However, it’s a different story when it comes to finding one that can prosper in all four capacities – hitting, fielding, pitching and base running. That isn’t just in terms of minor success, like hitting above .300 or pitching below a 3.00 ERA. That’s referring to someone who’s dominant in every regard.

In the case of this year’s Express baseball Player of the Year, that description most applies to Bellefonte senior Peyton Vancas.

Individually, Vancas could do it all through 2025, leading the Red Raiders in batting average (.459), on-base percentage (.554), slugging percentage (.676), ERA (.80) and so much more. He was second on the team in fielding percentage (.987) despite playing one of the more error-prone positions in shortstop, producing just one error on 79 chances while enacting a team-leading five double plays.

And from a team standout, that success paid dividends, helping Bellefonte shake off a slow start and get back to the state tournament. The Red Raiders finished as District 6 Class AAAA champions and District 6/8 subregional champions. And in the first round of the state tournament, they played arguably their best game off the back of a seven-inning four-hitter from Vancas, ultimately falling just short against eventual state champion Indiana (Pa.) in extras.

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Bellefonte’s Peyton Vancas, left, heads to first base after being walked during a game this season. Vancas was named the Express Baseball Player of the Year for 2025.

On top of his percentages, Vancas logged multiple hits in 12 games, a hit in all but two, a run in all but seven and an RBI in all but ten. He closed out his senior campaign leading the area in hits (34) and runs (24), posting 19 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples and a homer from the plate and striking out 36 to seven walks and 25 hits through 35 innings from the mound.

He finished with the best batting average, OPS (1.230) and ERA of his career, and that’s saying something considering his prior success.

In terms of careers, Vancas was a model of consistency, concluding with a career batting average of .427, OPS of 1.126, a fielding percentage of .967 and an ERA of 160. He surpassed 100 hits as a senior, finishing with 119, struck out 141 batters while walking 41 and posted 139 putouts, 155 assists and 21 double players as a fielder, a commendable career in all facets.

Apart from Vancas, Central Mountain junior Blake Walker and Sugar Valley freshman Brody Swanger were heavily considered for this award and head into 2026 as extremely early favorites to compete for next year’s award.

FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR

TIM WEIGHT/For The Express Central Mountain’s Watt Probst was named a first-team Express all-star this year as a catcher.

Brody Swanger,

Sugar Valley

While Sugar Valley’s size has kept it from success pretty much since its inception, that may be on the brink of changing. It just experienced its most successful season in program history, and while it departs with a strong group of seniors, one of the biggest driving factors in that surge was its freshman class – led by Brody Swanger.

In his first campaign with the Phoenix, Swanger didn’t just lead his team in batting average; he led the entire area, logging 30 hits for an average of .526 and attributing 11 RBIs, 21 runs and an OPS of 1.280. Nine of those hits – eight doubles and a triple – earned additional bases, and many came when the team was striving for a playoff spot late.

Through his last eight games, he went 19-for-28 (.679) from the plate, posting 12 runs, seven RBIs and seven doubles. In an upset win over Montgomery, he logged three doubles, two runs and an RBI and three wins away from a district bid, he’d go 4-for-5 with pairs of RBIs and doubles against Canton to help get the Phoenix one step closer.

It was an effort that not only clinched him the award for Express baseball Freshman of the Year but also put him in consideration for Player of the Year, something a freshman hasn’t done throughout my times at the Williamsport Sun-Gazette and Lock Haven Express until now. And that doesn’t include his impact in the field and as a pitcher, detailed a few blocks down.

Other freshmen that warranted consideration included Sugar Valley teammates Bentley Andrus and Tobias Conoway and Jersey Shore shortstop Nolen Pauling.

EXPRESS ALL-STARS

Zach Lehman, Bellefonte

(PITCHER)

While Vancas led the way for the Red Raiders, he certainly didn’t do all the heavy lifting. Bellefonte’s most active pitcher through 2025, sophomore Zach Lehman, was only slightly less impactful in most regards his senior teammate was, a one-two punch that truly prospered down the stretch.

In his first season of varsity, Lehman took on a large role and thrived, pitching a team-high 45 innings while maintaining an ERA just above 3.00, posting a win-loss record of 6-2, striking out 45 batters to 15 walks and allowing just two extra-base hits. His most notable performance from the mound came in the District 6 championship, where he pitched a two-hitter while striking out eight.

Like Vancas, whenever he wasn’t pitching, he was taking on a similarly difficult position at shortstop. And though he put up two more errors than the senior, he also secured the same number of double plays (five) and ultimately posted a fielding percentage of .931, with 40 putouts and 14 assists.

And from the plate, he was fourth on the team in many regards, posting an OPS of .884, on-base percentage of .464, batting average of .362 (third on team) and 19 RBIs (third on team). His sound play from the mound in the district title carried over there, as he went 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a double, one of nine multi-hit outings.

If he’s able to build on that success in his junior season, look out.

