Despite dealing with key injuries throughout the spring, Mt. Lebanon baseball finished the 2026 season with a 13-8 overall record and a 7-5 mark in Class 6A section play.
One of the biggest themes of the season was the injuries the team had to overcome. Senior third baseman Ben Kraemer said injuries created the biggest challenge the Blue Devils faced all year.
“The biggest challenge our team faced this season was injuries,” Kraemer said. “One of our best pitchers missed about two months of the season. Additionally, our starting shortstop also missed crucial time. Their absences overlapped, causing us to lose some games that we may have won if they had been playing.”
Mt. Lebanon opened the season with several non-section victories over Shaler Area (12-3), Upper St. Clair (10-0), Central Catholic
(5-2), Seneca Valley (5-2) and Pine-Richland (8-3).
Kraemer was recognized for his performance by earning first-team All-Section honors.
“Earning first-team All-Section means a lot to me,” he said. “It highlights all the hard work I put in over the last four years. However, it also reflects the support system that helped me grow as a player. My coaches and teammates pushed me to be my best over the years, and I owe a lot of thanks to them.”
According to Kraemer, a game against Seneca Valley marked a turning point in his season.
“There was a specific moment when everything clicked,” he said. “It was the Seneca Valley game, where I went 3-for-3. It was the first time I stopped thinking and just let myself play loose.”
He also credited the coaching staff, led by head coach Patt McCloskey and assistant coach Denny Bair, for creating an environment that helped players develop both on and off the field.
“The coaching staff gave me every opportunity I could ever ask for,” he said. “Each winter and fall, Coach McCloskey and Coach Bair held six practices a week. Most importantly, however, was their ability to connect with the players. Every practice and workout was enjoyable because they took the time to get to know us and build relationships with us. In a way, they were more like friends than coaches. That’s not to say they didn’t yell at us from time to time to keep us in check.”
Although injuries prevented the Blue Devils from playing at full strength for much of the season, the team remained in playoff contention and finished above .600 overall while competing in one of the WPIAL’s toughest classifications.
Mt. Lebanon’s season ended in the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals when Butler earned a 3-2 walk-off victory in eight innings at North Allegheny High School. The game was decided on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the eighth inning. Butler went on to win the WPIAL Class 6A championship, the first district baseball title in school history.
