Valley baseball stars loaded with talent

The 2024 baseball season was a special one for a number of local baseball teams. To close out the season, it’s only fitting to award postseason honors.

A pair of local teams – South Allegheny and Serra Catholic – advanced to the state playoffs after having great regular seasons. The Eagles picked up a WPIAL runner- up finish with the Gladiators enjoying the best season in program history with a WPIAL consolation win and a trip to the state quarterfinals.

The Mon Valley Independent and BeeGraphix is proud to announce the 2024 MVI-BeeGraphix Mon Valley All-Stars and award winners.

Here’s a look at the Mon Valley All-Stars award winners:

Player of the Year Adam LaCarte, Belle Vernon LaCarte was a key piece of the Leopards run to their first section title in 12 seasons and the No. 1 seed in the playoffs.

He produced at the plate with great statistics, but the most important thing LaCarte brought to BVA was leadership and a champion mentality.

Being a part of two state championships with the Leopards football team, LaCarte hoped to bring that mentality to the diamond.

“With the football team, football is our job. We need to bring that same mindset to baseball,” he said in the preseason. “We have to be willing to spend the long hours putting in the work. It worked in football and we need to carry that into baseball.”

LaCarte led the Leopards with 23 hits this season and added a flair for the dramatic. He hit four home runs, five doubles and a triple with an on-base percentage of .492.

He was also one of two local players named to the PA High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team as a second-team honoree.

“Adam’s numbers were fantastic, but it’s the intangibles that make him so special. He was a consummate leader on and off the field,” BVA head coach Tony Watson said. “He’s one of the most cerebral players I have ever coached. Adam’s heroics during the Latrobe series not only helped us bring home the fifth section title in school history, but his performance this season could also be a culture changer for BVA baseball.”

Honorable mention: Zach Black, Serra Catholic; Alec Warden, Thomas Jefferson; Isiah Petty, Serra Catholic.

Pitcher of the Year JJ Siemon, Thomas Jefferson After a great start as a junior against Blackhawk in the WPIAL playoffs against Blackhawk, Thomas Jefferson head coach Tim Vickers and his staff knew JJ Siemon was poised for a great senior season in 2024.

They were right. Siemon was the No. 1 for a talented Jaguars team, leading them to a 19-5 overall record and a share of the Section 3-4A championship. The Point Park commit finished the season with an 8-0 record, one save and ended the season with a 1.40 earned-run average.

“JJ has come a long way since he broke on to the varsity roster late in his sophomore season. His velocity and command has improved each year he’s been in the program,” Vickers said. “His repertoire of pitches and ability to spot them in any count made calling pitches easy for catcher Carter (Kirsch) and the coaching staff. We as a staff could sense the team’s confidence when JJ was on the mound and he earned that. They knew he was going to compete each time he took the ball.”

Honorable mention: Adam Jackowski, South Allegheny; Colton Lee, Belle Vernon; Parker Lind, Belle Vernon; Tyler Skaggs, Serra Catholic; Owen Dumbroski, Serra Catholic.

Breakthrough Player Jake Holmes, Serra Catholic Another season, another WPIAL championship game appearance for the Serra Catholic Eagles.

While the campaign didn’t end up the way the Eagles had hoped, the future still looks bright and Jake Holmes is just one of the reasons why.

The junior catcher was phenomenal this season, hitting .475 – second on the team – with a team-high 28 RBIs.

While he was a talent with the bat, he was invaluable behind the plate at the catcher’s position.

“Jake was a calming influence behind the plate for our young pitching staff. He developed as a hitter through hard work in the offseason dedicating himself to baseball this past season,” Serra Catholic head coach Brian Dzurenda said. “Jake was thrown into the fire his freshman year when Nico Eremic went down with injury in the WPIAL semifinals against Riverside. He did an admirable job, which fed his confidence for upcoming seasons.

“Jake only knows going to championship games, hopefully he can help lead us back to the pinnacle again next year as a senior.”

Honorable mention: Adam Jackowski, South Allegheny.

Coach of the Year Tony Watson, Belle Vernon The Leopards finally got the proverbial monkey off their back this season.

Belle Vernon captured the Section 2-4A title behind a 13-4 overall record and a 9-1 mark in section play – one game better than preseason favorite Latrobe.

Watson led a talented bunch of players, most of them young with a good mix of senior leadership.

After going 8-11 in 2023, the Leopards sought out to return to the playoffs and did just that. With the section title in hand and a non-section win over Thomas Jefferson, the Leopards were the No. 1 seed heading into the Class 4A playoffs.

Unfortunately, they suffered a 7-3 loss to Blackhawk, but returning to the playoffs and a section title is something Watson is hoping will springboard them into next season and taking the next step for the program.

Honorable mention: Gib Pihodich, South Allegheny; Tim Vickers, Thomas Jefferson.

MVI-BeeGraphix Mon Valley All-Stars First Team Adam LaCarte, Belle Vernon Zach Black, Serra Catholic Colton Lee, Belle Vernon Jake Holmes, Serra Catholic Isiah Petty, Serra Catholic Alex Kolano, Ringgold Collin Holmes, Serra Catholic Alec Warden, Thomas Jefferson Brady Boyle, McKeesport JJ Siemon, Thomas Jefferson Zander Aird, Yough Carter Kirsch, Thomas Jefferson Tyler O’Neil, Charleroi Adam Jackowski, S. Allegheny Jaxson Champ, S. Allegheny The complete list of All-Valley teams can be found on page B3.