The WPIAL Class AAA tournament looks like it will be a good one, judging by the number of quality teams at or near the top of their respective sections. Hopewell, Blackhawk, Trinity and Greensburg-Salem each only have one loss with a little less than two weeks remaining in the regular season.
Also, there's a new No. 1 in Class A – Serra Catholic. That's likely to trigger the ire of some posters.
Class AAAA
1. Pine-Richland 14-1
2. North Allegheny 11-2
3. Peters Township 10-4
4. Butler 10-5
5. Mt. Lebanon 9-5
Class AAA
1. Hopewell 15-1
2. Blackhawk 14-1
3. Trinity 11-1
4. Greensburg-Salem 11-1
5. Moon 10-3
Class AA
1. Shady Side Academy 14-1
2. Laurel 12-2
3. Seton-La Salle 9-2
4. Bishop Canevin 7-4
5. South Fayette 9-3
Class A
1. Serra Catholic 13-1
2. Neshannock 12-2
3. Chartiers-Houston 12-2
4. Carmichaels 10-2
5. Jeannette 8-2
87 comments:
catholic schools have such great hometown athletes
You really should get a check-up!
Public schools have such great whiny hometown crybabies.
Still can't believe Serra is #1 considering they haven't had one good win. They played one good team and layed an egg.
Catholic and private schools are just something that has to be dealt with. They do not win every championship, nor are they even competitive every year.
If parents are willing to pay tuition fees to send their kids to those kinds of places, then I say let them. Theoretically, a kid that lives in the Peters school district could transfer to Canon-Mac or Trinity and by paying the "tuition" fee that athlete would be deemed eligible.
Let's just see how it all unfolds. My gut tells me that no catholic schools will win titles this year.
Champion predictions:
A- Neshannock
AA- Shady Side Academy
AAA- Blackhawk
AAAA- Canon-McMillan
Canon-McMillan is a bold pick. Definitely a year of underachievement if they don't win the title. This team has enough talent that it could loan some players to other teams and still be the most talented team around. But talent hasn't always led to wins.
Can we please not let the CM posting take over this thread.
i guess some people just dont get it....
Instead of leaving comments about how we are all sick of the CM posting, why don't we make intelligent posts on all things not related to CM baseball?
For instance, who do the readers think is having the best season: Trinity or Peters Township? I'd say Peters because their expectations were relatively low heading into the season. Trinity was billed as a favorite and has definitely lived up to the billing, but the surprise element from Peters wins out.
Peter'sbecause after winning bach-to-back WPIAL titles they were expected to take a big step back but they have a good shot at a 3 peat. Trinity was expected to do well. CM is now done since they lost today....they cannot make the playoffs so they can now be completely ignored.
Wow, Trinity got blown out by South Park today. I guess the Schraeder-Bukowski sandwich with a side of Freys did not have their best day. Trinity will be fine, but given the way that Hopewell and Blackhawk keep playing, the Hillers may be on the outside looking in as far as byes go in the playoffs.
Canon-McMillan baseball coach Steve Bucci has resigned eight months after leading his team to the 2008 PIAA Class AAAA championship.
Bucci said he wants to devote more time to his family. His first son Brayden was born last June, three days after Canon-McMillan defeated Spring Ford, 10-2, in the state title game.
"Right now, I don't think the timing is right," said Bucci, who was 35-14 in two seasons at Canon-McMillan. He also has been the head coach at South Park and Serra Catholic.
"It's not fair not to give everything I have to give to my (players). It's time to move on. Not forever. I would call it a semi-retirement. I think I can get back into it pretty quick."
The last sentence in the above column says it all....Bucci wanted out of CM and will be back next year at another school.
Who cares about Bucci? Why do people (mostly Bucci and his family) insist on continuing to bring him up? Yes he was successful at Canon-Mac but he no longer coaches there and if he does get back into coaching it most likely wouldn't be in Washington, Greene, or Fayette County.
Steve Bucci must be the biggest narcissist the world has ever known. This guy insists on trying to keep himself in the limelight when the truth is, the calendar has flipped from 2008 (when Bucci was relevant) to 2009 (when Bucci is no longer relevant). In 2010 he may be back to relevance, but until that happens I guess he is really struggling with being forgotten.
