Young Township enters 2025 seeking bounce-back season

The Young Township Renegades fell short of the American Legion baseball Region 7 tournament last year. Coach Ryan Staats would be the first to say it was a disappointment. The goal for Young Township is to move on from past results and focus on qualifying for the regional tournament this summer.

Young Township ended the season with losses in two of three games in the District 31 playoffs.

“We jumped on (Hempfield East in) Game 1, beat them 5-1, beat their ace. So, we’ve just got to win one of the next two games with (Connor) Burkey being pitched out for the series and the loss of Haden (Brink) and Kaden (Rupert) and Colin Saxion. … They were banged up in the playoffs and couldn’t play,” Staats said. “So we definitely got some experience with this younger core. Now that’s the older core, but I feel like we (not making) regionals for the team we put together last year was definitely a letdown on my part.”

Brink, Rupert and Saxion have all aged out and are big losses. Brink was a four-year starting pitcher and fiery leader for the Renegades, and Saxion was the team’s leadoff hitter.

With District 31 contracting from 13 to nine teams, the challenge of reaching the tournament has only increased. Staats believes players from disbanded teams have likely moved to play for the next-closest Legion team, making more complete teams and improving competition throughout the league.

“It seems like it’s (Hempfield East), Bushy Run and Latrobe and us in the mix there this year,” Staats said. “Lower Burrell looks really strong. So to get in that top four this year is going to be tough.”

Some key returning players for Young Township are West Shamokin center fielder Max Long, Armstrong first baseman Brayden Wright and Armstrong’s Chase Jablonski, who is moving to third base from shortstop. All were important to the Renegades’ success last year and will provide experience and leadership.

Additions to the team include shortstop Carson Delano from Armstrong and River Hawks starting catcher Ian Graham, who will split games with returning West Shamokin catcher Gunnar Shoop. Young Township is strong at catcher, with 17-year-old Braden McCracken from Apollo also showing potential. Gabe Cornman can also catch.

“I really believe it’s probably one of the best defensive lineups I’ve been able to put on the field in the four years I’ve been coaching,” Staats said.

“I really liked (Delano’s) athleticism at shortstop and the arm strength there, and in the few innings he’s got to throw, he’s looked really sharp on the mound.”

Long and Wright will also pitch as lefties in the starting rotation, whereas Nick Kinter and Delano are right-handers. Staats believes those are the top four for now, but right-handed newcomer Jacob Bowser and southpaw Ryan Waugaman should also expect to see the mound.

Young Township started 1-1 with a win over Murrysville and a loss to Lower Burrell. Wright earned the win against the Eagles after maxing out at 105 pitches, going 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs (two earned) on seven hits, striking out six and walking none. Long and Jablonski combined for five RBIs.

“We beat them 9-6. I feel it could have been probably 10-2,” Staats said. “Just some miscues, poor conditions, rainy day, but I was pretty happy with the way we started.”

Young Township lost to Lower Burrell, 5-4. Long allowed six hits and five runs (one earned), while striking out nine and issuing no free passes. The Renegades made four errors, but the pieces are in place for Young Township to have a great season.

“As long as you can field nine varsity baseball players in our league, you’ll be competitive,” Staats said. “And there’s times I couldn’t do that, you know, nine starting varsity players, but I could probably put 13 out there this year. So that’s a good feeling.”

With the season just beginning and plenty of time for the teams in District 31 to get in rhythm, if the Renegades play their best, they will feel confident they can return to the Region 7 tournament for the first time since 2022.

“It’s anybody’s year to win it this year, I believe,” Staats said. “I think the league as a whole, with it being nine teams, is going to be super strong, and every game is going to be a dogfight.”