Canon-McMillan baseball playoff bound
Contrary to what some say, sports writers are not immune to making incorrect predictions and I’m no different. When Canon-McMillan’s baseball team lost six players to season-ending suspension following an alleged incident on a trip to Myrtle Beach, I wrote on this blog that the Big Macs would miss the playoffs.
Pitching depth was a question mark, youth is difficult to rely on in WPIAL Class AAAA and calling Section 5-AAAA difficult is an understatement.
Well, it’s time to fess up. Second-place Canon-McMillan (8-3, 11-4) proved me wrong. Unlike other Quad-A opponents, the Big Macs are not flush with Division I talent or a dominant ace, but they have used a collective effort to surprise everyone and return to the playoffs.
They aren’t just returning to the playoffs. C-M will lock up a very respectable seed with a victory Monday against Peters Township.
Here’s what the latest lineup card for the team looks like with Luke Blanock on the mound, but it’s always changing. Expect Mish to pitch against the Indians with freshman Zach Rohaley at third base and possibly Blanock in left field.
2 Chandler Palyas CF
1 Connor Coleman SS
28 Jared Beach RF
10 Tanner Piechnick C
24 Matt Mish 3B
9 Andrew Wuenstel DH
5 Luke Blanock P
18 Clay Martin 1B
4 Jacob Davey LF
20 Nick Serafino 2B
Bench: Ty Lesko, Austin Berger, Josh Palma, Rohaley, Jerrod Jacobs, Sam Bohn, George Carson, Hunter Stouden, Ian Hess, Hunter Behling & Brandon Kline.
Head coach Frank Zebrasky has plenty of depth and the starting pitching has been a surprise. Blanock, who is battling Ewing’s sarcoma, is not always available because of his chemotherapy treatments, but he was almost unhittable against Mt. Lebanon two weeks ago.
Mish, who has become the team’s ace, has made the greatest improvement of any starting pitcher in the Observer-Reporter’s coverage area and will certainly get the chance to play college baseball. His curveball is scary and his control is much better, but he can become predictable at times. Against Peters Township, the Indians studied his tendencies through the order the first time than pounced on the breaking ball. Knowing his work ethic, I’m sure that has improved. He pitched a complete game in his late outing and is a perfect workhorse for playoff baseball.
The top-three hitters are as good as you will find, mixing speed with the ability to drive the ball into the gaps. Beach is a Gannon recruit and Palyas is headed to Marietta – two impressive Division II programs. Coleman is a rising junior who will likely follow in their paths.
Piechnick makes pitching around Beach almost impossible. The two have big time power. That’s just the top-half of the order.
Wuenstel has come on during his senior season and Carson offers power off the bench. Two kids that have really stood out to me are Davey and Serafino. Davey is a great defensive outfielder is a threat to get on base.
Serafino, a freshman, is quick on the base paths and has great bat speed. He had the only strong hit against Kitchen April 23 and hit a home run two days later against Upper St. Clair. He continues to improve defensively and you will hear much more about him once the playoffs begin.
The Big Macs’ story is nothing short of remarkable. Everyone counted them out, including myself. It’s a group with strong leadership and Zebrasky is 7-2 since his suspension. He’s the odds-on favorite for coach of the year right now. You rarely see youth succeed at that level, but he’s getting the most out of this team.
Blanock’s story continues to inspire his teammates. How can a team not play its best when its pitcher is playing with a tumor in his leg? C-M will fight offensive lulls like all teams do, especially with the inexperience late in the order, but I like their chances.
If rain stays away in the postseason, Mt. Lebanon and other teams with ace pitchers will need to cap innings to preserve arms. The Big Macs won’t have that issue with a deep staff that includes Mish, Blanock, Hess, Martin and Beach (I know I’m leaving someone out).
This team has experience in the WPIAL postseason. The “experts” will pick Mt. Lebanon or Plum to win the WPIAL title, but don’t count out Canon-McMillan. This team is a contender and their comeback story is one that deserves recognition.