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"Mr. High School Sports" - Former SSA Star Receives Summer Baseball Honor

By Matt Popchock

(mpopchock@kdka.com)

The son of Avonworth High School's athletic director, an erstwhile three-sport star at Shady Side Academy, continues to rack up awards as he chases his dream.

Tim Giel (6'2", 230 lbs.), who was named WPIAL Class AA Pitcher of the Year after leading the Indians to the 2009 district title, has been selected for Saturday's Cape Cod League All-Star Game in Harwich, MA as a representative of the Bourne (MA) Braves.

The Braves, a member of the ten-team summer circuit since 1988, are an off-season club for current college players. Since earning All-Ivy League honors as a standout for Columbia, the 21-year-old righty has managed an 0.74 ERA out of the Braves' bullpen in 24 1/3 innings, striking out 22, walking just six, and earning one save.

Tim Giel Interview by Bourne Braves on YouTube

Before winning gold on the diamond, the Gibsonia native once nicknamed "The Professor" claimed a bronze medal in the 2008-09 WPIAL Wrestling Championships as part of the 215-pound division, and also played multiple positions for Shady Side Academy's football team, which rolled to a perfect record in Allegheny Conference play and reached the WPIAL Class AA Semifinals that fall. Giel earned a 10-2 record on the mound for SSA as a senior in '09, finishing with 128 K's, a 1.08 ERA, and a .387 offensive average to complement his 25 RBI.

Giel graduated with multiple Shady Side Academy baseball records in hand, including career strikeouts (256) and career wins (22).

For a number of active MLB players the road to "the show" has gone through the Cape. Other notable Cape Cod League stars of yesteryear include Brandon Inge (Oakland A's), Joe Blanton (Philadelphia Phillies), David DeJesus (Chicago Cubs), Kevin Youkilis (Chicago White Sox), and, fresh off Thursday's record-setting debut with the New York Mets, Matt Harvey.

Former Pirate pitcher Ron Villone also played there, back in 1992.

You can check out the complete Cape Cod League All-Star roster here.

(Follow me on Twitter @mpopchock.)

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