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After reaching the WPIAL championship game for a second consecutive year, Riverside came into the 2025 season with the vision of returning to the title game after losing in extra innings last year.
As the season approached, Riverside had to fill holes in its lineup after losing all-state outfielder Bo Fornataro, Ashton Schlosser and catcher Darren McDade, who were mainstays in Riverside’s lineup the past two seasons when the team won a a WPIAL and PIAA championship in 2023.
But when it comes to Riverside’s pitching staff, its core group of arms that features three all-state selections from 2024 are back in hopes of putting together another strong campaign.
“It feels great having all of our pitching back this year,” Riverside senior right-handed pitcher Christian Lucarelli said. “With the way Zach [Hare] has been throwing, he has been amazing. I had a few rough starts to begin the year, but I am starting to get back into a rhythm. Hunter [Garvin] has been there to close out games and does a great job whenever he comes in.
"If we continue to keep things rolling, we will be in a good spot.”
More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Beaver County Times app
The team might have returned all of its pitching from last season, but when the year began, Lucarelli, the team’s ace, has had to shake off a rough start as noise and draft conversations surrounding the pitcher continue to heat up.
Lucarelli, who signed to pitch at Duke once he graduates at the end of the school year, also has had several professional scouts at each of his starts, which has added extra pressure on him to perform.
“My bad start came from a mental side more than execution,” Lucarelli said. “I was putting a lot of pressure on myself with the draft and everything that goes along with that. I had to realize that I am not perfect and human just like everyone else.
"I needed to get back into the right mental state, so I have been listening to motivational speeches to get me into the right mindset.”
After self-reflection following his first loss of the season, where he allowed two earned runs and walked five against Ellwood City, Lucarelli bounced back in a big way against Mohawk in his next start, silencing the noise and regaining his confidence in his fourth start of the year.
On the road, Lucarelli posted one of his best lines of the season, working six innings allowing one run (which was unearned), two hits and striking out 15.
“Against Mohawk, he showed that he can’t let the outside noise bother him. He was trying to do too much to start the year and was overthinking. Christian has to get his mind off the outside noise and just pitch,” Riverside head coach Dan Oliastro said. “It was a big step for him to have the outing like he did because he has been put in a tough position, having to face pressure not a lot of kids have to face.”
As Lucarelli bounced back, the two other mainstays on the pitching staff have dazzled to begin the season.
Required Reading: Who are the Beaver County Times top 20 baseball players in the Beaver Valley?
Zach Hare, a senior who is committed to Slippery Rock, serves as the team’s No. 2 starter and has rolled through opposing lineups with ease this season after rising to the occasion last year.
Hare was one of the top arms in the WPIAL last season as he posted a 0.95 ERA across 11 games, finishing the year with a 9-1 record as a starter.
He picked up right where he left off last season as the senior has worked deep into games, reaching the sixth inning in three out of his four starts to begin the season, while striking out 50 batters and allowing just 10 hits through his first four starts.
“Last season was Zach’s comfort season," Lucarelli said. “He didn’t pitch much his freshman or sophomore year, so last year he stepped up, having to hold up the reputation of the pitching staff before him. Every single outing, we call him a robot because he is so consistent with what he does.
"He makes sure that his body is ready for both sides and puts a ton of work in.”
While Lucarelli and Hare have handled the role as starters, Hunter Garvin has been the arm to shut the door for Riverside. Throughout Oliastro’s 57-year tenure as the team's head coach, he has rarely designated a closer.
But due to the southpaw’s dominance as he has yet to allow an earned run through nine innings of work, Garvin is the perfect player for the closer role for Riverside.
“Hunter is cool, confident and just throws strikes,” Oliastro said. “He throws hard and mixes his off-speed pitches, making him tough to go against.”
Riverside will look to continue leaning on its experienced staff as the race for the section title continues to heat up in the second month of the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Riverside's experienced pitching staff paving way for success
Continue reading...
