PIAA BASEBALL: Balcerzak fits right in at Riverside

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Jun. 14—Trevor Balcerzak transferred to Riverside this year from Holy Cross. The sophomore outfielder has been a valuable piece to what the unbeaten Vikings hope is a championship puzzle.

Balcerzak has hit safely in 15 of the 20 games he has played with nine multihit games. He had two hits in each of the team's first two state playoff victories, helping Riverside

(23-0) advance to today's PIAA Class 2A semifinals against District 11 champion Schuylkill Haven (23-3) at 4:30 p.m. at Mountain Top Legion Field.

"Talk about being lucky, we landed a good one," Riverside coach Sean Hughes said. "We were missing a guy in the outfield and he came and filled that spot.

"He's a kid who would sit in the cage all day long and swing, swing, swing. He's all about baseball, 24/7. You never have to worry about him. You know he's going to constantly work on his game."

When he came to Riverside, Balcerzak didn't know many of his teammates. But they welcomed him with open arms.

"They were, 'Happy to have you here,' " Balcerzak said. "The best way to describe our team this year is a real family. A real brotherhood."

Still, there was no guarantee he was going to play. He had to prove himself.

"I definitely had to work my way in, coming into a new program," Balcerzak said. "I knew it was going to be hard, grinding and trying to get a starting spot, not really knowing the coaches, not really knowing the players. I just came in, did my job, came to practice every day and worked hard and it's paid off."

It certainly has.

He is batting .441 (26 for 59) with two doubles, one triple, four home runs, 19 runs and 22 RBIs. His best game was April 26 — ironically against Holy Cross — when he went 4 for 4 with three home runs, four runs and six RBIs.

Batting fifth in the Vikings lineup, he provides protection for cleanup hitter Zach Day. Because of Balcerzak's power and consistency, teams can't pitch around Day, enabling him to bat .443 with 30 RBIs.

"I trust him in the lineup," Day said. "He's a great piece in our lineup, a great player. When he came in, a couple of us knew him. But we welcomed him to the family and it seemed like he was part of the Riverside program already. He fit right in."

Whether it is providing protection for Day, driving in runs or igniting a rally for the bottom of the order, Balcerzak knows his role and relishes it.

"I just go up there and think base hit every time," Balcerzak said. "Any way to impact the team. I'm just happy that we're winning and going as far as we are. Any way I can help the team, whether it be getting a base hit, hit by a pitch, laying a bunt down. Anything that gets us the W at the end of the day."

Defensively, Balcerzak plays right field. He has a strong throwing arm and likes to show it off during infield-outfield practice to make opposing teams think twice about running against him.

"If there's a fly ball out to him, there's no doubt he can shoot someone out at the plate," Hughes said.

Coming to Riverside, Balcerzak knew he was joining a talented team. He never imagined, though, the Vikings would be undefeated and playing in the state semifinals, two wins away from a championship.

"These guys are awesome," Balcerzak said. "Everybody works hard and pushes each other to give it everything they have. That's why we are where we are right now."

Riverside hopes it can keep things going today against Schuylkill Haven.

"We're playing a very good team with very good pitching," Balcerzak said. "I think we just need to play our ball game. Great defense, throwing strikes, getting our pitchers run support, lots of energy in the dugout. It's going to be a battle and we've got to give it everything we have. We can't make mistakes."

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