I think he should change his name to Gary Coleman since it seems he will do anything to stay in the public's eye. Shameless, just shameless.
As far as who is having the better season I would say it's Peters Twp. They weren't expected to do well let alone win the section title. Trinity has hit a few bumps in the road so far. Come playoff time, they have solid players that will lead them deep into the state tourney. Wash High is underachieving so far as well. The talent is there, they just need to put it altogether. Canon Mac has their share of issues too. Frank Zebrasky has been ripped up in these blogs and for what reason? He stepped up to take a job that, from all of the posts, wouldn't be worth it for a million dollars!! Some time the talent is just not there.
I don't know where all this talent is coming from that all you CM parents keep bragging about. They are very average at best outside of Pierpont.
CM baseball is officially dead with weeks remaining in the season. All the bragging about their dominance heading into the season have faded away. All of you parents that think your boys are so talented are exposed for what you really are, the worst sports fans in the WPIAL.
Rest in peace CM Baseball.
I don't know where all this talent is coming from that all you CM parents keep bragging about. They are very average at best outside of Pierpont.
The truth is CM had more people coming back that played an important part in winning the State Championship last year than Peter's did while winning back-toback WPIAL titles. The difference is Peter's has one of the best H.S. baseball coaches in WPIAL history while CM has the exact opposite. Pierpoint, Shimmel, Hull, etc... deserved better from the AD but it is obvious that he only values FOOTBALL so he saddled the baseball team with his pal & defensive coordinator. Mr.AD, please do the right thing and make this a one and done year for your buddy. The baseball team deserves to have a better coach.
Who cares about Bucci? Why do people (mostly Bucci and his family) insist on continuing to bring him up? Yes he was successful at Canon-Mac but he no longer coaches there and if he does get back into coaching it most likely wouldn't be in Washington, Greene, or Fayette County.
Steve Bucci must be the biggest narcissist the world has ever known. This guy insists on trying to keep himself in the limelight when the truth is, the calendar has flipped from 2008 (when Bucci was relevant) to 2009 (when Bucci is no longer relevant). In 2010 he may be back to relevance, but until that happens I guess he is really struggling with being forgotten.
I think he should change his name to Gary Coleman since it seems he will do anything to stay in the public's eye. Shameless, just shameless.
April 29, 2009 10:43 PM
Hey Conspiracy dude, there is no magic bullet here. Coach Bucci doesn't read this stuff. Did you ever think some people just might appreciate what he did and know the true bad guy in this fiasco is the football coach/AD. He manipulated this situation into where he paid his debt to Frank for transferring his kid from Wash high to CM to be the QB.
Bucci had better hope that his hitting coach and pitching coach from 2008 come on board if he takes another coaching job. If not, he will be doing exactly what Coach Z is doing: missing the playoffs. Those assistants handled the day to day operations and did most of the game day work too.
It is unlikely that Bucci will be able to reassemble his 2008 staff. The hitting coach and pitching coach are likely to be head coaches on their own next year.
10:18am poster, do us all a favor and instead of anonymous please type in your name as Mr. and Mrs. Steve Bucci. Your references to "Mr. AD" and capitalization of various words in your posts "FOOTBALL" for instance had littered The Varsity Letters for too long. I'm surprised your most recent post failed to mention "CM mommies and daddies" as has been one of your trademarks. The person that called you a narcissist is absolutely correct.
Here's a definition for narcissism: extreme selfishness, with a grandiose view of one's own talents and a craving for admiration, as characterizing a personality type. SEE Bucci.
WOW......the Football coach/AD always had a reputation for recruiting at Washington which explains why they dropped off after he left. The CM school district, WPIAL, & PIAA need to investigate this and if true they both should be fired and never allowed to coach again. It would not be a surprise because he was very manipulative when he coached at Washington High.
CM Parents/Players/Fans,
Stop blaming all of your problems on Zebrasky and the coaching staff. I'm not saying he's an awesome coach, but he's not the one making all kinds of errors or the one who can't pitch. The team just isn't that talented. PERIOD. CM's pitching and defense are below average at best. And this is in a year when the section overall is down on talent. I know this is only high school baseball but maybe you should hold the kids accountable for the team's shortcomings and not always push the blame onto someone else.
