CENTRE COUNTY —The 2025 high school baseball season is about to begin this week, and every one of our local teams will be in action by Saturday, March 22.
Last year was a banner year for Centre County teams with successful seasons everywhere, including a Pennsylvania State Championship campaign by Bald Eagle Area.
The aspirations are high again for 2025, but as usual, the conference schedules are challenging.
Here is a quick look at each team and its early schedule:
BALD EAGLE AREA
- Head Coach: Ryan MacNamara (1st year)
- 2024 Record: 25-2. LHAC, District 6 and PIAA, 3A Champions
The Bald Eagles swept through the playoffs last season with a 13-3 victory over West Branch in the District 6 final and then wins over Lakeview, Moniteau, North Star and finally Tri-Valley in the PIAA Tournament. No one got within six runs of them, and they scored nine runs in the fifth and sixth innings in the 11-3 win over Tri-Valley in the state final.
New head coach Ryan MacNamara will take over this year for longtime head coach Jim Gardner who retired after last season.
Early Schedule:
- March 20, Tyrone H
- March 21, DuBois A
- March 25, Hollidaysburg A
BELLEFONTE
- Head Coach: Jon Clark
- 2024 Record: 19-3. 2nd Place in the LHAC East, District 6 4A Championship, D 6/9 Sub-Regional Champions.
Another excellent season by the Raiders in 2024 with 19 wins and only three losses. After winning the D6 title and winning the D6/9 Regional, the Raiders fell in the PIAA Tournament to Indiana, 3-0.
This year, the Raiders will return many of the leaders from that team including Peyton Vancas, Parker Capparelle, Oliver Thornburg and Isaac Gall.
Early Schedule:
- March 18, DuBois A
- March 20, Clearfield A
- March 25, Tyrone A
PENNS VALLEY
- Head Coach: Rich Sweitzer
- 2024 Record: 4-15
The Rams, after winning their first game last season, went on a long losing streak that did not end until early in May. They did, however, win two of their last four games with wins over Tyrone and Bellwood-Antis.
This year, PV will be looking to get off to a stronger start, but the early schedule is challenging with teams like Central, Huntingdon and Bishop Guilfoyle showing up in March.
Early Schedule:
- March 20, Central Martinsburg H
- March 25, Huntingdon A
- March 27, Bishop Guilfoyle H
PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA
- Head Coach: Doug Sankey
- 2024 Record: 15-6
After winning 15 regular-season games, the P-O Mounties ran into a hot Huntingdon team in the playoffs and were eliminated.
They came into that game with a four-game winning streak and the loss will certainly be a motivating factor with what will be a veteran returning team in 2025.
Top hitters Sam McDonald, Archer Baughman, Fischer White, Lucas Peterson and others will be returning for this season and expectations are high.
And the team will see that Huntingdon team in the new season’s first game.
Early Schedule:
- March 18, Huntingdon A
- March 20, Bishop Guilfoyle H
- March 25, Bellwood-Antis A
SAINT JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC ACADEMY
- Head Coach: Jay Nungesser
- 2024 Record: 6-15 overall, 5-11 conference
The WolfPack started strong in 2024 but suffered some close losses down the stretch in their season and finished with just six wins.
But there were victories over some good teams like Line Mountain, Greenwood and East Juniata, so with a solid core of returning players, there is a positive outlook coming into 2025.
The team’s three top hitters will return with Luke Duckworth, Cameron Guss and Hayes Miller with Duckworth also being among the teams top pitchers.
Early Schedule:
- March 18, Glendale
- March 24, East Juniata
- March 26, Juniata
STATE COLLEGE
- Head Coach: Dave Williams
- 2024 Record: 10-11 overall, 7-8 Mid-Penn Commonwealth
The Little Lions had three close Mid Penn losses heading into the playoffs last season but still played their way into the District 6, 6A finals with a victory over Altoona in the semifinal.
Mifflin County, however, outlasted the Lions in the final and went on to the PIAA Tournament.
SC will be looking for improvement this season, but getting off to a good start will be important.
Early Schedule:
- March 22, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) at John Carroll HS, Bel Air, Maryland
- March 22, John Carroll A
- March 24, Altoona H
