Kiski Valley Legion to lean on pitching, defense

In a way, baseball can be broken down to a variable equation: pitching, defense and hitting.

Kiski Valley Legion coach Den Montgomery feels his team has two-thirds of the puzzle with pitching and defense, but the hitting remains a work in progress.

The Vikings have a deep pitching staff and can field pretty well all over the diamond, but the challenge is getting a younger group up to speed with the bats.

Kiski Valley has scratched its way to a 2-1 record by pitching its way through tight games, which will likely be the formula for success as the summer wears on.

Kiski Area’s Ryan Rametta, Burrell’s Luke Virag and Freeport grad Sean Furlong front a staff that will be counted on to keep the team in games.

“Pitching-wise, we’re really happy,” said Montgomery, who coaches the Vikings with his brother, Dave. “Ryan Rametta is going to be a stud for us. Luke Virag pitched a great game against Yough (on Tuesday) night and deserved better than a 3-1 loss, and we have Sean Furlong back and he has one of our two wins.”

The Vikings have players from Burrell, Kiski Area, Leechburg, St. Joseph, Armstrong and Freeport, including Coulton Stewart, Alec Asti and Colton Abbot, who were on the Yellowjackets’ first PIAA playoff team since 1998. Kiski Valley plays its home games at Freeport Community Park.

Furlong earned the victory in the season opener, a 7-2 win over Derry on May 22, and, two days later, Rametta pitched the Vikings past Unity, 4-2.

The Vikings were scheduled to play Hempfield East on Thursday in a big early-season test, but the game was rained out and moved to June 23 as part of a doubleheader at Freeport Community Park.

Burrell’s Jack Henderson and Luke Fisher and Leechburg’s Jake Pochiba and John Sorisio also will be counted on to pitch quality innings. Montgomery said Pochiba already has had two good outings in relief.

Aside from Rametta and Jacob Herst (Armstrong), the roster is made up of players who come from schools that are in WPIAL Class 3A or lower. With the majority of the teams they face in District 31 in Class 4A or higher, it’s a steep adjustment for the type of pitching they are seeing each game.

Montgomery said they will play small ball to manufacture runs to counteract the tougher pitching.

“I never question any of these guys’ efforts,” Montgomery said. “They’re all great kids. It’s about getting them to step up to a level facing (Class) 5A and 6A pitching where they have never been before.

“We’ll scratch and claw to put some runs on the board.”

The Vikings will rely on Virag and Henderson to hit in the middle of the order and bolster the offense.

“They’re probably our two best sticks on paper,” Montgomery said. “If those two don’t lead the way offensively, we’re going to struggle.”

Virag, a Washington & Jefferson recruit, also is a key component of the defense in center field. The defense also features catcher Anthony Mangee (Leechburg) and either Henderson or Furlong at shortstop.

“We feel like Luke is a big advantage for us playing center field,” Montgomery said. “Mangee is a monster behind home plate. He can play with the big boys as a catcher.”

Montgomery expects Bushy Run, Hempfield East and Latrobe to be the teams to beat in District 31. Bushy Run hasn’t played yet because of Penn-Trafford making a run into the state playoffs.