Apr 9, 2026 4 min read

Name: Bryce Wright

Grade: Senior

School: Avella

Sport: Baseball

Wright’s week: In a week in which Wright drove in 11 runs and hit three doubles, his teammates have been on him to lift more weights.

Why?

“I hit the yellow on the fence and also hit the middle of the fence, but I couldn’t get one to go over (for a home run),” Wright said. “They’ve been joking with me, telling me I need to hit the weight room.”

Not hitting a homer will be a running joke all year for Wright’s teammates, at least until he hits one over the fence. What isn’t a joke, however, is his production at the plate and on the mound. Wright was 8-for-12 at the dish in three games and pitched a five inning one-hitter with a dozen strikeouts in an 11-1 win over Mapletown on Monday. The Eagles also beat the Maples 19-1 and won a nonsection game against Waynesburg, 9-2.

“It was nice to get two big section wins,” Wright said. “I can’t get those RBIs unless my teammates get on base, so props to them for getting on base for me. I was just glad to continue our strong start and move to 4-0 in the section.”

In a groove: Wright had command on the mound from the start against Mapletown in Monday’s game. He walked only one walk and the lone hit was recorded on the third at-bat of the game by Carson Vanata. After that Wright shut the Maples down.

“I used my fastball to get strikeouts on the first two batters, and it felt great out of the hand and was hitting the corners with it, but (Vanata) hit a single off my fastball,” Wright said. “I think after that hit, all but one of my outs were on strikeouts. When (Vanata) came up the second time threw him all offspeed pitches and ended up striking him out. My catcher Brayden Fuller called a great game and framed the ball excellent. My defense fielded every ball. All-around it was a great game.”

Trifecta: Wright is a three-sport athlete at Avella, also playing football and basketball. He’s a 1,000-point scorer in basketball. Now he’s aiming to help get the Eagles in the playoffs in a third sport. Avella lost to Fort Cherry in football and Serra Catholic in basketball in the first round, but has had success in the baseball postseason. The Eagles baseball team has won a playoff game each of the last two years and made the state playoffs in 2024.

“The only sport I’ve won a playoff game in is baseball and it’s been multiple times,” Wright said. “This group has changed the program and I’m just glad to have one last shot at making another playoff run.”

Bethany bound: Wright will drive just over the border to West Virginia to attend Bethany College, where he’ll continue his baseball career. He had about a dozen schools interested in him joining the baseball team, but Bethany being close to home was the best fit.

“Bethany is actually only 12 minutes from my house,” Wright said. “I thought about maybe playing basketball, but my best opportunity was in baseball. I went to Bethany on a visit and loved it down there and ended up committing there for baseball. I’m going there as a shortstop, but I hope to work my way into being a two-way player and do a little pitching for them. Whatever I can do to help the team the best.”

Compiled by Jerin Steele