania, meaning high school baseball teams are slowly starting to get games in despite Mother Nature playing games of her own.
However, the cold fronts and rainy days haven’t stunted everyone’s growth.
Seneca Valley’s Cory Greiner is an example of that.
“To be honest, he has been in midseason form,” Raiders coach Eric Semega said.
Greiner is regarded as one of the best players in WPIAL Class 6A and his hot start has been just what a team like Seneca Valley — the Raiders missed out on the playoffs the past three seasons — has needed.
Greiner has been a fixture in Seneca Valley’s starting lineup since his freshman season. An all-section choice last season, Greiner, a left-handed pitcher and outfielder, has been on a tear in the early going. In Seneca Valley’s first four games, Greiner was 2-0 with an 0.70 ERA in two starts and was hitting .533 with five RBIs and five runs scored. The Raiders improved to 5-1 Wednesday after a 13-3 six-inning win against Latrobe.
“He’s throwing first-pitch strikes and working ahead of batters,” Semega said. “He’s more of a spot pitcher and he changes speeds. He’s also our No. 2 hitter. He not only has the ability to drive in runs, but also sacrifice guys over for the betterment of the team.”
Greiner is one of nine seniors on the team. That group also includes shortstop Mark Trotta, outfielder Josh McLean and catcher Cam Vozel.
Helping the Raiders earn a playoff spot sits high up among Greiner’s goals.
“This year we have a lot more focus. We really mesh as a team,” he said.
Greiner said he might not play baseball in college. He’s thinking about pursuing a career in the military, just like his father and both of his grandfathers.
Seton LaSalle
When Seton LaSalle coach Mike Wagner looks at his team, he sees a number of key players who weren’t wearing Rebels’ uniforms last season. That’s because they weren’t even in high school.
Seton LaSalle (4-1), which fell short of reaching the playoffs the past two seasons, could be a major factor in Class 2A this season. A big reason for that is a strong freshman class that might be one of the best in the entire WPIAL.
“We’ve got five kids that have played high-level AAU baseball for quite a few years,” said Wagner, who is in his second season.
Heading the youth movement is pitcher-outfielder-infielder Drew Lafferty, who has already made a verbal commitment to Kentucky. Lafferty was the winning pitcher in Seton LaSalle’s season opener and had three hits and two RBIs in its second game. He hit his first home run in Monday’s 4-2 loss to Montour.
“He throws in the mid- to upper-80s and he can flat-out hit. He’s probably the anchor of that class,” Wagner said.
The freshman group also includes left-handed pitcher Sam Georgiana and third baseman Brett Wagner, the coach’s son. Wagner had three hits and the winning RBI in a 7-6 win against Class 6A Plymouth Whitemarsh and Georgiana picked up the pitching win after giving up two runs and striking out seven to help the Rebels finish their trip to Vero Beach, Fla., with a 3-0 record. Two other freshmen who have been starting are outfielders Gabe Finale and Brian Vogel.
While the freshman class is highly regarded, the Rebels have some older talent, as well. Of senior left-handed pitcheroutfielder Nick Vari, Mike Wagner said, “He’s our leader. No doubt.” Vari is a La Roche recruit. Junior outfielder Dom Popa and junior first baseman Dan Boehme are two other top players. Boehme is a transfer from Peters Township.
Union
Jake Vitale tossed some innings here and there as a freshman relief pitcher during Union’s run to a first WPIAL championship appearance last season.
But Union coach Bill Sanders hopes to carve out a bigger role for Vitale this season, and this sophomore lefthander made the most of his first opportunity.
In his first career start, Vitale tossed a no-hitter and struck out 14 in Union’s 11-0 five-inning win against Western Beaver last Tuesday.
“My plan was to stretch him out and go three or four innings,” Sanders said, “but he kept saying, ‘I’m fine. I’m fine.’ The innings went quick and he didn’t throw many pitches. I think he threw 82. We’re working up to him being our No. 1 or 2 starter.”
Seniors Cameron Brown and Rob King are also in the mix for Union, which graduated all-section pick Matt Costello, the team’s ace last season who went 5-2 with a 1.79 ERA and also batted .553.
Union lost in the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals in 2017 and in the final against Vincentian last season. This year’s group might be the one that brings the program its first WPIAL title. The top-ranked Scotties (12) start five juniors who have been starters since their freshmen seasons: shortstop Nate Meeks, catcher Bryce Smith, designated hitter/first baseman Sean Louis, and outfielders Vince Fuleno and Brayden Porter. Two other top players back are senior outfielder Seth Pinkerton, an all-section pick last season, and junior infielder Tyler Benedict.