Assuming Mother Nature cooperates … and that’s a big ask … the high school baseball and softball seasons will wrap up Thursday and Friday with the PIAA championships at Penn State University in University Park, Pa.
What’s not a big ask, however, is getting the Pittsburgh Union Progress sports staff to put the finishing touches on their third spring season with their list of award winners. Beginning Sunday and running through Tuesday, the PUP will unveil its annual baseball and softball award winners, along with a player and coach of the year in each sport.
On Sunday, the Union Progress will unleash its version of the season’s top performances — and not just a top pitcher or top hitter, mind you. Yes, we’ll announce our top pick for most feared pitchers and hitters, but also plenty of other categories, such as baserunning, leadoff hitters, postseason performances and even best interview.
Looking at the action from the past few months, there have been plenty of noteworthy efforts.
Riverside’s Zach Hare tossed a perfect game in the WPIAL Class 3A championship and took a postseason hitless streak of 31⅓ innings into the PIAA semifinals.
It may have not been a perfect game, but Serra Catholic pitcher Tyler Skaggs was outstanding in the WPIAL Class 1A championship, throwing a no-hitter to lead the Eagles to a fifth title. And sophomore Colton Temple was a force at the plate for Fort Cherry and nearly won the WPIAL triple crown after ranking among the district regular-season leaders in batting average, home runs and RBIs.
In softball, led by pitcher Addy Frye, nationally ranked Neshannock won a fourth consecutive WPIAL title and took a WPIAL-record 50-game win streak into the PIAA semifinals.
Seneca Valley pitcher Lexie Hames closed out her outstanding career by leading the Raiders to the WPIAL Class 6A final for the fourth year in a row. The two-way star finished her career with 940 strikeouts and 35 home runs. Union ace Mia Preuhs threw a no-hitter and struck out 16 to lead Union past Carmichaels in the WPIAL Class 1A championship.
Following the PUP’s list of award winners on Sunday, the Union Progress will announce its choice for baseball and softball players of the year on Monday, June 16. And wrapping up the postseason awards on Tuesday, June 17, will be the announcement of the PUP’s coach of the year in both sports.
So, after watching your favorite team go for PIAA gold this week, check back this weekend and next week to see who the Union Progress believes deserves individual gold for the season’s top performances.
Rick, an associate sports editor for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, is currently on strike and working as sports editor for the Union Progress. Contact him at rdavis@unionprogress.com.