Canon-McMillan fell short of reaching the playoffs a season ago.
It has been a different story this spring for the Big Macs, who have made big strides and not only have already earned a spot in the playoffs but also could be on the cusp of winning a section title.
“Just continuing the process,” third-year coach Brendon Steele said. “We were a little younger last year, but we’re very senior and junior heavy this year. The kids got a lot of experience last year and just continue to work on their craft and come together as a team.”
It has been a total team effort for Canon-McMillan (13-4 overall, 9-3 in Class 6A Section 2), which has used some terrific pitching and a powerful offense to rise to the top of the section. The Big Macs, who have scored the most runs (127) and surrendered the fewest (39) in Class 6A, won for the fifth time in their past six games Thursday courtesy of a 4-3 triumph against Hempfield in the section finale. Norwin and Mt. Lebanon — both 6-3 in section play — are also in contention for the section title. Those teams play a three-game series next week. Canon-McMillan lost 2 of 3 against Norwin but won 2 of 3 against Mt. Lebanon, so barring a Norwin sweep, the Big Macs will be section champs.
Junior right-handers Sebastian Shulsky and MJ Maruschak have been aces of a staff that has registered a 2.38 team ERA. Shulsky is 5-0 with a 1.66 ERA and has struck out 49 in 33⅔ innings. Maruschak, an Ohio recruit, is 4-0 with a 1.17 ERA and has fanned 46 in 30 innings. Both gave up just one run in complete-game victories against Hempfield this week. The two have lots of experience, as they also served as the team’s top two starters last season.
“If you look at their statistics, they’re darn near identical,” Steele said. “They just go out, listen to the coaching staff, and just execute their plan. They want to be dominant and stay within themselves, and let the strong defense behind them make plays.”
Maruschak, who is hitting .417, is also one of the headliners of the Big Macs’ offensive attack. Senior Kolten Smittle (.529), sophomore Brayden Radue (.421), junior Massimo Falconi (.364), sophomore Troy Stimpson (.349), senior Ben Peterson (.333) and senior Teddy Burke (.308) are all hitting better than .300. Stimpson has a team-best 10 extra-base hits (including two home runs and six doubles), Shank has a team-high 16 RBIs, and Stimpson and Falconi are tied for the team lead with 14 runs scored. The Big Macs are hitting .350 as a team.
“We’re not top heavy or bottom heavy,” Steele said of his lineup, which he tinkers with regularly. “It’s a complementary lineup. When the top half isn’t producing, then the bottom half is. Whoever is in the lineup that day gets it done.”
Steele has 13 seniors on the team, many of whom plan on playing in college. They include Peterson (St. Joseph’s), Burke (East Georgia State), Smittle (Bethany), Landon Holly (Bethany), Alex Shank (Washington & Jefferson), Tyson Mead (Washington & Jefferson), Colin Yeager (Gannon), Landon Holly (Bethany) and Tyler Schmeltz (Hiram).
The Big Macs have been on a big roll, and Steele is hoping that continues as the playoffs near.
“The conference is very solid and we’ve been fortunate to be in a lot of games, and we hope to continue to,” Steele said. “We don’t want to peak yet. We want to peak in the playoffs. If we keep hitting our stride, I have full confidence in our team headed into the postseason.”
Putting the ‘win’ in Baldwin
One of the biggest turnarounds in the WPIAL has taken place at Baldwin. A year after going 1-19 and not winning a section game, the Highlanders are 7-5 overall and earlier this week clinched a playoff berth for the first time since 2014.
It has been quite a reversal of fortune for Baldwin, which dropped its final 16 games last season. Fast forward to this season, and the Highlanders won their sixth game in their last seven tries by defeating Connellsville, 4-2, on Wednesday. That improved the Highlanders to 6-2 in Class 5A Section 4, one game behind section-leader Thomas Jefferson (9-4, 7-1). Thomas Jefferson swept a two-game series against the Highlanders earlier this month.
Under the direction of first-year coach Scott Wolf, Baldwin has been getting some outstanding pitching. The Highlanders have given up only seven runs in their past six section games. In recent weeks, junior Tyler Dingus threw a four-inning no-hitter against McKeesport and senior Nick Burg tossed a complete-game shutout against Gateway. Junior Ethan Helbling has been one of the hitting stars this week. His two-run single in the eighth gave the Highlanders a 5-3 win at Connellsville on Tuesday.
Mohawk’s Fadden an athlete of all seasons
You would be hard pressed to find many WPIAL athletes as good in three or more sports as Mohawk’s Bobby Fadden, who has followed up excellent seasons in football and basketball with a strong season on the diamond.
A junior infielder, Fadden is the second-leading hitter for a Mohawk team (7-5 overall, 5-3 in Class 3A Section 1) that has won five of their past six games. Fadden is batting .459 to go along with a team-best 6 triples, 10 RBIs and 14 runs scored. He has multiple hits in each of his last four games, going 9 for 13 during that stretch.
As a quarterback in football, Fadden threw for 1,682 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 618 yards and six touchdowns last season. That came after he ranked as one of the WPIAL’s most productive receivers a season earlier when he pulled in 43 receptions. And then during basketball season, Fadden pumped in 22.3 points per game and became Mohawk’s all-time leading career scorer, ending his junior season with 1,702 points.
In addition, Fadden played on the golf team last fall and qualified for the WPIAL Class 2A individual championship. He also participated in a track meet earlier this season, taking part in the high jump, long jump and triple jump.
New Brighton’s Budacki doing it all
His initials might be B.B., but New Brighton’s Brock Budacki has earned an “A” on the grading scale this season.
Budacki, a senior catcher-pitcher and Florida Southern recruit, has been a big producer all over for New Brighton, which is 9-5 overall and in first place in Class 2A Section 2 with a mark of 7-3. The Lions have won nine of their last 11 games, the most recent two section wins coming earlier this week against Northgate. Budacki homered in both games to give him a team-best three on the season.
Budacki has been doing a phenomenal job of getting on base, as his .759 on-base percentage ranks among the best in the state. He’s batting a team-best .607 and has drawn 24 walks compared to only five strikeouts. And when he gets on base, he gives opponents fits, as he has swiped 26 bases, which also ranks among the state leaders. Budacki has scored a team-high 24 runs and is second with 15 RBIs. He’s also been the team’s top pitcher, going 4-0 with a 2.67 ERA. He has collected 38 strikeouts in 21 innings of work.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.