TYLER STAUB
Union
The past week: In a doubleheader against Western Beaver April 13, Staub threw a four-inning no-hitter and also went 5 for 6 in the two games with a double and home run.
Check this out: Staub, a pitcher-shortstop, is off to a tremendous start, hitting .667 (14 of 21) in 6 games, with 5 doubles, 1 triple, 1 home run and 12 stolen bases. He is 2-0 as a pitcher with 27 strikeouts in 15 innings and has allowed only eight hits. Staub, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound senior, has been a four-year starter in baseball. He also was a four-year starter in football and played basketball for three seasons. He did not play basketball this season after suffering a broken right leg in football that required surgery in October. He has nine screws and a rod in his leg and three screws in his ankle. He plans to play baseball at Bryant & Stratton College, a junior college in Akron.
With the injury, was there a chance you might not be able play baseball? Doctors told me it would be a six-month recovery. I ended up recovering in around 4-5 months. They actually didn’t think I would be playing until midseason or possibly not until the end of the season.
Do you deal with pain still? I’m still kind of battling with some pain. Every inning, I go to the dugout to do stretches so my calf doesn’t tighten up.
Could this team be as good as last year’s WPIAL championship team? Definitely. We have a few injuries this year and lost our No. 1 pitcher from last year. But our No. 3 pitcher is back and we have some young guys. If we get a couple guys back from injury, we can definitely get back to where we were last year.
Is there a sport you like the best? I’ve always loved baseball my whole life. But after the last two years, football has really gained and I have a strong love for it. I did give some consideration for football, but I’ve always loved baseball.
Did you get any candy for Easter? I did from my parents.
How about an Easter basket? Yeah, I got some candy, but I got four new tires for my car, too.
Did they fit in the basket? No, not at all (laugh).
If there was NIL for high school players, do you think you could make some money? I’d love that. I’d probably figure out something to make some money.
There was a famous baseball player years ago who played 20 some years in major leagues. His name was Rusty Staub. Could that be your new nickname? Actually, I get called that a lot by a few coaches (laugh). When I was in Little League, umpires would see my last name and ask if I was related to Rusty. Not a lot of my teammates know who he is. It’s just coaches.
— By Mike White
ELLA RICHEY
Chartiers-Houston
The past week: Richey went 3 for 3 with a home run, 4 RBIs and 5 runs scored in a 29-0 win vs. Aliquippa on April 12, then went 3 for 3 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 3 runs in a 19-0 win vs. Carlynton on April 13.
Check this out: A freshman catcher, Richey leads the Buccaneers with a .667 batting average with 2 home runs, 18 RBIs and 16 runs scored.
What’s the main difference between high school softball and travel ball for you so far? It’s a little bit more relaxed than travel. There’s no pressure. And just getting to play with a bunch of my friends.
How did travel ball help prepare you to play at the varsity level as a freshman? I feel like it really helped me and prepared me, just because the competition is really good, and you’re playing the best of the best. They might not be my age, but for high school, I honestly see everyone as the same. It doesn’t matter if they’re a senior or a freshman. They’re all softball players, and I just like to compete.
Did you ever get to play with your older sister, Hanna, in softball before this year? No, I did not. I was really excited coming into freshman year, because I got to play soccer with her, which was really fun, but I was mainly super excited for the softball season to play with her. It’s definitely cool.
Do you play any other sports? I also play basketball for the school.
Do you like to watch sports or do you prefer just to play them? Yes, I love watching college softball. I feel like that’s a great way to learn, too. I always look up to those people. Any division softball — it’s really cool to play at the next level. But I also like to watch the NFL with my dad.
Do you root for the Steelers or do you have a different favorite NFL team? I’m definitely a really big Steelers fan, no matter what. I feel like I’ll always be a Steelers fan. I feel like it’s pretty cool, because they’re always really good, and they’re so close.
Do you have a prediction for the Steelers’ record this year? I’ll say they’ll go 9-8.
What’s one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I broke my leg in 2017. I would have to say that was a big setback in softball. But if I could go back, I would definitely not change it, because I learned a lot. It’s always not what happens in life, but how you react during those hardships.
— By Steve Rotstein
First Published: April 19, 2022, 6:00 p.m.