As the season approached, Riverside had to fill holes in its lineup after losing all-state outfielder Bo Fornataro, Ashton Schlosser and catcher Darren McDade, who were mainstays in Riverside’s lineup the past two seasons when the team won a a WPIAL and PIAA championship in 2023.
But when it comes to Riverside’s pitching staff, its core group of arms that features three all-state selections from 2024 are back in hopes of putting together another strong campaign.
“It feels great having all of our pitching back this year,” Riverside senior right-handed pitcher Christian Lucarelli said. “With the way Zach [Hare] has been throwing, he has been amazing. I had a few rough starts to begin the year, but I am starting to get back into a rhythm. Hunter [Garvin] has been there to close out games and does a great job whenever he comes in.
"If we continue to keep things rolling, we will be in a good spot.”
More: Accessing local journalism is even easier with the Beaver County Times app
The team might have returned all of its pitching from last season, but when the year began, Lucarelli, the team’s ace, has had to shake off a rough start as noise and draft conversations surrounding the pitcher continue to heat up.
Lucarelli, who signed to pitch at Duke once he graduates at the end of the school year, also has had several professional scouts at each of his starts, which has added extra pressure on him to perform.
“My bad start came from a mental side more than execution,” Lucarelli said. “I was putting a lot of pressure on myself with the draft and everything that goes along with that. I had to realize that I am not perfect and human just like everyone else.
"I needed to get back into the right mental state, so I have been listening to motivational speeches to get me into the right mindset.”
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After self-reflection following his first loss of the season, where he allowed two earned runs and walked five against Ellwood City, Lucarelli bounced back in a big way against Mohawk in his next start, silencing the noise and regaining his confidence in his fourth start of the year.
On the road, Lucarelli posted one of his best lines of the season, working six innings allowing one run (which was unearned), two hits and striking out 15.
“Against Mohawk, he showed that he can’t let the outside noise bother him. He was trying to do too much to start the year and was overthinking. Christian has to get his mind off the outside noise and just pitch,” Riverside head coach Dan Oliastro said. “It was a big step for him to have the outing like he did because he has been put in a tough position, having to face pressure not a lot of kids have to face.”
As Lucarelli bounced back, the two other mainstays on the pitching staff have dazzled to begin the season.
Required Reading: Who are the Beaver County Times top 20 baseball players in the Beaver Valley?
Zach Hare, a senior who is committed to Slippery Rock, serves as the team’s No. 2 starter and has rolled through opposing lineups with ease this season after rising to the occasion last year.
Hare was one of the top arms in the WPIAL last season as he posted a 0.95 ERA across 11 games, finishing the year with a 9-1 record as a starter.
He picked up right where he left off last season as the senior has worked deep into games, reaching the sixth inning in three out of his four starts to begin the season, while striking out 50 batters and allowing just 10 hits through his first four starts.
“Last season was Zach’s comfort season," Lucarelli said. “He didn’t pitch much his freshman or sophomore year, so last year he stepped up, having to hold up the reputation of the pitching staff before him. Every single outing, we call him a robot because he is so consistent with what he does.
"He makes sure that his body is ready for both sides and puts a ton of work in.”
You must be registered for see images attach
While Lucarelli and Hare have handled the role as starters, Hunter Garvin has been the arm to shut the door for Riverside. Throughout Oliastro’s 57-year tenure as the team's head coach, he has rarely designated a closer.
But due to the southpaw’s dominance as he has yet to allow an earned run through nine innings of work, Garvin is the perfect player for the closer role for Riverside.
“Hunter is cool, confident and just throws strikes,” Oliastro said. “He throws hard and mixes his off-speed pitches, making him tough to go against.”
Riverside will look to continue leaning on its experienced staff as the race for the section title continues to heat up in the second month of the regular season.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Riverside's experienced pitching staff paving way for success
Continue reading...
