Gus Benusa set his goals high entering his senior baseball season at Riverview.

But even he was a little taken aback by his final statistics.

The senior outfielder led all WPIAL hitters with a .638 batting average and finished third in home runs with seven.

Fourteen of his 30 hits went for extra bases and he drove in 21.

“I was trying to get to something like that,” the lefty said.

Benusa’s outstanding season has earned him the title of Valley News Dispatch Baseball Player of the Year.

Kiski Area junior catcher Tyler Garrone also was considered for the award.

Benusa, who had five doubles and a pair of triples, was named WPIAL Baseball Coaches Association Class AA Player of the Year.

His all-around skills drew numerous Major League scouts to Riverview games throughout the season, and the San Francisco Giants claimed him in the eighth round of the first-year player draft.

Benusa is expected to sign with the Giants and give up his scholarship to Duquesne.

“He has an incredibly live bat,” Shady Side Academy coach Bob Grandizio said. “The ball jumps off of it like very few other players that I have seen in my 11 years of coaching in the WPIAL.”

Benusa, who led Riverview to the WPIAL Class AA playoffs, said rededicating himself in the offseason helped fuel his success.

“I put in a lot of work in the gym and in the cages,” Benusa said. “Last summer helped me a lot. I played for the Pittsburgh Bulldogs. That really changed me mentally. I wasn’t focused enough.”

Riverview coach Rich Griser, a part-time scout for the Tampa Bay Rays, said Benusa was on the radar of some pro teams at the start of the season.

His stock rose, and his reputation grew. By the end of the season, dozens of teams were interested.

“He went out and showed what he could do, especially in the second half of the season,” Griser said. “He was the WPIAL batting champ. He broke our school records for batting average and home runs.

“And he was our starting pitcher for three games and he won all three.”

All-stars

FIRST TEAM

Nate Antone, P-3B, Sr., Kiski Area

Pitt recruit was 4-1 with 2.88 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 41.1 innings. … Led Cavaliers to WPIAL semifinals. …Hit .404 with six homers and 21 RBI.

Jeff Campbell, SS, Sr. Highlands

Pitt-Johnstown recruit hit .473 with two homers, 11 doubles and 12 RBI. … Also scored 23 runs for Golden Rams.

Tyler Garrone, C, Jr., Kiski Area

Star catcher hit team-high .460 with WPIAL-best nine home runs, 35 RBI and 19 runs. … Helped Kiski Area reach WPIAL semifinals. … Had .582 on-base percentage.

Tim Giel, P, Sr., Shady Side Academy

WPIAL Class AA pitcher of the year and West Deer resident went 10-2 with 1.08 ERA and 128 strikeouts. … Columbia recruit led Indians (22-2) to WPIAL title. … Broke eight school records.

Eric McAlpine, C, Sr., Burrell

Three-year starter and team leader led Bucs’ offense with team-best .430 batting average. … Also had 24 RBI. … Helped Bucs to section title.

Nick Mendicino, 1B, Sr., Springdale

Led playoff team in several categories, including batting average (.529), hits (27), doubles (9) and RBI (24). … Also had .706 slugging percentage.

Richie Navari, 1B-P, Sr., Plum

Duquesne recruit hit .340 with three homers and 14 RBI for playoff team. … Slowed by elbow injury, but still managed to strike out 26 batters in 21 innings.

Paul Nilson, 3B-P, Sr., Deer Lakes

Team leader hit .348 with 14 runs scored and eight RBI for Class AA playoff team. … Also went 3-2 as pitcher with 2.40 ERA for the Lancers.

Ryan Siegel, OF, Jr., Freeport

Rising junior batted .457 with team-high six home runs and 19 RBI. … Had .500 on-base percentage. … Helped keep Freeport in playoff race until end of season.

SECOND TEAM

Name Pos. Class School

Bret Basilone, SS, Jr., Springdale

Taylor Elko, P, Jr., St. Joseph

Cullen Hinderliter, P, Jr., Knoch

Jarrod Mancine, IF, Jr., Freeport

Willie Nelson, P-IF, Sr., Kiski Area

Luke Prazenica,P-OF, Sr., Ford City

Bryan Rayburg, P, Sr., Valley

Nick Shook, 2B-P, Jr., Riverview

Matt Simoni, P, Sr., Valley

Dave Yakopec, P-OF, Burrell

HONORABLE MENTION

Name Pos. Class School

Ryan Coulter, C, Sr., Apollo-Ridge

Ian Ferguson, C, Sr., Ford City

Nick Ferracano, P, Sr., Plum

Matt Giel, P, Jr., Shady Side Academy

Cayman Hoggard, 3B, So., Riverview

Chris Kumar, 1B, Jr., Riverview

Bill Moretti, SS-P, So., Deer Lakes

Cam Nelson, SS, Jr., Burrell

Steve Newbrough, 3B-P, Sr., Deer Lakes

Corey Podvasnik, 1B, So., Plum

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