Page 1 of 5

Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: January 31st, 2018, 8:28 pm
by BigSkyCountry
I know that the hoops season is peaking for playoffs and the weather is still favoring the winter sports and not spring, but the spring sport season is right around the corner with their practices kicking into high gear in one month. Who are the conference favorites and which individuals will be the leaders on each team? Can McCort and Meyersdale make repeat appearances in the state finals? Are Penn Cambria, Somerset or Forest Hills primed to win the district title and make their run? Are Portage and Conemaugh Township the top teams in the WestPAC North and Meyersdale and Berlin the teams to beat in the South? Who are the sleepers that could make a statement and put a halt to the success of any of the aforementioned? I think the overall quality of high school baseball in the area has seen a spike in overall performance and the top performers on the teams are performing at a pretty high level. It seems more athletes are getting a look at playing at a high level at the collegiate level. Our area is represented well. Anyone want to think spring and talk some baseball? 

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: January 31st, 2018, 10:59 pm
by DragonsDoExist
Huntingdon has to be the early favorite in 3A.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 10:20 am
by ERAChamp
Bair will be a stud at McCort as a freshman.

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 10:31 am
by Crimson's Ghost
Seitz for McCort will be back as their ace, has pitched in countless big games in two consecutive state title appearances. McCort should have a chance to make a run again I would think, especially if the Bair kid plays well as a freshman. 

Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 10:49 am
by ERAChamp
Seitz may be their ace, but right now I think Bair has better stuff.  It will be interesting to see how he develops, but as a pitcher at this point as a freshman, he is better than Cecere was at the same age, and that is saying a LOT.

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 11:32 am
by Crimson's Ghost
There's a fair amount of pitchers that have better stuff than Seitz, very few have been as good as he has been the past two seasons. It takes two really good pitchers to win a state title, so if Bair is as good as advertised, McCort has a chance.

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 11:39 am
by ERAChamp
Couldn't agree with you more, Crimson, and Seitz definitely has the experience as he has been there and done it, but this Bair kid is the real deal. I am sure McCort will throw those two every chance they get.

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 11:52 am
by Colonel Mustard
Just curious, do you think the spike in performance and more kids getting a look from colleges now is just a cyclical thing or a result of the year-round work, specialization, and exposure from travel ball that is popular now. For the record, I'm not sure I agree that there is a spike now. The last guys to make it to the bigs from our area are still Mike Holtz and Keith Williams if I remember correctly.

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 1st, 2018, 2:57 pm
by Manfred
The backstop at Somerset has a brigade's worth of all star names. A guy named Shawn Hillegas pitched a few years back for the Dodgers and Braves. Mike Ryan was pretty good. How big an area? Devin Mesoraco, Matt Adams pretty good too. Sorry for the diversion, but the question was asked, as it seems every year.

Re: Pre-Season Favorites

Posted: February 3rd, 2018, 11:32 am
by BigSkyCountry
How about we take a look at current student athletes who are either verbally committed or are getting a serious look due to their performances/potential thus far. Just seems as I hear, it sounds as if there are a number of high performers that are moving on to represent our area at the next level and some high up in the next level (not pros, college). I may not know all of their names: Penn Cambrias lefty hurler - Pitt, Cecere - Wake Forest, Ertter - PSU, Pitcher from Chestnut Ridge - WVU, Gooden - Morehead State, and Pitcher from Mount Union - WVU. May be more verbals that I am unaware of - please feel free to add. I have heard that Somerset has a shortstop that may have committed to Duke? Dull from C. Ridge? Lefty hurler from Conemaugh Township? Pitcher from Hollidaysburg? Just a few that I am aware of. Thats a pretty healthy list IMO. I am sure not all are committed but I have at least heard that they are or should be on the radar for some.