It’s been nearly a decade since Greater Latrobe baseball captured the WPIAL and PIAA titles in the same season, and that 2017 team is still remembered as one of the best in Westmoreland County this century. While a pair of future professional players were most remembered from that squad, a third star, Ryan Shawley, might’ve been just as crucial to the Wildcats’ success. Since that time, Shawley has enjoyed a record-setting career on the diamond at Chatham University, and has established himself as a successful coach at numerous college stops. He’s the focus of this installment of Westmoreland Where Are They Now?

Before he became a star for the Wildcats, though, Shawley had to earn his spot. To that point, he played exclusively on the junior varsity in his freshman campaign in 2014.

“As a freshman, you’re just trying to figure out the ropes of things,” he noted. “I remember seeing some of my teammates getting called up to varsity, and there’s some frustration there because I felt like I was playing pretty good at the JV level, especially on the mound.”

That year, the Wildcats went 9-10 overall, including 7-5 in section play, but failed to qualify for the WPIAL playoffs.

The following season, Shawley was elevated to varsity, serving as a pitcher only. Greater Latrobe went 11-10, including 5-5 in section action, and qualified for the WPIAL Quad-A postseason. However, the Wildcats were bounced in the opening round, falling to Seneca Valley.

In 2016, Shawley emerged as a huge contributor, both as a pitcher and hitter. Although most of his experience in the field to that point had been at shortstop, Shawley shifted to another position in order to garner more playing time.

“First base was where I could get on the field,” said Shawley, who made the transition smoothly as he was named a First-Team All-Section performer.

That year, the Wildcats improved to 14-8 overall, and 9-3 in the section. Back in the Quad-A playoffs, GL defeated North Allegheny in the first round, but fell to Norwin in the quarterfinals.

Although Shawley and his teammates saw their campaign end at the expense of the eventual-champion Knights, they used the win against the Tigers as a springboard into the offseason.

“We got the taste of it (the playoffs) as sophomores, and then junior year, we beat a powerhouse in NA,” he recounted.

That set the stage for the historic 2017 campaign, with the Wildcats embracing the massive expectations with most of their core returning. Additionally, the PIAA expanded to six classifications for baseball, as the Wildcats went from the largest classification (Quad-A) to Class 5A. “I felt we were going to be good no matter what classification they put us in,” Shawley detailed.

Shawley’s grandmother made a scrapbook of his Wildcats’ baseball career, and one particular line from an article still stands out to Shawley regarding the pressure his team faced entering his senior campaign.

“While other coaches cringe and people dare to say it, there’s no way around it – this Wildcat team is loaded,” he recounted.

During the regular season, the Wildcats lived up to the hype, going a perfect 14-0 in their section. However, when the WPIAL Class 5A playoffs commenced, Greater Latrobe didn’t get the top seed, but rather had a more challenging path as the No. 2 seed. After a bye to the quarterfinals, the Cats faced talented Montour, which included starting pitcher Devin Dunn, who would later play for Virginia Commonwealth University and Slippery Rock University.

Despite their stellar performance in the regular season, the Wildcats were on the brink of elimination against the Spartans, until Dunn was forced to exit the mound, opening the door for a thrilling Wildcats’ triumph.

“Thankfully they put the pitch count in that year, because man, they had to make a change in the seventh after 100 pitches. We got their next guy, and that’s how we walked off it,” Shawley explained.

Shawley got the start on the hill in the semifinals against Chartiers Valley, and he helped the Wildcats prevail, punching their ticket to the WPIAL Class 5A Championship game.

Facing Mars Area and future first-round MLB Draft selection Will Bednar, the Wildcats claimed a 6-2 win to capture their first and only district crown. In that contest, Shawley patrolled shortstop, while Jared Kollar went the distance on the hill.

As the final out was recorded, the Wildcats’ celebration created an unforgettable memory.

“I remember pulling Jared down on the dog pile, and that was some of the best pain of your life,” Shawley chuckled.

With one title already secured, the Cats shifted their focus to the state tournament, but had to survive another upset bid in the first round against Manheim Central. As a result of notching another improbable win, the Wildcats carried that momentum for the next couple of weeks.