I honestly can't blame Bucci for wanting out of CM. The parents are ridiculous!
---------------------------------------
Mike,
Coming down the stretch, what are your WPIAL final predictions?
as characterizing a personality type. SEE Bucci.
The words WINNER & CHAMPION ..... Coach has won everywhere he's been and has a terrific reputation in the baseball circles, assembling a quality staff is the mark of a GREAT headcoach and he will do it again. If his ego was that big he would NOT hire great assistants, he would instead hire YES MEN like the FOOTBALL COACH/AD has done, that's why the current CM baseball coach is over his head and so inept.
Inept.....see Frank Z.
10:42am,
aka the same poster as 10:18am aka Mr. and/or Mrs. Steve Bucci. Please stop putting anonymous and instead own up to your comments. Your bashing of Coach Z and of the AD is deplorable. Coach M gave you your job at CM and your repay him by criticizing him behind his back? I thought you did a great job when you coached at Canon-Mac, but the way you have handled things since you left has me with a bad taste in my mouth regarding my initial impression.
Once again in "pandemic" proportions the CM basball parents otherwise known as "mommies & daddies" have infected this blog with their version of "Swine" flu. Since you cannot make the playoffs and your season is basically over maybe you can now be quarantined away from those of us that are normal and do not want to be infected with your disease.
signed,
Mr. and Mrs. Bucci
10:42am,
aka the same poster as 10:18am aka Mr. and/or Mrs. Steve Bucci. Please stop putting anonymous
You probably believe in the "magic bullet" and Santa Claus.
Once again in "pandemic" proportions the CM basball parents otherwise known as "mommies & daddies" have infected this blog with their version of "Swine" flu. Since you cannot make the playoffs and your season is basically over maybe you can now be quarantined away from those of us that are normal and do not want to be infected with your disease.
April 30, 2009 10:49 AM
I wrote this and live in Peter's Township. I am sick of all the CM baseball people ruining what starts as good conversations then falls back to the CM ignorance. He is what I have figured out. You won a PIAA title last year, your coach quit, the parents didn't like that so they attacked him, his family, & coaching ability. When others in the community defended the old coach the parents then with zero proof blamed him for posting. Parents, I've seen little league coaches refer to parents as "mommies & daddies" so that is not proof. Leave everyone alone. The OR should develop a CM blog so you can get all CM all the time and leave the rest of us alone. You even blamed the old coach for my previous post......that truly is sick.
It's not officially over for CM. Granted, it's not where they want to be. Anything can happen with two games left. USC beat Bethel. Bethel 10 runned Peters. This section is definately UNPREDICTABLE!! CM is improving tremendously. I believe!!
CM leave it alone. You have a better chance of hitting the power ball than you do of making the play-offs. Hats off to Peters for another run at a WPIAL & STATE championship
Bucci
1996-1999 at Serra Catholic- No Wpial or State Titles
2000-2006 at South Park- No Wpial or State Titles
2008 at Canon-Mac- State Title
The difference? Coach Jordan A and Coach Miller.
Bucci in 2010 and beyond? Without Jordan A and Miller-- No Titles. With them- They will win titles.
So Mr. and Mrs. Bucci, don't let your hubby come back to manage the sons of whatever district's mommies and daddies unless he has his staff loaded with incredible talent like Jordan A and Miller.
ok one question... how can you bash someone for being anonymous and yet hide under the same anonymous tag...ridiculous
CRD......Bucci did make the playoffs at every stop he made and yes won State last year. Frank will not make the playoffs in a section with diluted talent and they were the PG number 1 pre-season pick. He without a doubt had enough talent to finish at least 3rd instead he will only finish above Baldwin. Also as someone earlier said the mark of a confident coach & MANAGER is to hire capable people and let them do their job. Bucci should not be condemned for doing just that, he should be applauded. You people in CM are ridiculous. Thank God I live in Peter's and we appreciate the great Coach (Joe Maize) that we have. You people are unappreciative and deserve what you get in every sport.
