Kiski Area baseball aims to improve after 2-17 season

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, March 16, 2018 | 5:06 PM

Things didn't go as planned last year as Kiski Area baseball coach Kyle Morrow made his debut.

The Cavaliers finished 1-11 in Section 1-5A and 2-17 overall.

The season did end on a high note, however, as Kiski Area defeated one of the WPIAL's premier programs, Central Catholic, 6-5 on May 10.

Morrow now hopes to begin the climb up the section ladder.

“There's not too many teams that end the season with a win,” Morrow said. “We've got a lot of young guys, a good sophomore and freshman class coming up so, hopefully, we'll be able to compete for a playoff spot.”

Morrow's 2018 goals are simple: “Go game by game and get better as a team.”

One person to build around in the middle of the batting order is senior first baseman Adam Poleski.

“I definitely think we can make some progress this year,” Poleski said. “Other teams lost a lot of people, and we only had three seniors, two of them starters. We're returning the rest of our lineup, and we'll have more varsity experience.”

Among others, shortstop Garret Polka is slated to see more action this season.

Kiski Area began official practice last week with its ace, Ryne Wallace, on the shelf with a knee injury from basketball season. Wallace hopes to be back by early April for section play.

Added Poleski: “There's going to be a decent amount of young guys that are starting this year, and hopefully they'll look up to me, and I'll try to do the same for them.”

Assisting the Cavaliers this season will be Zach Marinelli, a graduate of Hempfield and Seton Hill last year. Morrow and Marinelli were former opponents and teammates.

Ian Morrell is another assistant and Jim Christie will coach the junior varsity.

During his high school days at Mount Union High School, Morrow played for one of the most successful coaches in Pennsylvania scholastic history, Nick Imperioli.

“He's definitely inspiring, and I use a lot of his stuff here at our practices,” Morrow said. “I'm used to a smaller school and a smaller atmosphere back home.

“We were too small for a junior varsity, but here, we're getting 30 to 40 out here and we can have a JV team and a junior high team, so it's a lot different with the bigger schools out here.”

Imperioli coached Mount Union for 40 years and retired last year with a 765-201-3 record and three PIAA titles.

Like many coaches and observers, Morrow looks at Mars as the team to beat in the section.

“Mars is really good; they have some outstanding pitchers,” the Cavaliers coach said. “Hampton is one of the top teams. Those two will be at the top of the conference.”

Other section opponents include Armstrong, Fox Chapel, North Hills and Obama Academy.

Kiski Area begins its 56th baseball season Friday at Penn-Trafford in a nonsection contest.

George Guido is a freelance writer.

Tags: Kiski School