YATESVILLE – The Pittston Area baseball team is sending a pitcher-catcher combination off to the college ranks.

Pitcher Tyler Jackson and catcher Steve Shamnoski, who are preparing for the start of their senior season, announced commitments to play at National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III schools during a signing ceremony Friday in the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room.

Jackson, the team’s number-one pitcher last year as a junior, plans to attend and play baseball at Penn State University-Harrisburg.

Shamnoski, a catcher who made progress on his game during the summer and fall season with BaseballU PA, has selected Suffolk University in Boston to major in biology and play baseball.

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Jackson plays in the outfield when not pitching for the Patriots, but he expects to concentrate on pitching on the college level. He began pitching in Little League.

“I liked the campus,” said Jackson, who is undecided on a major. “I really like the coach. It just felt like home there.”

Jackson continues to work on improving his approach on the mound as he enters his third season as a varsity pitcher.

“I’ve always wanted to try to proceed with playing baseball in college,” he said. “Right now, I’m probably just working on my off-speed pitches and hitting spots consistently.”

Shamnoski, who decided he wanted to play catcher as an 11-year-old and has stuck with the position ever since, began realizing college baseball was possible while playing with BaseballU for the first time last season.

“It was kind of a dream of mine,” Shamnoski said of playing in college. “I didn’t really think it was attainable, but then I played the summer with BaseballU and it was really nice to be getting e-mails from schools and being part of the recruiting process.”

Shamnoski also went on recruiting visits to City College of New York and Juniata College.

Pittston Area pitcher Tyler Jackson has committed to play college baseball at Penn State University-Harrisburg. Jackson had a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. Jackson is seated along with his parents, James and Sandy Jackson. From left, standing, are Pittston Area principal John Haas, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, assistant principal Chris Lazevnick and athletic director Charlie Turco.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Jackson.CMYK_.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area pitcher Tyler Jackson has committed to play college baseball at Penn State University-Harrisburg. Jackson had a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. Jackson is seated along with his parents, James and Sandy Jackson. From left, standing, are Pittston Area principal John Haas, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, assistant principal Chris Lazevnick and athletic director Charlie Turco. Tom Robinson For Sunday Dispatch

Pittston Area pitcher Tyler Jackson has committed to play college baseball at Penn State University-Harrisburg. Jackson had a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. He was seated along with his parents, James and Sandy Jackson. Standing, from left, are: Pittston Area principal John Haas, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, assistant principal Chris Lazevnick and athletic director Charlie Turco. TOM ROBINSON PHOTO Pittston Area catcher Steve Shamnoski has committed to continue playing baseball at Suffolk University in Boston. He was joined by his parents Bill and Sue Shamnoski for a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. From left, standing, are Pittston Area principal John Haas, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, assistant principal Chris Lazevnick and athletic director Charlie Turco.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_Shanoski.CMYK_.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area pitcher Tyler Jackson has committed to play college baseball at Penn State University-Harrisburg. Jackson had a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. He was seated along with his parents, James and Sandy Jackson. Standing, from left, are: Pittston Area principal John Haas, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, assistant principal Chris Lazevnick and athletic director Charlie Turco. TOM ROBINSON PHOTO Pittston Area catcher Steve Shamnoski has committed to continue playing baseball at Suffolk University in Boston. He was joined by his parents Bill and Sue Shamnoski for a signing ceremony at the Jimmy Cefalo Center weight room Friday. From left, standing, are Pittston Area principal John Haas, head baseball coach Paul Zaffuto, assistant principal Chris Lazevnick and athletic director Charlie Turco. Tom Robinson For Sunday Dispatch

By Tom Robinson

For Sunday Dispatch

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