JOHNSTOWN —
Bishop McCort’s journey to its first PIAA Class A baseball championship was a remarkable one as the Crushers outscored four opponents by 36 runs, with the final two victories both by mercy rules.
McCort’s dominating run impressed many, and it helped land three of the team’s key members on the 2012 Pennsylvania High School Baseball Coaches Association Class A All-State team.
Pitcher Jesse Cooper and catcher Zach Varga, both recent graduates, received first-team honors. Sophomore pitcher Justin Vardian made the second team, along with three other local talents – Conemaugh Valley’s Chris Horten, Northern Cambria's Brian Laurito and Ferndale’s Ian Helsel. Brad Hengst of Chestnut Ridge earned Class AA second-team honors.
For Bishop McCort coach Chris Pfeil, the individual honors for his players were surprising, but also justified.
“It’s great to have them recognized,” Pfeil said. “They were such an unselfish group. They were never worried about anything but winning. Now that the state championship is won, having two seniors on the first team is a great accomplishment and a sophomore pitcher on the second team is too.”
Cooper, who will play at Seton Hill, was the ace of the Crushers staff, which keyed the team’s 24-2 record. He went 11-1 with six complete games, one save, 68 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA over 732⁄3 innings. Cooper batted .419 with a 36 runs and 25 RBI. Varga, in his first season as a full-time starter, was tough to run against, and he batted .403 with 26 RBI.
Vardian’s presence gave McCort one of the better pitching combinations in the state. He went 8-0 with a 1.91 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 44 innings.
“The sky’s the limit for Justin the next two years, if he continues to work,” Pfeil said. “He was valuable in relief, especially during the playoff run.”
As a junior, Horten went 5-2 for the Blue Jays with an 0.86 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 49 innings. His .439 batting average topped the team and he added 16 RBI. Laurito pitched occasionally for Northern Cambria, but his primary duties were at catcher. He batted .500 with 27 RBI in 19 games. Helsel made the second team as a middle infielder. The future Mount Aloysius player is currently part of the Delweld AAABA team.
Chestnut Ridge batted .293 as a team with Hengst, an outfielder, finishing with a .523 average and seven doubles in only 44 at-bats.
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Related Photos
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Bishop McCort's Jesse Cooper went 11-1 and was selected to the 2012 PHSBCA All-State Class A first team. John Rucosky
Discussion
Bishop McCort trio leads local contingent on All-State baseball team
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