“After we came back against Manheim, we took off from there,” Shawley stated. “You need some luck in a crazy run like that.”

Greater Latrobe followed with victories against West Allegheny and Springfield-Delco, with Shawley getting the start on the bump in the latter win. Prior to first pitch, Shawley’s arm didn’t feel strong while warming up in the bullpen, but he fought through and helped his squad punch its ticket to the state championship.

Playing at Penn State University, the Wildcats defeated Whitehall 7-0 in a rain-shortened game to capture the PIAA Class 5A Championship. With a downpour continuing into the late hours of the night, the game was eventually called in favor of GL, prompting a spontaneous celebration on the tarp covering the infield at Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.

“We had a right to celebrate that championship,” said Shawley, revealing that sliding across the tarp was his idea. “Not getting that final out is something that’s like really odd to me. And I think Whitehall deserved that chance, too.

“The state championship felt so out of reach,” he added. “It feels surreal still.”

The Wildcats finished the historic campaign with a record of 24-2. Individually, Shawley once again was recognized as an All-Section performer, but this time as a Second-Team pitcher.

“My senior year, I didn’t hit very well, but I made up for it on the mound,” he joked.

Also a multi-year varsity contributor in basketball at Greater Latrobe, Shawley knew his future was on the diamond. While several decorated programs showed interest, he opted to attend Chatham University, which had a baseball program in its infancy stage.

“Something that was important to me was staying close to home. I didn’t want to be at Saint Vincent in the backyard, but I wanted my family to be able to come watch me play,” Shawley explained.

“Chatham gave me everything I wanted,” he continued. “I wanted to go to a place I knew I was going to play and get on the field right away, and I did that for four years.”

What the Cougars did not give him, though, was an immediate taste of success. His freshman campaign of 2018 was the second in program history, and the first in which Chatham competed in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC). The Cougars went 8-23 overall, including just 1-17 in the PAC.

“It was really tough to lose. I was fortunate to be with some really good players and I kind of won my whole life,” Shawley stated, citing his back-to-back titles in the Latrobe-Derry Area Teener League with the Nakles Sharks. “That was eye opening to not be successful and really struggle through losing streaks. It really makes you appreciate the game more.”

While the Cougars didn’t fare well, Shawley immediately proved to be a key two-way player. As a freshman, he played third base, hitting .275 in 22 games, including 19 starts, while adding 10 RBIs and seven runs. On the mound, he went 2-4 with an ERA of 7.27 in 34.2 innings, issuing 11 walks while notching 24 strikeouts. The highlight of his season on the mound came in his first college start, as he worked eight innings in earning the victory against Penn College, allowing just one run while striking out nine.

In 2019, Shawley shifted to shortstop, while also pitching as both a starter and reliever. In 29 games in the field, he batted .195 with six RBIs and a dozen runs scored and five stolen bases. On the hill, he sputtered to a mark of 0-5 in seven appearances, including four starts, with an ERA of 10.96 in 23 innings.

Although the Cougars didn’t post a better overall record, at 7-29, Chatham did show slight improvement in the conference, going 4-20. Shawley believes that 2020 would’ve been a breakthrough season for the Cougars, but the campaign was cut short as a result of COVID after just a dozen games, with Chatham going 2-10. In his limited action, Shawley went 0-2 on the hill with an ERA of 5.40 in 13 innings, issuing a pair of walks and racking up 15 strikeouts.

Shawley ended his career on a high note in 2021, as both he and the Cougars made notable strides. Shifting to first base and designated hitter, Shawley played in 26 games, including 25 starts, hitting .302 with nine runs batted in and 11 runs scored, as well as two stolen bases. On the mound, he went 0-7 in nine contests, including eight starts, but did pick up a save, compiling an ERA of 5.84 in 44.2 innings, including 21 walks and 32 strikeouts.

Collectively, the Cougars ascended to 12-23 overall, including 10-17 in the PAC. Among those wins in the conference was a 4-3 triumph against Washington & Jefferson, which was the lone conference loss that season for the Presidents.