This began as a discussion on the benefits and advantages of the catholic schools then went to CM. It then went to a discussion on who was having a better year between Peter's, Trinity, and I think nobody has mentioned Chat-Houston. Unfortunately like all the other blogs on baseball this year the Canon-Mac cancer struck and poisened this too. Mike you really need to reel in these lunatics and ban all CM baseball talk or give them their own venom pit. You people at CM represent EVERYTHING that is the very worst in sports especially at the high school level. You should all be ashamed of yourselves but you are all to stupid & selfish to be ashamed or you would have stopped your public displays of such ignorant & juvenille behavior a long time ago. I truly feel bad for your kids because you are pathetic examples of adult behavior.
CRD.......Crass, Ridiculous, DUMB.
Dear Wizard, I guess you will wrongly blame Bucci for this too.
I hate CM.......
Classless Morons.......see Canon Mac
It has bee made obvious by these blogs how poorly the baseball coaches get treated at CM since both the current & former coach have gotten abused in this forum. The parents obviously are very disrespectful, rude, & intollerant and will never have a coach last more than a short period of time. The coaches mentioned in the prvious post have indeed lasted a long time at their school and that is the reason they always have very competitive teams even when they are rebuilding. CM players it is sad that your parents have destined your school to a few & far between winning baseball program unless they learn to back off and be more respectful.
Joe Maize is one of the nicest human beings anyone will ever meet. He has done an outstanding job building a quality baseball program at PT. Look at his recent results and the parade of athletes he has sent onto college programs and its easy to see that he is a great ambassador to the sport.
CM, Classless Morons, you will never have a coach like Joe, your parents would run him out of town just like you did Bucci and any other coach that trys to make your kids better.
Sad, very sad.
Mt.Lebo's got a great chance at it too. Go LEBO GO!!
CM ppl click
I think that Char Houston and Wash High have been lost in all of this. They are both having successful seasons. Are we not paying attention to them since they are not in the upper classifications? They both have a shot at winning their sections. I know that this is a long way from the state title that we always talk about with Trinity, PT, CM but discussing them is much better than listening to the CM parents take over. Any opinions on CH and Wash High?
CM is improving tremendously. I believe!!
April 30, 2009 12:14 PM
You probably believe in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus and Peter Pan. Who cares what you believe, you are obviously an IDIOT!!!!
Even the players know their season is over.
Here's what I DON'T BELIEVE:
1. I don't believe that you have the right to speak for the players.
2. I don't believe that the players are willing to give up! This team is not a bunch of quitters.
3. I don't I am an idiot because I am a die-hard fan. Maybe a tad unrealistic at best - not and idiot.
4. I don't believe that anyone should have to take abuse from bloggers because they have an opinion. You have the right to yours and I don't agree with it, but I'm certainly not going to call you names. Nothing personal, but I don't believe that your opinion is the only one that matters!
5. I don't believe that you could find a more fine group of young men on and off the baseball field!
I've said my peace...
Don't forget the 2009 Canon-Mac baseball team is the hardest working team in the PIAA! These boys go hard 24/7! So do not knock guys that give max effort. There is great leadership on this team and they will in no way be failures win or lose!
Yea there are no "off" days when you play for a Frank Zebrasky coached team. He is a tireless coach that might be the best motivator in high school baseball. He has a knack for getting the most out of his talent and I think he has done a wonderful job with these boys this year.
They are definitely the hardest working team in the world of baseball. They are pro-style in every facet of the game and it has been a joy to watch Canon-Mac finally have a solid team on the field!
Finally? what about last year
So let me get this straight, this CM team is the hardest working team in the PIAA and their coach is the best motivator???
Can anyone explain why they cannot win?
They are def not a solid team. They aren't even making playoffs. The team last year was 100 percent better. So much for the team of 09 winning a state championship that was well deserved
5. I don't believe that you could find a more fine group of young men on and off the baseball field!
Any group of kids that have to endure the selfish, hateful, & dispicable antics that their parents have exhibited on this and other blogs must be a "fine group of young men." This group or "fine young men" have had the pressure of defending their State title while being "led" by a terribly unqualified coach who is clearly way over his head and have had to endure the public humiliation of the ignorance exhibited their selfish parents.
"Fine young men" doesn't come close to discribing just how good these kids are.......they certainly deserved better by their AD & parents.