Keller Friese, Bucktail

(PITCHER)

Though the 2025 season was a tough one for the Bucks, that doesn’t mean it was devoid of bright spots. Sophomore pitcher Keller Friese happened to be a particularly large one, earning him a spot on the first-team all-star squad.

His batting numbers dipped slightly following an eruption of a freshman season, but he improved considerably from the mound through his second season, cutting his ERA in half to 3.87 through 34 1/3 innings pitched, dropping his opposing batting average down by .150 to .226 and striking out 54 to 22 walks. And from the plate, Friese was still electric, batting .514 with six triples, five doubles and one homer and finishing with an OPS of 1.650.

In the team’s lone win of the season over Sugar Valley, he’d strike out 12 to six walks and log two runs offensively. And in its most impressive performance against eventual District 4 Class AA runner-up Montoursville, Friese allowed just one earned run through 6 2/3 innings pitched, almost leading the Bucks to a huge upset win.

Watt Probst,

Central Mountain

(CATCHER)

Of Central Mountain’s plethora of returners, junior Watt Probst is one of the most exciting, especially when it comes to his offense and connection with pitchers like Austin Frank and Darius Shade.

Offensively, Probst was not only one of the team’s most potent batters but also put up upticks across the board. He increased an already strong batting average by .57 (.397) and blew last year’s slugging percentage out the water, slugging .655 behind a team-high 11 doubles and two triples and finishing with an OPS of 1.110 (second on the team).

Through two seasons of varsity, he has 35 RBIs and 19 doubles. And once he makes good contact, it’s hard to get him to stop, with the junior putting together four performances that saw him attribute multiple extra-base hits.

He’ll be more than a force to be reckoned with if he continues his upward trajectory.

Malaky Moyd,

Central Mountain

(INFIELDER)

Central Mountain senior Malaky Moyd was an anchor for a defense that had an affinity for making tough plays, immovable no matter how challenging a catch at first was. Despite 90 chances, he never once picked up an error, helping the team complete 85 putouts, five assists and a team-leading eight double plays.

On top of his proficiency on defense, Moyd also had a great season on the plate, leading the Wildcats in triples with three and finishing second in runs (20) and fourth in slugging percentage (.623), RBIs (16) and doubles.

Through two seasons of varsity ball, Moyd posted a batting average of .353, 25 RBIs and ten extra-base hits, improving considerably between his junior and senior seasons, particularly as a slugger. In 2025, he batted .377, hit a homer in a rivalry win over Jersey Shore and was one of the team’s many impactful seniors.

Blake Walker,

Central Mountain

(INFIELDER)

While Central Mountain graduated a large list of impactful seniors following its run to the state tournament, one big reason fans should remain optimistic heading into 2026 is Blake Walker, a standout amongst standouts on a very deep Wildcat squad this season. The runner-up for this year’s Express baseball Player of the Year, Walker was impactful in every regard throughout his junior campaign.

In terms of slugging stats, the Wildcat led the area in almost every regard, posting an absurd slugging percentage of .942 (area-leading) off six homers (area-leading) and seven doubles. That – coupled with an on-base percentage of .576 – boosted his OPS to an area-leading 1.518, and he also finished with a batting average of .462, 23 RBIs and 16 runs to round out his offensive high points.

Defensively, he played a key role as both a consistent third baseman – where he put up a fielding percentage of .939 on 33 chances – and a potent closer – where he didn’t allow a single run through 6 2/3 innings while striking out 11. Against Pine Richland during states, he was a big reason why the Wildcats stayed within striking distance, striking out four and allowing two hits through three scoreless innings of relief while going 2-for-3 with one RBI from the plate.

In terms of very early candidates for next year’s Player of the Year award, he’s at the top of the totem pole.

Jase Seltzer,

Central Mountain

(INFIELDER)

Like Walker, Central Mountain senior Jase Seltzer proved he could do a bit of everything throughout the 2025 season. Apart from his fielding at shortstop, which saw a minute dip in fielding percentage, he also improved considerably when it came to hitting, pitching and baserunning.

After not throwing a single pitch through his first season as a starter, Seltzer had arguably the most consistent season from the mound for the Wildcats outside of junior Darius Shade, logging an ERA of 1.47 through 14 1/3 innings pitched, posting a win in three of his four starts and striking out 15 to seven walks and ten hits.

He led the team in stolen bases with ten, consistently made tough plays defensively – outside of a few errors – and was a strong batter despite being slate at No. 9 in the order, batting .353 with 11 RBIs and 12 runs and logging an on-base percentage of .511. He upped his OPS by almost .300 (.923) and batting average by .125, improvements which greatly helped Central Mountain see across-the-board success.

Brody Swanger,

Sugar Valley

(INFIELDER)

Garnering an honorable mention alongside Walker for this year’s Player of the Year award, it was fairly obvious Swanger was going to land here. Like Vancas and Walker, the Sugar Valley freshman was considerably impactful on multiple fronts, adding strong fielding and pitching campaigns to his success from the plate.

