Monroeville Red Pandas rally Gateway grads for 3rd season in North American Baseball Association

Donovan Baxter helped organize the Monroeville Red Pandas baseball team two summers ago as an expansion Class AAA team in the Pittsburgh branch of the North American Baseball Association.

With a large part of the team made up of Gateway graduates, the Red Pandas returned Monroeville to the league after the Monroeville Cardinals, a separate entity with no connections to who became the Red Pandas, left the league in 2021.

The Red Pandas are back for their third season this summer, and they hope to make waves as they get into the heart of their league schedule.

“A number of us from Gateway were the covid Class of 2020, and we didn’t get to play our senior year. So, it is always nice to get back on the field together and play,” Baxter said.

“It’s a men’s adult league, but we still see strong, competitive talent. We see a lot of good pitching, so we’re definitely tested each game.”

Baxter, the team’s player-manager, joins Gateway graduates Troy Caggiano, Santino Comunale, Luke Jackson, Caleb Lehman, Jaired Lehman, Jordan Stancovich and Dalton Vojnik on the Red Pandas for the 2025 season.

Others from Gateway connected to the Red Pandas team include Sonny Comunale, Justin Stancovich, Dylan Vojnik, Marc Caggiano, JT Taylor, Anthony Cammuso, Carsen Engleka, Ethan Frenchik, Chase Frenchik, Tyler Jesih, Dane Weiskircher, Armaan Virk and Kris Dick.

WPIAL products Derek Curry (West Allegheny), Drew Doherty (North Catholic), Brady Hansen (Beaver) and Jacob Osborn (Avonworth), teammates with Jaired Lehman at Mt. Union this spring, bolster the team.

Zach and Matt Lockwich, West Allegheny graduates, were teammates with Baxter at Saint Vincent.

Red Pandas infielder Robert Rippole, a Montour grad, found a connection with Comunale as football teammates at John Carroll.

“It’s nice to always bring in some other college guys in to increase the competitiveness level even more,” Baxter said.

“The team has grown. There is some good diversity with guys from all around.”

Baxter said last season wasn’t even completed before many on the team dedicated themselves to coming back to play in the league this summer.

“Back in the first season, we thought it was going to be a one-and-done type situation,” he said.

“It was kind of a thing to make up for losing that senior season at Gateway. But after having so much fun in that first season and also last season, we wanted to take this as far as we can. Everyone is having a blast, and we feel there is no reason to stop any time soon.”

Team members stayed in touch throughout the fall, winter and into the spring about getting the team up to speed for the season which began May 20.

With a team made up almost entirely of players who are in different stages of their college careers, the Red Pandas are in Class AAA, the most competitive division in Pittsburgh NABA.

Baxter said it never gets old for the Gateway graduates to be able to come back and play home games on the field at Gateway High School where they made so many memories.

The first season for the Red Pandas coincided with the field renovations at the Gateway Sports Complex which were completed earlier in the year.

After the first three games away from Gateway, the Red Pandas were to make their home debut last Thursday against Jefferson Hills.

“We’re a Gateway family, and being on that field, we know that special feeling,” Baxter said.

“Some ex-coaches from high school will come up to watch games and even help out. It’s a blast to be able to stay connected.”

Baxter said he and the other team members hoped that home debut would be a spark after a tough start to the season.

The Red Pandas were 0-3 through a 4-0 loss June 1 at the Bauerstown Grizzlies.

They fell 4-0 at the Hebrew Oilers in the season opener and suffered a 9-5 loss at West End-Elliot on May 31.

“We kind of got a late start because we still had some college guys finishing their seasons and working to get here,” Baxter said.

“Some of the other teams were able to get in a groove and hit their stride a little quicker. But our bats are starting to wake up. We just have to continue to knock that rust off and continue to get better as a team.”

Baxter said it’s not easy to gather for practice time.

“It’s kind of just show-and-go on game days,” he said.

“We’re all grown up and have jobs, are starting families, and have other responsibilities. It’s competitive, and obviously we want to win, but we don’t take it too seriously. It’s just fun to be able to play.”

Baxter collected four hits in 10 at-bats through the first three games, while Zach Lockwich was 4 for 9 (.444).

Lockwich collected a pair of RBIs in the loss to West End-Elliot. Comunale and Osborn also drove in runs in the game.