Here's what I DON'T BELIEVE:
1. I don't believe that you have the right to speak for the players.
2. I don't believe that the players are willing to give up! This team is not a bunch of quitters.
3. I don't I am an idiot because I am a die-hard fan. Maybe a tad unrealistic at best - not and idiot.
4. I don't believe that anyone should have to take abuse from bloggers because they have an opinion. You have the right to yours and I don't agree with it, but I'm certainly not going to call you names. Nothing personal, but I don't believe that your opinion is the only one that matters!
5. I don't believe that you could find a more fine group of young men on and off the baseball field!
I've said my peace...
May 2, 2009 11:52 AM
OK..sorry. You are delusional and need therapy in a big way.
Nobody said the players were quitters but they do know how to add and the way the season has unfolded they will need a minimum of 6 wins to make the playoffs with a 3-5 record and 2 games remaining that is IMPOSSIBLE so yes, they realize their season is over. Now lay back down on that couch.
I've said my peace...
May 2, 2009 11:52 AM
Peter's has 6 wins.
USC, Mt.Lebanon, & Bethel Park have 5 wins.
Mt.Lebanon & USC play each other so one of them will get at least a 6th win. Bethel Park swept CM so they win all tie breakers so yes, CM does indeed need 6 wins to qualify for the playoffs so yes again their season is indeed OVER!
Good bye CM faithful. Don't let the door hit you on the way out.
Yea there are no "off" days when you play for a Frank Zebrasky coached team. He is a tireless coach that might be the best motivator in high school baseball. He has a knack for getting the most out of his talent and I think he has done a wonderful job with these boys this year.
They are definitely the hardest working team in the world of baseball. They are pro-style in every facet of the game and it has been a joy to watch Canon-Mac finally have a solid team on the field!
May 2, 2009 12:27 PM
OK....we get it. Your kid never got a chance to play before this year and now with Frank he does. Your post is an example of the selfishness that has occupied these blogs by CM parents. Finally have a solid team..... last year they won a State Championship the biggest and most pretigious championship a team can achieve in the sport they play. This year the will not qualify for the WPIAL playoffs even as a 3rd place team in their section. You make that claim and expect people to take you seriously. You make that claim and don't expect people to understand your selfishness & stupidity. You waste space on this blog for your own selfserving purpose and don't expect people to see through your facade. It is people like you why coaches stop coaching all high school sports everywhere because your only ineterest is what is best for your kid and he team be damned. As a parent the example you set for your kid is tragic.
Ok. It's the parents that complement the coaches and players who are the "bad guys". That makes sense... Whoa!
I supported last years team and every other canon mcmillan team there is. If that makes me nuts then put me in the funny farm.
This is where I exercise my right to NOT READ THIS BLOG ANYMORE! Everyone should be able to support their team, express their opinion without being UNSPORTSMANLIKE and putting everyone down who doesn't share their opinion.
Sorry Mike...
This is where I exercise my right to NOT READ THIS BLOG ANYMORE! Everyone should be able to support their team, express their opinion without being UNSPORTSMANLIKE and putting everyone down who doesn't share their opinion.
Sorry Mike...
May 3, 2009 1:35 AM
Dear Anon. CM fan. Thank you and take all the other selfish CM folks with you. You are "exercising your right to NOT READ THIS BLOG ANYMORE" after weeks of infringing on mine & others with your ridiculous, rude & childish posts all spring. This blog like so many others began as a discussion about something other than CM but you folks have succeeded in manipulating this as you have all the others this baseball season. Your team is finished they are simply playing out the string so you have nothing else to say. Your gesture is pathetic and childish. You are taking your ball and going home, to bad you didn't do that in March.
Ok. It's the parents that complement the coaches and players who are the "bad guys". That makes sense... Whoa!
May 3, 2009 1:07 AM
If you supported EVERY coach it would be a different story but you have only supported the current coach because your kid is playing. You have bashed, trashed, & made false claims about the previous coach regarding his posting on this blog. Your hypocrisy is transparent.
I supported last years team and every other canon mcmillan team there is. If that makes me nuts then put me in the funny farm.
May 3, 2009 1:29 AM
Don't get paranoid CM Anon. The reference was to those that make ridiculous claims like "Canon Mac finally have a solid team on the field" after they won a State Championship last year and will not qualify for the WPIAL playoffs this year. If you suscribe to that theory then yes, I agree you certainly do belong in a "funny farm."
