Tevin Murray and Joe Nahas were teammates the past two summers for the Frackville Teener League team.
This weekend, the Frackville residents will get to be teammates again at a much bigger level.
Murray and Nahas are members of the 26-player Pennsylvania squad that will compete in the 4th annual Big 26 Baseball Classic against Maryland at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania and Maryland will play three games this weekend, at 7:05 this evening, 4:35 p.m. Saturday and 1:05 Sunday.
Murray, who played for Pennsylvania in last year’s sweep of Maryland, will be the Keystone State’s starting pitcher in tonight’s opener.
“I thought it was a great experience playing for the state,” Murray said Thursday night. “It was awesome and a lot of fun, probably the best baseball experience I’ve ever had.
“You get to meet new kids, make new friends and play with them in a three-game series against another state. It’s a tremendous experience.”
Schuylkill County has been represented in all of the Big 26 Baseball Classics so far, with Pottsville’s Nick Hair (2012), Pine Grove’s Steve Zimmerman (2013) and Upper Dauphin’s Tanner Miller (2014) also donning the Pennsylvania jersey. Pottsville’s Mike Welsh served as a Pennsylvania coach in 2012 and the Keystone State’s skipper in 2013.
Murray, a 6-foot-6, 200-pound left-hander who will be a senior at North Schuylkill this fall, pitched three shutout innings in Game 2 of last year’s series against Maryland, then played three innings at first base in Game 3.
He was chosen as the Pennsylvania Player of the Game after giving up one single, walking none and striking out three in a 5-0 victory in Game 2. Pennsylvania swept Maryland 13-1, 5-0 and 6-4.
Similar to last summer, Murray is staying with the host family of Dave and Beth Trimbur in Manchester Township, York County. Trimbur, the executive director of the Big 33 Scholarship Foundation, encouraged Murray to play for Pennsylvania again in this year’s Big 26 Classic.
“My host family wanted me to do it again,” Murray said. “I’m not really out here to get looks (from college coaches). It’s mostly because it’s a lot of fun and a great experience. That’s why I wanted to do it again.”
A second-team infielder on the 2015 Republican-Herald All-Area Baseball Team, Murray hit .352 (25-for-71) for the Spartans, helping them go 16-7 and reach the District 11 Class AA championship game. On the mound, he was 4-3 with a 2.90 ERA, allowing 20 hits and 17 earned runs in 41 innings, walking 18 and striking out 41.
Murray will also pitch three innings in Saturday’s game (the 7th, 8th and 9th), and play first base in Sunday’s contest. He’s hoping to leave Harrisburg this weekend with a bigger prize.
“I’d like to get Player of the Series,” Murray said. “Last year I was a Player of the Game.
“I really want to have a great time, meet new kids, make new friends and just enjoy it.”
Nahas, who will be a senior this fall at Marian, credited Murray for informing him about the Big 26 Classic.
The 6-1, 165-pound right-hander went 3-3 with a 1.29 ERA on the hill this spring for the Colts, helping them to a 17-4 record and the Schuylkill League Division III title.
An All-Area second-team pitcher, he allowed 29 hits and seven earned runs in 38 innings, walking 20 and striking out 50. At the plate, Nahas finished .358 (19-for-53) with 14 runs scored and eight RBIs.
Nahas is listed as a pitcher on the Big 26 roster. He will pitch the seventh inning of tonight’s game, then toe the rubber as Pennsylvania’s starting pitcher Sunday, tossing the first two innings.
“It’s an honor to be on the team,” Nahas said. “There’s a lot of talent there. Most of those kids will go on to play baseball at the college level. It’s a great environment.
“Everybody is there to better themselves and to show Pennsylvania is No. 1. It’s great. I couldn’t ask for anything more.”
Murray and Nahas are members of the Bloomsburg Storm travel team and have competed in weekend tournaments in Virginia and New Jersey this summer.
Both plan to play baseball in college, with the Big 26 Baseball Classic helping in that endeavor. In addition to the three games against Maryland in a professional stadium, the Big 26 conducts a MLB Scout/Collegiate Coach Workout this afternoon. Roughly 50 coaches and scouts are expected to attend.
“That should get me some looks,” said Nahas, who pitched in a showcase Wednesday at PNC Field in Moosic, home of the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
“The most important thing is to win, make new friends and have fun. The experience itself is truly fun.”
Big 26 Schedule
At Metro Bank Park
Today’s events
2 p.m. — MLB scout/collegiate coach workout
7:05 p.m. — Pennsylvania vs. Maryland, Game 1
Saturday, July 18
4:35 p.m. — Pennsylvania vs. Maryland, Game 2
Sunday, July 19
1:35 p.m. — Pennsylvania vs. Maryland, Game 3
For more information, follow on Twitter @big26baseball
Big 26 Classic
local selections
2012 — Nick Hair, Pottsville; Mike Welsh, Pottsville, coach
2013 — Steve Zimmerman, Pine Grove; Brett Kosciolek, Tamaqua*; Mike Welsh, Pottsville, manager
2014 — Tevin Murray, North Schuylkill; Tanner Miller, Upper Dauphin
2015 — Tevin Murray, North Schuylkill; Joe Nahas, Marian
* Kosciolek did not play due to an injury