Community mourns Penn-Trafford grad's death in auto accident

Maclean “Mac” Maund was a typical teenager who liked to have fun.

But he knew when he stepped up to the pitching mound, it was time to get serious. Maund was an elite talent in his senior year in 2019 at Penn-Trafford High School, where he was a pitcher and first baseman, coach Dan Miller said. “He was a competitor. He loved to compete. He always embraced a challenge. That is a great characteristic for a coach to be able to give him the ball and let him do his thing.”

“Every once in a while, you get … a special one that makes coaching worthwhile, and Mac was that because of the talent that he had on the field,” Miller said.

Maund, 18, of Harrison City died over the weekend from injuries he suffered when his car collided with a pickup in Penn Township, authorities said. Police Chief John Otto said a crash reconstruction team is investigating the collision, which occurred at 12:20 p.m. Saturday on Route 130 near Hungry Hank’s Pizzeria.

Maund was driving west on Route 130 when for unknown reasons his car ended up sideways in the opposite lane, where it was hit by the oncoming pickup, Otto said.

The crash investigation will take a few weeks, he said.

“We’ll take our time and look through it,” he said. “This kind of stuff affects the entire community; you can feel it in the community.”

The pickup driver was hospitalized. His condition was unknown.

Maund was a freshman business administration major at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, where he planned to play baseball.

“Mac had a special talent for throwing a baseball,” Miller said. “He baffled a lot of hitters not only in our section, but throughout the WPIAL, as well, especially his senior year.”

Miller viewed Maund as sort of an adopted son because of the time they spent together as coach and athlete. News of Maund’s death had a ripple effect on the community.

“Not only does it affect us who are intimately involved with him in his athletic career, but outside of that,” Miller said. “This certainly was shocking news to all of us.”

“The one thing that will we do is we will continue to speak his name and in doing so hopefully that keeps his memory and the love for him alive.”

Cade Patterson was Maund’s catcher at Penn-Trafford and witnessed the standout’s abilities as a player and friend. Patterson also graduated with Maund.

“As a player, Maclean had no quit,” said Patterson, a freshman baseball player at California University of Pennsylvania. “On and off the field, he was a true warrior that never gave up. He was the most genuine person I have met in my life and touched every person he has ever talked to.

“Maclean would want all of his friends and family to never quit and to be a fighter. He will never leave my memory, and I know he is watching over all of us.”

Miller said it has been a challenging 48 hours as he and his program deal with the loss of one of their own.

“I still can’t wrap my head around this shocking news,” Miller said. “Mac was a special talent who loved to compete. He performed his best in big games and always embraced a challenge. He was just as special as a student, teammate and, more importantly, a son to his parents, Pete and Heather.

“We grieve now yet will have the memories and love for him to cherish forever.”

Visitation will be held from 1 to 4 and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at John V. Graziano Funeral Home in Jeannette. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at St. Barbara Parish in Harrison City.

“This is a tragedy that we can never prepare for, one that has rocked the Seton Hill and Penn-Trafford communities, our baseball program, and the Maund Family,” Seton Hill baseball coach Marc Marizzaldi said. “Mac’s energy, passion, and genuine charisma will live in all of our memories and through the Griffin baseball program.”

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Maund’s name to the Center for Organ Recovery and Education, 204 Sigma Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238.

A memorial service at Seton Hill will be scheduled.