Finally someone with some sense and who is a parent that tells it as it is. Thank you
I don't have a side in this fight but maybe the this years team wasn't as solid because they didn't have as much talent.
While they did not have the same level of talent as the one last year they did have more talent returning than Peter's and had higher expectations yet they have failed to meet them. I have no doubts that if Joe Maize had this year's Canon Mac team they would have already clinched a playoff berth instead they will finish second to LAST in the section. The parent that said it was the rality of the season hit a homerun with that post. Thanks for the first bit of honesty from a CM poster.
Mike:
Your blog has become a joke and a violation of the 1st amendment. Anyone that has the audacity to be critical of the present CM-AD or baseball coach gets remeoved. Aren't soldiers dying in Iraq to prevent this from happening. This will be my last post and will no doubt be removed by Dictator Kovack. Once again...."YOU CAN"T HANDLE THE TRUTH."
dear anon,
you are mud
sincerely,
CDR
First of all Anon, It's Dictator Kovak.
Secondly, violation of the first admendment, huh? So, I should just let everyone on here say what they want with absolutely no facts to back it up?
If you have some facts, it can stay on the board.
If you can express opinion without being needlessly slanderous it can stay on the board.
Obviously you can't. So goodbye.
"Aren't soldiers dying in Iraq to prevent this from happening."
Posters,
Please refrain from ever using statements like this again. It's an insult to all the great people in the armed services.
Mike,
What are your updated WPIAL Finals predictions?
AAAA - Pine-Richland vs. North Allegheny
AAA - Hopewell vs. Trinity
AA - Seton-La Salle vs. Shady Side Academy
A - Carmichaels vs. Chartiers-Houston
Mike,
How do you feel Peters Twp and Wash High will fare in the playoffs? You have Trinity and Chartiers Houston in the Wpial finals. Any other teams have a chance?
Peters Township might be the surprise of the WPIAL baseball season. Earlier in the year, the Indians didn't look like a first-place team. If the pitching continues to improve, they certainly have a shot.
As for Wash High, the Prexies hit a few bumps early. Now, they look capable of winning their section. Class AA is difficult to predict, which gives them a shot as long as the playoff games are spread out enough that they can pitch their top guys.
Czar Mike you are great, the CM-AD(your pal) is great, and the CM baseball coach is great.
I know this will stay on your propaganda page.
Mike,
I definitely agree with your thoughts about Peters Township. It is amazing how they've been able to not only make the playoffs, but do so as a top seed year in and year out. They are certainly as good of a program as there has been in the Wpial during this decade.
I am very excited to see if any of the teams from Peters' section matchup with teams from the North Allegheny section. It seems of the four, Quad-A sections, that those two are easily the best each year. So a Peters-Butler matchup, a Mt. Lebo-Pine Richland matchup, or any combination of games should be very entertaining.
Keep in mind, last year those sections beat each other up. Bethel Park was eliminated by North Allegheny. Shaler was eliminated by Canon-Mac, as was North Allegheny. And Peters beat Seneca Valley. Each one of the games, if I recall correctly, went right down to the wire and had plenty of drama.
Mike,
Peters is a surprise but it shows what a good coach can accomplish with good athletes along with a great JV team. From what I understand they could beat a few varsity teams!
Wash High has a few good underclassmen pitchers in the making. They will get better the more experience they get. AA is very tough though. Too many teams that can go one way or the other in that class.
I know this has zero place in a baseball tread, but does any one know how lacrosse playoffs are going to be run, now that its a wpial sport??
Anon,
My understanding about the lacrosse playoffs goes like this: Each section takes the top four teams. The first-place teams play the fourth-place team from its own section, and the Nos. 2 and 3 teams meet. Those winners play each other. Then the two section "winners" play each other for the WPIAL title.
So Section 1-1 vs. Section 1-4, Section 1-2 vs. Section 1-3. Winners play each other.
Section 2-1 vs. Section 2-4, Section 2-2 vs. Section. 2-3. Winners play each other.
Then Section 1 vs. Section 2 in the WPIAL title game.
I believe that's how it was explained to me when I talked to some of the coaches prior to the season.
Post a Comment