Player of the Year

Zach Kokoska * Latrobe * Outfielder-pitcher * Senior
It was a special season for Latrobe -- and Special K was one of the main reasons. Kokoska hit .538 for a team that won both WPIAL and PIAA championships for the first time in school history. Kokoska is a sweet-swinging left-handed hitter who hit .538 with five home runs and 29 RBIs. He also scored 30 runs. Kokoska was also excellent defensively. He hit close to .400 as a sophomore and .456 as a junior. As a pitcher this season, he was 4-0 with a 1.73 ERA and struck out 35 in 24 innings. Was also selected Gatorade Pennsylvania Player of the Year. Will play next season at Virginia Tech.

The Rest

Ryan Okuda * Pine-Richland * P * Senior
Okuda led Pine-Richland to the WPIAL Class 6A title. A left-hander, Okuda was 8-0 with a 0.38 ERA. He gave up only five runs all year, three earned. He also allowed only 25 hits and struck out 63. Was 12-0 in two seasons with only five earned runs. A Virginia Tech recruit.

Mike Turconi * Blackhawk * IF/P * Junior
Had a big season for the WPIAL 4A champion. Had .523 batting average and set two school records for hits (45) and RBIs (42). Also had 13 doubles, 9 triples, 5 home runs. Was a closer as a pitcher and had eight saves and a 0.00 ERA. Has committed to Wake Forest.

Jared Kollar * Latrobe * P/SS * Senior
A four-year starter, Kollar was the winning pitcher in both the WPIAL and PIAA Class 5A championship games. He finished 9-1 with a 1.55 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 672/3 innings. Also hit .360 as leadoff hitter with 21 RBIs. Will pitch at Seton Hill University.

Josh Spiegel * Penn-Trafford * C * Junior
Has already made a verbal commitment to Oklahoma State. Played mostly first base and DH as a sophomore before moving to catcher this year. Hit .429 and 30 of his hits went for extra bases. Had 8 doubles, 5 homers, 23 RBIs and a .786 slugging percentage.

Zach Rohaley * Canon-McMillan * P/1B * Junior
A big key for a Big Macs team that made it to the WPIAL Class 6A semifinals. A right-hander, Rohaley was 7-0 this season with a 0.65 ERA. He gave up only 28 hits in 43 innings and also struck out 50. Has 14 wins in two years. Also had a .360 batting average.

Mark Engel * Blackhawk * SS/P * Senior
He was a Mark of excellence for the WPIAL Class 4A champion Cougars. Was undefeated as a pitcher with 6-0 record and a 2.02 ERA. Also was key to the Cougars' offense with a .385 average, 7 doubles, 5 triples and 21 RBIs. Will play next season at Radford.

Connor Ollio * Butler * P/SS * Junior
Standout right-hander who already has made a verbal commitment to the North Carolina Tar Heels. Recruited as a pitcher. Was 3-3 this season with a 0.97 ERA and struck out 51 in 36 innings. Allowed only 14 hits and also had .362 batting average.

Neal McDermott * Greensburg C.C. * P/OF * Senior
Was a force as a hitter and pitcher for the WPIAL Class 1A finalist Centurions. Was 6-0 with a 0.26 ERA. Allowed only 2 earned runs in 531/3 innings. Struck out 85. Also hit .431 with four triples, 21 RBIs and 22 runs score. Will play at Seton Hill University.

Ryan Kircher * Plum * P * Junior
WPIAL has a number of talented junior pitchers and Kircher is one of them. Bothered by rib injury, but still finished with 0.55 ERA and 52 strikeouts in 31 innings. Gave up only 13 hits. Had 3-3 record. Division I colleges interested.