By SETH STASKEY

Times Leader Sports Editor

SHADYSIDE — When Shawn Selmon, who is beginning his fourth season at the helm of the Shadyside baseball program, surveys his roster several things jump out at him.

He loves the team’s versatility, especially on the infield, the number of pitching prospects and the level of talent his team possesses.

While those are strong pieces of foundation to begin with, a lot of work has to continue for the Tigers, who finished 17-6 in 2019, to achieve their goals.

“There is always hope at the beginning of each season,” Selmon said. “Sometimes hope wanes throughout a season and sometimes it builds. I’m optimistic, but we have to take it one game at a time. Start with game one and build off of that.”

No matter if it’s a high school or Major League team, the key ingredient is pitching and the Tigers have plenty of arms they can use.

“We have 12 of our 15 players who are able to pitch,” Selmon said. “It’s hard to say who will be on the mound at any given time.”

Junior Bryce Amos — who verbally committed to Tulane University during the offseason — is the ace of the staff. According to Selmon, he’s topped out in the 90s with his fastball.

Classmates Korey Beckett, Mason Vannest and Rhys Francis are all expected to be starters.

“Those guys are all very capable and it’s nice to be able to have a veteran on the mound each time out. We’re not afraid to send any of those guys out against anyone on our schedule.”

Other pitching candidates are seniors Eric Allen and Jordan Joseph, junior Alex Baker, sophomore Garrett Grover, freshmen Carson Makris, Tyler Stottlemyer and Ben Wach.

Around the infield, Shadyside will implement a platoon at first base between Amos and Baker, depending upon who is pitching.

Vannest is expected to shift to shortstop. The second base job has been a battle between senior Nate Milhoan, Wach and Stottlemyer.

Beckett is entrenched at third base, but could see time at shortstop as well.

Handling the Tiger pitching staff will be juniors Ryan Florence and Gage Joseph.

Around the outfield, Francis, who hit .354 as a frosh, is expected to get most of the action in center field, while the two corner spots have been a battle between Allen, Milhoan and Jordan Joseph. Also battling for innings is sophomore Grant Miller.