2024-2025 News
Miles Pealer Commits To Lycoming College For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
Another Tigers baseball senior has made his commitment to play at the next level. Infielder/outfielder Miles Pealer announced he will be attending Lycoming College after his high school career is over.
I am beyond excited to announce my commitment to play college baseball at @LycoBaseball for Coach @RickOliveri15
This journey has been incredible, and I couldn’t have done it without the unwavering support and guidance of so many amazing people.
First and foremost, thank you… pic.twitter.com/i4QVrDDMLV
— Miles Pealer (@MilesPealer9) February 10, 2025
Pealer appeared in 21 games for the Tigers last spring accruing 14 hits with six RBI and 11 runs scored. He also walked six times at the plate. Pealer was a perfect four-for-four with stolen bases last season. In the field, he recorded 12 putouts, including three double plays.
Lycoming baseball participates in the NCAA DIII Landmark Conference out of Williamsport, PA. The Warriors are a recently reactivated program that just started sponsoring baseball again in 2023 after a 52-year pause. Before the 2023 season, Lycoming last sponsored baseball as a varsity sport in 1971.
Seven Tigers sign NLIs for Baseball
Seven North Allegheny baseball seniors signed national letters of intent to play baseball at the next level on Wednesday. Pitcher Nico Varlotta signed his letter of intent to play at the University of North Alabama, pitcher Jackson Walsh signed to play at Gannon University, infielder Augie Maslo officially committed to play next spring at St. Joseph’s University, pitcher Nate Persinger and catcher Michael Hershberger signed the dotted line to play at California University of Pennsylvania next year while pitcher Ben Wilcox signed to La Roche University and outfielder Sean O’Donnell signed on with University of South Carolina Lancaster.
Varlotta verbally committed to North Alabama in October. Varlotta dealt with injuries during his junior campaign but was able to come back late in the season and give the Tigers a huge lift come playoff time. He made five appearance with three of them being starts pitching 19.2 innings with a 2.13 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. Varlotta also played some outfield and was the designated hitter for the majority of the year. He hit .333 with a home run and seven RBIs. North Alabama is Division I and participates in the Atlantic Sun Conference.
Walsh made his commitment verbally in late September. The left-handed pitcher and outfielder appeared in 12 total games, six on the mound and six in the outfield. On the mound Walsh threw 23.1 innings recording 17 strikeouts. At the plate, Walsh recorded three hits, had two RBIs and drew seven walks. Gannon is Divison II and participates in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Maslo served as the NA shortstop for the 2024 season. He hit .270 with two doubles, a triple and eight RBIs. He also stole nine bases. Defensively, Maslo had a .931 fielding percentage. St. Joseph’s University is Division I and participates in the Atlantic 10 Conference.
Persigner made his verbal commitment last summer to join the Vulcans. He made three appearances for the Tigers in 2024 throwing 10 innings and striking out 11 batters. Persinger finished the season with a 2.10 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
Hershberger also committed to Cal U over the summer. Hershberger was a Big 56 All-Conference Honorable Mention selection a season ago. He appeared in 15 games, hitting .324 with nine RBIs. Hersberger’s biggest moment of the season was a pinch-hit two-RBI single in extra innings of the WPIAL Semifinals against Pine-Richland. The Tigers would win the game 5-4 and go on to win the WPIAL Championship.
California University of Pennsylvania is Division II and also participates in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
Wilcox decided on La Roche at the end of October. He appeared in two games on the mound for the Tigers throwing 2.1 innings. La Roche is Division III and competes in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference. The Red Hawks made the Division III College World Series in 2016.
O’Donnell appeared in seven games last season, recording two hits and had an RBI. He committed to USC Lancaster in late September. USC Lancaster competes in the National Junior College Athletic Association in Region 10.
All seven Tigers contributed to a 2024 season that saw North Allegheny finish with a 17-7 record, a WPIAL Championship and another state playoff appearance.
Ben Wilcox Commits To La Roche University For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
Senior Ben Wilcox has decided where he will continue his academic and athletic career following graduation next spring. The Pitcher and outfielder announced on social media Monday he will be attending La Roche University next fall.
#Committed. I want to thank everyone who has helped me along the way. I couldn’t have done it without the help of God, my family, my coaches, and my friends. ✝️ pic.twitter.com/zywg5nHSr0
— Ben Wilcox (@BMWILCOX02) October 28, 2024
Wilcox saw 2.1 innings of work last season from the bump in two games, recording one strikeout. In the outfield, he had one putout with a 1.000 fielding percentage.
