Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Division IV Team Of The Week: Week 7 - Shadyside

May 18, 2022
Bruce Hefflinger and Dylan Hefflinger
PBR New England Senior Writer and Editor in Chief/Scout

Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOH
Follow on Twitter- @PBROhioScout
Follow on Instagram- @pbrohio 

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

To view the Teams of the Week, click below:

To view the Team Rankings, click below:

To view the Preseason All-State Teams, click below:

Division IV Team Of The Week: Week 7 - Shadyside

SHADYSIDE - Three shutouts in four games has Shadyside at 18-3 on the season entering this week. It also has the Tigers honored as the Prep Baseball Report Division IV Team of the Week.

“Good pitching performances have kind of been the theme this past week,” noted Shadyside head coach Shawn Selmon. “Three of the four games were complete-game outings and all were shutouts with two no-hitters by Bryce Amos.”

The only runs permitted by Shadyside during the week came with a 12-0 lead on Union Local before Rhys Francis was pulled after three innings with 10 strikeouts. Otherwise, it was a 7-0 win over Monroe when Amos tossed a no-hitter with 14 Ks and three walks. A 12-0 victory over Buckeye Local featured a five-inning no-no from Amos with 12 strikeouts and two free passes while Francis threw a three-hitter with 13 Ks in a 3-0 win over Tuscarawas Central.

“Cole Micker's pinch-hit single in the fifth scored Amos to give us the lead over Tusky Central,” Selmon reflected about the freshman who drove in four runs while hitting .625 during the week.

There is more that the Shadyside mentor likes about the season to date.

“So far what stands out is the ability of these guys to play as a team,” Selmon said. “They really are a family and don't get down on each other when things aren't going well. They mostly turn it around and use it as motivation to keep plugging away and doing enough to win.”

A strong attack at the plate helps the cause.

“We have been hitting the ball better this year from top to bottom,” Selmon related. “In the last four games we've had 41 hits, scored 34 runs, and had 16 stolen bases.”

One standout has been leadoff hitter Korey Beckett, a third baseman/pitcher who is hitting .467. Back on May 3rd the right-hander tossed a four-hit shutout against Shenandoah with 12 strikeouts.

Francis, an Oakland commit who plays center field when not on the mound, batted .444 with a pair of doubles last week with Mason Vannest, a shortstop/pitcher, recording seven hits, seven stolen bases and 10 RBIs during the week. Alex Baker, a 1B/P, drove in four while hitting .400 and Amos, a Tulane commit, averaged .308 at the dish.

Selmon also points to the value of catcher Ryan Florence, who has been back playing the past week-and-a-half.

“He hasn’t hit well the past week due to an injury, but he caught our two no-hitters as well as our three no-hitters and perfect game last year,” Selmon noted. “He calls the games and does an outstanding job behind the plate with no passed balls in 92 innings caught all year with three caught steals and one pick. He’s only allowed 15 wild pitches (just seven with the top four pitchers on the mound) in over 2,000 pitches thrown at him.”

It has Selmon smiling about an enjoyable season in charge of the fourth-rated D-IV team in Ohio.

“Nothing really surprises me with these guys,” Selmon said. “They’re having a ton of fun this year but they will also be those chippy, gritty players when the need arises. The upperclassmen are all leaders and look after the rest of the team.”

A matchup with either Conottom Valley or Steubenville Catholic Central is on tap Wednesday in the tournament opener.

“Continuing the pitching performances that we've had is a huge key to success in the future,” Selmon concluded. “Along with that, we have to get the hits like we've been doing this spring so far and run the bases like we know how. If we can put those things together and with the attitudes these guys bring every day, we will be very hard to beat. These guys really are fearless. They expect to win every game regardless who the opponent is.”

 

Recent Articles