Raiders earn 3rd straight section title, ready for another WPIAL playoff run
JACKSON TWP — While some teams may shy away from high expectations, Seneca Valley's baseball program embraces them.
The Raiders (16-3) won their third straight section championship this spring and will now turn their focus toward claiming a third consecutive WPIAL Class AAAA crown.
Receiving a first-round bye, SV will face the winner of the game between Bethel Park and Franklin Regional at a date, time and site to be determined.
Since the beginning of the 2011 season, the Raiders are 52-12-1 overall and 29-5 in section play.
“Kids entering the varsity program obviously know that there are expectations,” said Raider coach Eric Semega. “Success breeds that. Every group of players wants to leave their mark and they don't want to let down the people who were here before. There's a standard they want to reach.”
Senior center fielder Jonathan Dorogy has been the leadoff hitter for all three section title teams.
“We expect to win every time we take the field,” he said. “It's great to be a Seneca Valley baseball player.”
While the team's goals are clear, they are not often the topic of conversation while in school or even in the dugout.
“We don't talk about it much,” said junior pitcher/outfielder Connor Coward. “We understand what we can do and the opportunity that is in front of us. Three straight WPIAL titles would be something special.”
The Raiders began this season with a 14-11 setback to Pine-Richland and a 7-0 defeat to Moon, but Semega was not concerned.
“Being non-section games, we were trying to figure out who was going to be there for us in games we needed to win to make the playoffs,” he said. “We were getting different kids playing time.”
But injuries grab the attention of any coach and the Raiders have had their share in 2013. Starting pitcher Zach Spangler sustained an ankle injury while playing basketball in December and is just now rounding into form. Designated hitter Brad Gresock (concussion) and shortstop Sam Fragale (ankle) both missed games during the regular season.
“Other guys have stepped in for us,” said Semega. “Our players believe in themselves and have kept their confidence up. They carried that from game to game.”
Due to back issues, Coward pitched just two outings last season, but has become a reliable starter this year.
His victories include two complete-game efforts resulting in a pair of 3-2 wins against rival North Allegheny in April.
“I was nervous the first few times I pitched this season,” he said, “but I'm settling in now and have more confidence.”
While Spangler and Coward are SV's top two pitchers, the offense has stars of its own, led by Jason Martin, Carson Kessler, Gresock, Dorogy and Spangler.
“All five of those guys are batting near .400 this year,” said Semega. “It's not just one or two players hitting well for us and that's one of the reasons we have been so successful.”
“We don't have a weakness in our lineup,” said Dorogy. “Everybody hits the ball hard.”