La Roche competes in the Division III Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference and reached the AMCC Championship Game last season. The Red Hawks were AMCC Champions in 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019. In 2016, La Roche was the NCAA Mideast Regional Champions, reaching the Division III College World Series.
Nico Varlotta Commits To North Alabama For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
Senior Nico Varlotta has decided where he will continue his academic and athletic career next fall. The pitcher announced on social media Thursday he committed to North Alabama.
All Glory to God #committed @BattlegroundBG @natigerbaseball @UNABaseball @Josh_Sharpless @joe_professori pic.twitter.com/GG3VgVLAnQ
— Nico Varlotta (@VarlottaNico) October 10, 2024
During his junior campaign, Varlotta tossed 19.2 innings in five games and three starts from the mound. He ended the season with a 2.13 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 16 strikeouts while stranding 17 runners on base.
Nico also played the outfield or served as the team’s designated hitter over 20 games in the 2024 season. He batted .333 from the plate with 14 total hits, a home run, seven RBI, six runs and three walks. Varlotta had eight putouts in the field.
The North Alabama Lions have participated in Division I baseball out of the Atlantic Sun Conference since 2018.
Jackson Walsh Commits To Gannon University For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
North Allegheny baseball senior Jackson Walsh has decided where to continue his academic and athletic career at the next level. The left-handed pitcher and outfielder announced he will be attending Gannon University for baseball next fall.
I am excited to announce that I will be continuing my academic and athletic career at Gannon University! I would like to thank everyone who supported me along the way and I looking forward to this next chapter of my life. Go Knights! pic.twitter.com/ur3QwCl3La
— Jackson Walsh (@jtwalsh2525) September 28, 2024
Walsh appeared in 12 games last spring, including six as a pitcher. He logged 23.1 innings of work, recording 17 strikeouts while stranding 24 baserunners. The southpaw was also credited with two saves. In the outfield, he had a perfect fielding percentage with 11 putouts. Walsh recorded three hits with two RBI, six runs scored and drew seven walks.
Gannon competes in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference. The Golden Knights recently reached the NCAA Division II Tournament in 2019 and 2022.
Sean O’Donnell Commits To USC Lancaster For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
North Allegheny baseball senior Sean O’Donnell knows where he will continue his academic and athletic career next fall. He announced his commitment to the University of South Carolina Lancaster for baseball via social media on Thursday.
Excited to announce my commitment to play baseball at USC Lancaster. Thank you to my teammates, family, and coaches for helping me get here. Thank you, Coach Calhoun and Coach Donatelli, for this opportunity. pic.twitter.com/yAog7QsI9s
— Sean O’Donnell (@Sean_ODonnell06) September 26, 2024
The outfielder appeared in seven games last season, recording two hits, an RBI, two runs and a stolen base. O’Donnell also had five putouts in the field and a perfect fielding percentage.
The Lancers compete in the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 10.
Nate Persinger Commits To California University of Pennsylvania For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
Senior Nate Persinger will continue his academic and athletic career at the next level in western Pennsylvania. Thursday, the North Allegheny Baseball team announced on social media that Persinger committed to California University of Pennsylvania (PennWest California.)
— North Allegheny Baseball (@natigerbaseball) August 29, 2024
Persinger was a pitcher and infielder for the Tigers last season. In three games and 10 innings of work, he earned one win on the year, striking out 11 batters with a 2.10 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
Michael Hershberger Commits To California University Of Pennsylvania For Baseball
By: Jared Barton
Rising senior Michael Hershberger will continue his academic and athletic career at the next level in western Pennsylvania. Tuesday, the North Allegheny Baseball team announced on social media that the catcher has committed to California University of Pennsylvania (PennWest California.)
— North Allegheny Baseball (@natigerbaseball) August 13, 2024
Hershberger was a Big 56 All-Conference Honorable Mention player last season. He appeared in 15 games, batting .324 with 11 hits and nine RBI. The catcher was behind the dish for 52.1 innings of work, catching three baserunners stealing.
Mason Smith verbally commits to Dartmouth
by: Jonathan Spina
North Allegheny rising senior Mason Smith will continue his baseball and academic career at Dartmouth University. Smith announced his verbal commitment via social media on Tuesday.
In 2024, Smith was a Big 56 Conference first-team selection and one of North Allegheny’s top offensive performers. In 22 games, Smith posted a .343 batting average and .974 OPS to go along with eight extra-base hits and 11 runs batted in. Smith’s solo home run in the WPIAL Championship game was the difference in North Allegheny’s 1-0 victory over Mt. Lebanon.