That win was extra memorable for Shawley, as W&J was one of the other schools he considered when going through the recruiting process. However, he has no regrets when it comes to the decision to go to Chatham.

“I left that program with my name kind of all over that record book because I was doing a lot of different things,” he noted. “I could’ve went to Seton Hill and won three conference championships, and I might’ve thrown six innings in my career.”

Outside of baseball, Chatham provided plenty of other benefits for Shawley, as he graduated with a degree in elementary education in 2021, and he also met his wife, Katie, during his time on campus.

While Shawley was still playing for the Cougars, he started his baseball coaching career, as he served as an assistant under Jason Bush with the Latrobe Jethawks in the summer. That set in motion the next stage of Shawley’s life, as he opted to continue his coaching journey after his graduation from Chatham, despite having two years of playing eligibility remaining.

Thus, he moved to Florida and served as a graduate assistant at Keiser University, an NAIA powerhouse in baseball. Katie joined him in the Sunshine State, as she transferred to the school to continue her basketball career.

After the 2022 baseball season, Shawley made another stop on his baseball coaching path, joining Division I program Gardner-Webb as the Head Development Team Coach. In addition to leading what was the equivalent of the junior varsity team for the Runnin’ Bulldogs, Shawley was also the assistant pitching coach.

One year later, Shawley shifted elsewhere in the DI ranks, joining Kent State as the Director of Player Development.

“A premier program as a mid-major in our area,” Shawley said of his time with the Golden Flashes in 2023 and 2024.

After the 2024 season wrapped up, though, Shawley tied the knot with Katie, and they moved back to Western Pennsylvania, settling in the Peters Township School District.

The move allowed Shawley to begin his career in education, as he was hired as a third-grade teacher at McGuffey. That position also enabled him to continue as a baseball coach, as he joined nearby Washington & Jefferson, a program with which he was already very familiar.

“It’s a lot of fun. I stepped in there and it was exactly what I wanted and what I was accustomed to,” he said of joining the Presidents.

In his first season on staff at W&J, the Presidents went 28-15 overall, including 16-4 in the PAC. In the conference tournament, Washington & Jefferson went 2-2.

This past campaign, W&J returned to the top of the mountain, as the Presidents compiled a record of 32-13, including 17-5 in conference play. In the PAC Tournament, W&J went unblemished, claiming victories against Grove City College, Bethany College, Chatham University, and the Wolverines again to capture the PAC Championship, the 17th in program history.

As he continues to add to his resume, Shawley reflects on the many coaches who helped mold him into the coach he is today, including a pair for whom he played - Greater Latrobe’s Matt Basciano and Bush.

“Two people who had a huge impact on my life,” he revealed.

“Just learning from those guys and taking it all in was my goal when I was young,” he added about his many coaching mentors along the way. “And now, I feel like I’m in the position where I can really contribute and add value through my experiences.

“I had so many great coaches in my life, I feel blessed that I was able to learn the game the right way. If people would ever want to remember me, I hope that they remember that I played the game the right way and I teach it the right way,” he added.

Away from the diamond, Shawley experienced another highlight in his life this March, as his daughter, Sienna, was born.

Shawley still is connected to his roots, as his family remains in Latrobe, and he continues to follow the Wildcats from a distance, including watching some of their games on the Westmoreland Sports Network.

He maintains regular contact with Basciano, and he’s also hopeful that the 2017 team will be reunited in some form next season for a milestone anniversary of their accomplishment.

“I’m hoping that maybe for 10 years, we’ll be able to get together and do something. That was a great group of guys, for sure,” he stated.

Some of his closest friends today from GL are not baseball players, though, but rather, his former basketball teammates, Jake Biss and Austin Butler. One way the trio spends time together is through a recent hobby of Shawley’s – golf.

“The atmosphere at golf is the best part. I just love riding in the golf cart,” he noted.

While Shawley likes to stay active and in shape, and he loves his role as a baseball coach, he stated that he has no desire to play the sport again in any capacity.

“I’m at peace with my playing career. My arm doesn’t feel like it wants to, either,” he laughed.