There's never a shortage of talent around the diamonds in Westmoreland County, and this season should be no different as Franklin Regional, Norwin and Penn-Trafford prepare for the 2008 baseball season.

Franklin Regional's Alex Buccilli (Frederick Junior College) and Mike Pelekanos (Duquesne) and Penn-Trafford's Chris Rasky, who is looking at West Virginia and Cornell, are all Division I caliber players, and Norwin has two quality All-Section players back from a playoff squad.

Last season, each of the local squads advanced to the WPIAL playoffs, a task that could be more challenging this year with a balanced amount of talent dispersed throughout the section.

The teams again will compete in Section 2-AAAA with Albert Gallatin, Connellsville, Hempfield and Latrobe.

Franklin Regional

2007 finish: 11-9 overall, 6-6 in Section 2-AAAA, third place; lost to Seneca Valley in WPIAL quarterfinals.

Returning starters: Alex Buccilli (Sr., CF), Mike Pelekanos (Sr., P/1B), Seve Franceshelli (Sr., LF), Joe Fornataro (Sr., 2B), Jason Loutsenhizer (Sr., OF), Greg Moore (Sr., P/OF), Andy Parnell (Sr., OF), Steve Ferimer (Sr., P/C), James Verona (Jr., SS), Marc Cassella (Jr., C/P/3B).

Top contributors: Josh Robinette (Jr., P/OF), Mike Novak (Sr., INF), Joel Ackerman (Sr., 1B/3B), Preston Jones (Jr., P/1B), Jackson Gregory (Jr. P/3B), Miles Urban (Jr., P), Russell Duke (Jr., OF).

Key losses: Lenny Gallo, Dave Casper, Brian Lemke, Dave Hatok, Tony Berardinelli, Joel Laliberte.

Strengths/weaknesses: Pelekanos returns as one of the top pitchers in Section 2, as well as being a tough out at the plate. He'll toe the rubber for Duquesne next season.

"They should put him in the field, because he's one of the best hitters in the WPIAL," coach Larry Wayman said. "He throws in the high 80s. He has a good fastball, change and curve and hits spots very well. He doesn't walk people. His control is key."

He'll be joined on the mound by Ferimer, as well as Jones, Cassella and Robinette. Jones sat out with an ACL injury last year but is expected to start this season.

The Panthers had a lot of players hit around .400 last year, including Buccilli (.339), Pelekanos (.387), Franceshelli (.404) and Fornataro (.400).

"One thing we've always done at Franklin is hit. We've never had a bad hitting ball club," the coach said. "We've always put runs on the board. I think that will continue this year with a veteran group."

FR features a large, and experienced, senior class, but juniors Verona and Cassella saw plenty of varsity time last year as well.

Outlook: "It's going to be a good ball club. We'll be as good as we work at it," Wayman said. "The section is always a good rivalry section. You never know what to expect each game. I'm sure we'll compete.

"If we play to our ability, everything will take care of itself."

Opening day: Tomorrow, Thursday, against Gateway at Haymaker Field, 4 p.m.

Norwin

2007 finish: 11-5 overall, 8-4 in Section 2-AAAA, second place; lost to North Allegheny in WPIAL first round.

Returning starters: Matt Griffith (Sr., OF/P), Nick Miller (Sr., OF), Ryan Loutsenhizer (Jr., P/3B).

Top contributors: Chris Ellis (Sr., 1B), Bobby Martin (Sr., P).

Key losses: Nate Babyak, Jim Dittman, Shane Flowers, Josh Haubrich, Marc Oddo, J.T. Redshaw, Ken Reece, Tom Shirley, Adam Thomas, Matt Whiteman.

Strengths/weaknesses: Coach Mike Liebdzinski said he's comfortable with the top of the pitching rotation with Griffith and Loutsen-hizer, but because of a lack of varsity experience, he said younger players are going to need to step up to fill in other spots.

"We are inexperienced once again, which means a lot of unknowns," the coach said. "Hopefully we will be consistent offensively."

At the plate, Griffith returns as an All-Section selection, and Miller was a solid batter at the top of the order for the Knights, who have qualified for the playoffs the last five seasons.

"Nick Miller and Matt Griffith will be at the top of the order, and we will need big years from them if we are going to be successful. Hopefully there are a few others who will take their lead," the Norwin field boss said. "They have established themselves as leaders of the team. They are good players and hard workers."

He also expects seniors Brenden Kollar, A.J. Berman and Dan Pollock and junior Ryan Neel to contribute.

Outlook: The coaching staff expects big things each season, and this year will be no different. Despite the loss of nearly the entire starting lineup, the Knights have a deep talent pool to build from at the junior varsity level, which has the coaches optimistic about the upcoming season.

"Our No. 1 goal every year is to make the playoffs and go from there," Liebdzinski said.

Opening day: Tomorrow, Thurs-day, against Penn Hills, 4 p.m.

Penn-Trafford

2007 finish: 15-3 overall, 11-1 in Section 2-AAAA, section champs; lost to North Hills in WPIAL first round.

Returning starters: Chris Rasky (Sr., OF), Mike Cima (Jr., 3B), Andrew Barton (Sr., 2B).

Top contributors: Ryan Cortazzo (Sr., SS), Josh Ruccio (Sr., OF/P), Steve Mandish (Sr., C), Evan James (Jr., P), Chad Thomas (Sr., 3B), Brian Mack (Sr., OF), Derek Ritchey (Sr., 1B), James Contrella (Jr., OF/P).

Key losses: Erik Rasky, Steve Soroko, Eric Anderson, Curtis Tucak, Zach Satira, Mike Kochasic, Ryan Zamiske, Joel Caporoso, Justin Susich, Vince Sartori, Tim Cortazzo.

Strengths/weaknesses: All of the four pitchers in the rotation graduated, leaving several spots open. James, Ruccio and Contrella will see innings in addition to four other players battling in preseason workouts.

"We should be OK defensively and have decent hitting. It will all come down to pitching," coach Ron Evans said. "I want to have five kids I can put on the mound and rotate through."

At the plate, P-T is returning two All-Section first-teamers in Rasky (.525 average) and Cima (.460). Along with Barton (.418), they all played key roles in taking P-T to a second straight section title last season. Mandish also hit better than .400 as the backup catcher.

Outlook: Franklin Regional looks like the team to beat, Evans said, but Connellsville, Hempfield, Latrobe and Norwin are expected to have solid squads returning.

"It's going to be a dogfight. I think second and third place are up for grabs with a well-balanced section," Evans said. "Our goal every year is to make the playoffs. We won the section two years in a row, but that's going to be a tough act to follow."