Two WPIAL players selected in MLB draft

Neshannock High School's John Sansone and Valley's Zarley Zalewski were late-round selections in today's Major League Baseball draft.

Sansone, a shortstop, was picked in the 39th round by the Detroit Tigers while Zalewski, who plays at Valley High, was picked in the 40th and final round by the Pirates. Zalewski plays shortstop at Valley but was selected as an outfielder. Sansone and Zalewski were the only current WPIAL players who were selected in the draft.

Zalewski was one of three players with WPIAL ties who were selected by the Pirates. Kent State shortstop Jim Rider, a Peters Township graduate, was picked in the 26th round by the Pirates. Penn State first baseman Jordan Steranka was selected by the Pirates in the 21st round.

Rider was one of two former Peters Township players selected. Jordan Jankowski, a pitcher at NCAA Divisioin II Catawba College (N.C.), was picked in the 34th round by the Houston Astros. Jankowski and Rider were 2008 Peters Township graduates and both were two-time members of the Post-Gazette All-Area team (top 10 players in the WPIAL and City League).

Villanova pitcher Kyle Helisek, a Seneca Valley graduate, was picked by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 30th round.