Though Mount Pisgah’s varsity baseball team missed qualifying for the state tournament by one game, head coach Lou Llerandi takes solace in the fact that shortstop Danny Schneider will be on board the next two seasons. Having just completed his sophomore year on the baseball diamond, Schneider has emerged as a potential star for the Patriots.

“He got going the last 10 to 12 games…he was lights out,” Llerandi said of Schneider, a three-sport standout for Pisgah. “He’s getting a little older and more mature. It was really nice for him to come on like that.”

Schneider went on a tear for the Pats during the last five games of the regular season, helping the team win three times. Hitting in the No. 2 hole, Schneider went 9-for-19 from the plate (.474) with two home runs and eight runs batted in. He drove home the game-winner with a seventh inning walk-off single on Thursday versus Eagles Landing Christian. For the season, Schneider led the Pats in batting average (.382) and RBIs (15), while ranking second in runs scored (18) and home runs (two).

“I think he’s really come on mentally,” said Llerandi. “I think he had great focus the last couple weeks of the season, and it really showed.”