It was a game that would not end.
The 2024 WPIAL Class 3A baseball championship game lasted over four hours and a record 14 innings before Avonworth knocked off defending champion Riverside, 4-3.
If the late great Chicago Cubs star Ernie Banks was at Wild Things Park, he would have smiled because his historic quote about it being “a great day for baseball, let’s play two” would have been taken to heart by the Antelopes and Panthers.
Avonworth jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning, and then went back on top in the fifth, 3-2, before Riverside tied the game on its final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The two played on and on and on until Luke Zelinko singled to score Mason Metz with what proved to be the golden run in the top of the 14th inning.
The fun might be just getting started because the Antelopes and Panthers are expected to vie for the championship against in 2025.
Rest now while you can, Class 3A.
Here is a rundown of the 2025 preseason top 5 teams, some of the players to watch and other diamond notes in WPIAL Class 3A baseball.
Preseason Top 5
1. Riverside (16-3 last season)
Legendary coach Dan Oliastro is back as are plenty of talented players as Riverside tries to move into a tie for second place on the WPIAL baseball championship scoreboard, looking to add to its six district titles. The Panthers will once again be led on the mound by Duke commit Christian Lucarelli. Two other senior arms with big bats include pitcher and infielder Zach Hare (Slippery Rock), who pitched 7 1/3 innings of relief for Riverside in the 3A finals, along with pitcher and outfielder Hunter Garvin.
2. Avonworth (19-9)
Avonworth enters the 2025 season as the defending WPIAL baseball champion for only the second time in program history and the first time since 1993. The Antleopes finished second in their section behind South Allegheny but got hot as the No. 7 seed with wins over Greensburg Salem, East Allegheny and Burrell before knocking out the 2023 winner Riverside in the finals. Back to lead the ‘Lopes in their defense this season are senior catcher Mason Metz (Seton Hill) along with juniors Jack Dolan, Cooper Scharding and Carson Franc.
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3. South Allegheny (19-6)
South Allegheny enjoyed a nice taste of success in 2023 with 12 wins and a playoff berth. The Gladiators took a big step forward in 2024 with 19 victories, a section crown and a berth in the district semifinals. Is this the season SA steals a page from the boys basketball book and wins gold for the first time? The team has key players returning including the Jackowski brothers, senior outfielder Josh and junior pitcher Adam, along with junior shortstop Dillon Pomaki and senior infielder and outfielder Hunter Fulmer.
4. Seton LaSalle (17-4)
One of the top 2A district programs is moving on up to Class 3A as it tries to keep its championship streak alive. The Rebels have won WPIAL titles three times in the last five seasons played, including back-to-back crowns in 2023 and 2024. Now they try to three-peat in 3A. Some big names are gone from last year, but one of the top sophomores in the state returns in pitcher and shortstop Josh Burkholder, who already has committed to West Virginia. A couple of talented junior are back as well in outfielder Connor Rothaar and infielder Roman LoNero.
5. Mohawk (16-4)
Mohawk will be trying to fill some big shoes this spring following the graduations of Jay Wrona and A.J. Verdi, who combined for more than 100 hits in their Warriors career. In a very tough Section 1 last season, Mohawk finished second to Riverside. Expect that northern Section 1 to be extremely competitive again. Leading the Warriors this spring is senior infielder Jackson Chapman (Point Park) and a couple of juniors who will help both on the mound and in the infield in five-sport star Bobby Fadden and Vinny Pezzuolo.
