North Schuylkill's Tevin Murray had a breakout season on the mound this spring.
In addition to playing for the Spartans and the Frackville Teener League team, the left-handed pitcher has attended showcase events and is a member of two travel teams.
Later this month, he'll get a chance to represent Pennsylvania in the state's biggest baseball showcase.
Murray and Upper Dauphin infielder Tanner Miller were selected to participate in the 2014 Big 26 Baseball Classic, it was officially announced Monday.
Pennsylvania will face Maryland in a three-game series to be held July 18-20 at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg. It's the third straight year an area player has been selected to the Big 26 Baseball Classic, which is for rising juniors and seniors.
Pottsville's Nick Hair (2012) and Pine Grove's Steve Zimmerman (2013) played in the Big 26 Classic, with Pottsville's Mike Welsh serving as a Pennsylvania coach the past two years.
Tamaqua's Brett Kosciolek was selected to play in last year's game but did not participate due to injury.
"It's a huge accomplish-
ment for me," said Murray, a 16-year-old from Ringtown. "I've worked so hard the past couple of years, and I'm glad
I made the team.
"I'm pretty excited to play with the best talent in the state."
Murray compiled a 3-4 record with a 4.01 ERA and a save this spring as a sophomore for the Spartans, helping them go 14-8 and reach the District 11 Class AA semifinals before losing to eventual champion Notre Dame-Green Pond.
The 6-foot-6, 195-pounder threw a no-hitter April 8 against Panther Valley, tossed a three-hit shutout against Mount Carmel and drew tough pitching assignments against Pine Grove, Pottsville and Tamaqua.
He finished with 42 strikeouts and 21 walks in 36.2 innings, while hitting .321 (18-for-56) with six doubles, nine runs and two homers.
This summer, he helped Frackville compile a 15-3 regular-season mark and pitched for the Lehighton-based Tru Sports and Bloomsburg Storm travel teams.
He's excited to get a chance to perform in front of a bevy of college scouts and play games at a professional ballpark. He is listed as a dual position player on the Pennsylvania roster, meaning he'll see action at both pitcher and first base.
"I hope this will put my name out there even more, give Division I coaches a chance to see me," Murray said.
Miller earned first-team Tri-Valley League honors after hitting .348 (23-for-66) and helping Upper Dauphin finish 17-4 and win the TVL championship.
The Trojans' leadoff hitter, Miller scored a team-high 35 runs, had four doubles, a triple, a homer, 17 RBIs and a team-high 18 stolen bases.
"I'm really excited. I tried out last year and didn't make it," said the 5-foot-6 Miller, who will be a senior this fall at Upper Dauphin. "This is one of the big things I wanted to do. I'm really excited I got picked this year."
The Big 26 team was chosen after a pair of tryouts --- one in Eastern Pennsylvania, one in Western Pennsylvania --- then a second, invitation-only tryout at Lebanon Valley College.
North Penn High School's Kevin Manero is the Team Pennsylvania head coach, with Oley Valley's Rick Harrison and Strath Haven's Brian Fili serving as assistants.
Miller, who also plays football and plans to wrestle this winter for the Trojans, is playing this summer for the Upper Dauphin American Legion team. The 17-year-old Elizabethville resident would like to play baseball collegiately, and he said making the Big 26 team will help him achieve that goal.
"It's a big goal of mine to play college baseball," said Miller, who played shortstop and second base for UDA. "My goal (at the Big 26 Classic) is to play like it's a normal game. I know a lot of scouts will be there and if I play how I've played all season, I'll get noticed just fine."