In leading the team in innings pitched (32 2/3) and playing shortstop, Swanger had a lot on his plate throughout his freshman season and still managed to thrive, handling the pressure of leading a team right out the gate well.

As a pitcher, he posted a modest ERA of 3.86 and 32 strikeouts to 15 walks and 33 hits, mostly notably striking out 11 in a win against Williamson and pitching a combined 12 1/3 innings in victories over Muncy, Sullivan and Canton. And from the field, Swanger rarely showed the kinks expected from a first year, posting two errors on 54 chances.

It’s a campaign that should have Phoenix fans very excited.

Isaiah Maldonado,

Central Mountain

(OUTFIELDER)

Discussing a Wildcat that could make an impact in every regard is probably sounding like a broken record at this point, but that’s just a testament to the team’s depth in 2025. Through his senior season, Isaiah Maldonado was one of those guys, providing a key role as a hitter, fielder and pitcher.

As the team’s leadoff batter, Maldonado consistently found ways to get on base, posting an on-base percentage of .507 behind a .345 batting average, team-high 18 walks and strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.00. He was second on the team in RBIs with 20 and fifth on the team in runs (15) and doubles (three).

While he could be off-and-on at times, he stepped up when it mattered most. Against Pine Richland in the state tournament, he put together one of his best performances from the plate, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a double and run and proving clutch through Central Mountain’s late surge. He had just six games where he didn’t log an RBI and six where he posted multiple.

Defensively, he logged one error in the team’s opener before never having one again, attributing 15 puts, three assists and one double play out of center field. And as a reliever, he allowed just one earned run through 10 2/3 innings pitched while striking out 13 to two walks.

Collin Berguson,

Jersey Shore

(OUTFIELDER)

Though he cooled off towards the end of the season, corresponding with the Bulldogs’ late-season struggles, Jersey Shore senior Collin Berguson still put together a commendable overall campaign, leading the team in a vast array of categories.

From the plate, Berguson was a force as both a base-getter and slugger, leading the team in on-base percentage (.468) and slugging percentage (.533) and ultimately putting together an OPS above 1.000 as a result. He had an affinity for putting the ball in play, fighting for walks and picking up extra bases, leading the team in homers (two), doubles (four) and triples (one) and finishing second in walks (15).

At one point, he had a six-game hit streak going, a period which closed on a high note when he hit a pivotal one-shot homer in a win against Shikellamy. And even when his hitting slowed late, he remained effective as a fielder, never attributing an errors despite facing 29 chances. Through three seasons in the field, he had 75 putouts, five assists, three double plays and just eight errors.

Parker Capparelle,

Bellefonte

(OUTFIELDER)

Though his batting average of .239 doesn’t scream off the page, whenever Bellefonte senior Parker Capparelle was able to make great contact with a ball, there was always a chance of it turning into a big play. In his second full season as a varsity starter, Capparelle was one of the team’s best sluggers, posting a slugging percentage of .507 off four homers and six doubles.

That’s a factor that fueled the Red Raiders to a 5-2 win over rival Bald Eagle Area, where Capparelle hit a homer and finished 3-for-3 with three RBIs. It also helped them dominate their District 6 title matchup against Juniata, as he’d hit a one-run shot to carry their early rally forward amidst a five-run first.

Outside of hitting, Capparelle was reliable in centerfield, contributing just two errors on 32 chances, and a decent third option on the mound behind Vancas and Lehman, striking out 19 in 21 2/3 innings pitched and finishing with a 5.49 ERA. It was a respectable overall campaign, especially considering he was on junior varsity just two seasons prior.

Brady Lavelle,

Central Mountain

(UTILITY)

Whether it was serving as a reliable designated hitter, one of the Wildcats’ many proven bullpen pieces or a solid fielder in right field, Central Mountain senior Brady Lavelle played a considerable number of roles for a team that had plenty of success in 2024. Following a promising first season on varsity, Lavelle’s growth was apparent, earning him a spot on this year’s first-team all-star squad.

From the plate, Lavelle proved his .421 on a small sample size as a junior wasn’t a fluke, logging 22 hits for a batting average of .373, 19 RBIs, nine doubles and 17 runs. He put together one of his best offensive performances of the season in a tough district title win over Hollidaysburg, going 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a run, one of three games that saw him contribute three hits.

Defensively, he had just one error in the field and was solid through 13 1/3 innings pitched, posting an ERA of 1.58. His most notable defensive performance took place against rival Shore, where Lavelle struck out ten through a five-inning one-hitter.

SECOND TEAM

P – Austin Frank, Central Mountain

C – Owen Thornburg, Bellefonte

IF – Brayden Dubbs, Bald Eagle Area

IF – Lincoln Breon, Sugar Valley

IF – Nate Wian, Central Mountain

IF – Evan Mattern, Bellefonte

OF – Felix Oquendo, Central Mountain

OF – Mason Winter, Jersey Shore

OF – Tobias Conoway, Sugar Valley

UTIL – Darius Shade, Central Mountain