The Plum baseball team is no stranger to hot starts to a spring season.
The Mustangs found themselves in that spot after seven wins in seven March games with a dominant three-game Florida trip, a victory over Class 6A power Seneca Valley, a sweep of Armstrong to open Section 1-5A play and Monday’s 3-0 triumph over nonsection rival North Allegheny.
They have outscored their opponents by a combined 51-6.
But as strong as the opening stretch was, Plum moves into April not wanting to take its foot off the gas in or out of section play.
“We worked really hard to get to where we are, and that can all go away really fast if we are not mindful of what we need to do every day,” coach Carl Vollmer said.
“For these guys, it is a grind-it-out, attention-to-detail approach that I want permeating throughout the program. They enjoy the journey. They could easily pat themselves on the back with our start, but they aren’t doing that. They want to keep building and keep improving.”
Plum hopes for big things in 2026 after a 2025 season that ended earlier than expected with sudden postseason heartbreak. The Mustangs went 18-2 in the regular season and won the outright section title at 11-1.
But the No. 2 seed was upset, 1-0, by No. 15 Mars in the first round.
“Last year, we had a super good season and then gave up two hits in a playoff game and lost,” Vollmer said. “It’s not like we performed poorly that day. It’s baseball, and anything can happen. It was a good learning experience for the guys coming back.”
Vollmer said the Florida trip, with its practices, scrimmages and three games — wins over Archbishop Carroll, 5-1; Northside Christian (Fla.), 11-1; and Rock Canyon (Colo.), 11-1 — was very beneficial.
“All of that work allows you to put guys in situations where they wouldn’t otherwise be over the course of the rest of the season when your games are more spread out,” Vollmer said. “Having all the guys together all the time really brought them closer as a team.”
Vollmer said he and his players wished they could’ve had at least one more game on the schedule this week. With the three games played on the Florida trip and a bye this early in the section schedule, there was not availability to play more than just the one game against North Allegheny.
“We had less games to work with when we come north,” Vollmer said. “We only get 20 games, which is a travesty, to be honest. Because of that, there are several weeks where we don’t have that nonsection game. It created a perfect storm where we have an eight-day stretch without a game. But at the same time, we’ve had some time to recharge and regroup in a few areas.”
Plum gets back to action with a section series against Penn-Trafford, with a home game Tuesday followed by Wednesday’s matchup in Harrison City.
“I don’t think we need to say too much to them,” Vollmer said. “Games with Penn-Trafford are always tight, always intense. They’ve all grown up playing against each other. That is what makes baseball fun.”
Vollmer said he appreciates the opportunity to take on some of the WPIAL’s top teams in nonsection games against Seneca Valley and North Allegheny before the end of March.
He said the team will benefit from a game against Hempfield right before the start of the WPIAL playoffs.
Plum grinded out Monday’s win over North Allegheny with timely hitting and the pitching prowess of senior Braden Kemmerer, sophomore Dom Lauletta and senior Greg Huff.
“We have some good pitching depth this year,” Vollmer said. “We have a nice blend of veterans and young guys. They know that, in a way, it’s a competition. If they are throwing well, they’re going to be out there. But they all pull for each other. It’s a really good group.”
The trio combined to limit the Tigers to just two singles while striking out four and walking three.
“We’re always rooting for each other and ready to pick each other up,” Kemmerer said. “We’re always looking to help each other in practices with mechanics and things like that. We all have different views and approaches, which is good.”
The Mustangs defense committed no errors against the Tigers while the offense collected seven hits.
“That is a dangerous lineup,” Vollmer said. “It was a satisfying win all-around.”
Junior shortstop Max Vollmer delivered a clutch two-run homer in the fifth to extend Plum’s lead.
It was Vollmer’s third home run of the season.
“It felt great to give the team a bigger lead and some flexibility towards the end of the game,” the younger Vollmer said. “It gave our pitchers some comfort, too.
“Everyone in the lineup goes to the plate looking to get a big hit or move runners over or drive in runs, just whatever we can do. I am glad I could do that.”
Junior right fielder Brennan Ryan collected a pair of singles and an RBI, and seniors Tim Ruggiero, Connor Wilson, and Enzo Mele and junior Andrew Monaco each singled in the victory.
“We’ve started off strong, obviously, and a lot of it comes from our practices,” Mele said. “We’re a pretty experienced team who has been through a lot. We know what to expect and what is expected of us. We know how we need to prepare for each game.”