Last year a 1-18 WPIAL season for the Kiski Area High School baseball team translated into a 27-12 Palomino season in summer ball.

So this year, one can imagine the anticipation Kiski Palomino manager Gary Hall had to start his team's season as he watched the Cavaliers make an unexpected run to the WPIAL semifinals, winning 11 games.

The Kiski Palomino team is made up entirely of Kiski Area students, but the varsity squad is split among several summer league teams in different leagues.

Sophomores Eric Weyant and Justin McGinnis and juniors Cody Thompson, Vince Donatelli and Nate Stolarski were members of the Kiski varsity squad that went from 1-18 to 11-8 in one season.

"We don't have all the high school kids, but the ones we do have came out of the high school season with a much better taste of baseball in their mouths," Hall said. "It was very easy to pick up and keep going after [the high school season] ended."

Through 15 Palomino games, Kiski is 9-6 overall and 6-5 in the section.

"The guys who did play for the high school team are definitely more ready to go," said Weyant, the starting second basemen for the Palomino team. "The WPIAL season definitely sparked more interest and desire to win. It definitely brings confidence over to the Palomino season."

Hall was on hand for two of Kiski's high school playoff games and he said he was not as surprised as most people at the team's success despite the one-win season last year.

"I guess maybe a little surprised but not overly surprised," Hall said. "They got a lot of clutch hits [in the playoffs] and that is what we are doing right now."

Five starters are back this summer from last year's Palomino team, but Kiski is still a relatively young team. In the 15-19 year old league, Kiski has a 15-year old starting catcher, Matt McCutcheon.

"I guess the biggest thing with a young team is confidence and trying to instill confidence in the kids," said Hall, in his third season coaching the Kiski Palomino team.

"We are a relatively young team this year and we are playing against good competition but it has been a good year so far."

McCutcheon has been one of Kiski's most consistent contributors this summer along with pitcher/utility player Frank Brank, pitcher/shortstop Corey Stascak and center fielder Shawn Vogel.

As one of just two 19-year olds on the team, Vogel has taken on a leadership role.

In a two-game span McCutcheon went 4 for 6 with 3 RBIs.

Brank, Stascak, Vogel, Donatelli and Thompson are the returning starters. Brank and Stascak are Kiski's top two pitchers.

Brank is part of a group of players who come out for summer baseball even though they do not playing during the scholastic season. The rust has not affected him on the mound as he started the season 3-0.

"You kind of just go back to your natural abilities," Brank said of returning from a layoff. "We are a lot younger this year [as a team] but the younger kids are definitely coming up and playing and surprising a lot of people."