Players to watch
Will Nardone, Sr., P-INF, Ellwood City
Aaron Lake, Jr., P-INF, Ellwood City
Nathan Kennedy, Jr., P-INF, Ellwood CIty
Bobby Fadden, Jr., P-INF, Mohawk
Vinny Pezzuolo, Jr., P-INF, Mohawk
Jackson Chapman, Sr., INF, Mohawk
Ryan Finamore, Sr., P, Quaker Valley
Jack Cindrich, Sr., P-INF, Quaker Valley
Oscar Roig, Sr., P-INF, Quaker Valley
Christian Lucarelli, Sr., P, Riverside
Zach Hare, Sr., INF, Riverside
Hunter Garvin, Sr., P-OF, Riverside
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Chase Burks, Sr., P/C/INF, Sto-Rox
Jack Dolan, Jr., INF, Avonworth
Cooper Scharding, Jr., OF, Avonworth
Mason Metz, Sr., C, Avonworth
Carson Frac, Jr., P-INF, Avonworth
Soren Cooper, Sr., P, Shady Side Academy
Brady Trischler, Sr., P-INF, Shady Side Academy
Dillon Pomaki, Jr., INF, South Allegheny
Adam Jackowski, Jr., P, South Allegheny
Josh Jackowski, Sr., OF, South Allegheny
Cooper Hochendoner, Jr., OF, South Park
Ryan Spitznagel, Jr., C, South Park
Logan Thomas, Sr., INF, Steel Valley
Ryan Bates, Sr., INF, Burrell
Stephen Hasson, Sr., P, Burrell
Nolan Brouwer, Sr., P, Burrell
Anthony Smith, Sr., INF, Deer Lakes
Michael Hanz, Sr., P, Freeport
Dustin Kohan, Sr., P, Freeport
Tyler Smith, Sr., P-OF, Ligonier Valley
Duncan Foust, Sr., P-INF, Ligonier Valley
Parker Hollick, Sr., P-C-INF, Ligonier Valley
Cole Chatfield, Sr., INF, Mt. Pleasant
Jacob Kitz, Sr., P, Mt. Pleasant
Connor Drzal, Sr., P-INF, Mt. Pleasant
Blake Forsythe, Sr., INF, Southmoreland
Nathaniel Bell, Jr., INF, Yough
Johnny Steban, Soph., INF, Yough
Hunter Pelehac, Sr., P-INF, Brownsville
Jace Pager, Sr., INF, Charleroi
Kaden Wood, Sr., INF, Charleroi
Roman Keaney, Sr., C, Keystone Oaks
Ian Bickle, Sr., OF, Keystone Oaks
Logan Carlisle, Sr., OF, McGuffey
Sam Stout, Jr., C, McGuffey
Josh Burkholder, Soph., INF, Seton LaSalle
Connor Rothaar, Jr., OF, Seton LaSalle
Roman LoNero, Jr., INF, Seton LaSalle
Ayvari Chandler, Soph., OF, Washington
Tyler Groves, Sr., P, Waynesburg Central
Alex VanSickle, Sr., INF, Waynesburg Central
Diamond notes
• Twenty years ago, Pine-Richland was in the middle of a 3A three-peat, winning WPIAL titles in 2004, 2005 and 2006. That was followed up by West Allegheny winning back-to-back crowns in 2007 and 2008. However, that has been the end of the repeat performances in 3A baseball. Riverside was a favorite to claim gold for a second straight season last spring, but it was stunned in the district finals by Avonworth. Now can the Antelopes break the trend of buckling under the weight of the 3A crown.
• Of the six WPIAL baseball classifications last spring, Class 3A had the tightest section races without a co-champion. In Section 1, Riverside edged Mohawk by one game. In Section 2, South Allegheny finished a game in front of Avonworth. In Section 3, Valley lost three games but still finished one up on both Burrell and Shady Side Academy. Finally in Section 4, Mt. Pleasant finished 11-1, one game ahead of 10-2 Waynesburg Central.
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• Following realignment, Class 3A has one less team but still has four sections with 1, 2 and 4 having six teams and Section 3 consisting of seven teams. With the top four teams qualifying for the district playoffs, 3A will once again be at least a 16-team playoff field for the next two seasons. Moving up to 4A from last year are Derry, Greensburg Salem and Valley, while Neshannock and Shenango are dropping to 2A. New to Class 3A this season, all moving up from 2A, are Charleroi, Ligonier Valley, Seton LaSalle and Washington. Staying in 3A but moving to a new section are Sto-Rox, Keystone Oaks, East Allegheny, Shady Side Academy, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland and Yough.
• Besides the top 5 teams to watch listed above, other teams that could make some diamond noise in 2025 include two teams from Section 1 in Ellwood City and Mohawk, South Park from Section 2, Burrell from Section 3 and Waynesburg Central from Section 4. The current 3A teams that made the biggest improvement win wise from 2023 to 2024 include South Allegheny at plus-7, Burrell at plus-6 and Ellwood City, Mt. Pleasant and Waynesburg Central at plus-4.
• Some WPIAL Class 3A championship anniversaries being celebrated this season:
One-hundred years ago, Edgewood won the 1925 WPIAL championship with only one district classification
Fifty years ago, Beaver Falls captured the lone WPIAL baseball crown in 1975
Forty years ago, Bethel Park was the 3A champion in 1985
Thirty years ago, North Catholic captured the 1995 3A crown
Twenty-five years ago, Hopewell won the 2000 WPIAL 3A title in the final baseball championship game at Three Rivers Stadium
Twenty years ago, Pine-Richland edged Moon to win the 2005 3A title
Ten years ago, Knoch earned its only district baseball championship by winning 2015 3A gold
The 2020 season was canceled due to the covid-19 outbreak five years ago
2025 Alignment
Section 1: Beaver Falls, Ellwood City, Mohawk, Quaker Valley, Riverside, Sto-Rox
Section 2: Avonworth, East Allegheny, Shady Side Academy, South Allegheny, South Park, Steel Valley
Section 3: Burrell, Deer Lakes, Freeport, Ligonier Valley, Mt. Pleasant, Southmoreland, Yough
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Section 4: Brownsville, Charleroi, Keystone Oaks, McGuffey, Seton LaSalle, Washington, Waynesburg Central