Braden Kemmerer, a senior right‑hander from Plum, capped his high school career with a flawless 8‑0 record and a 1.39 earned run average that left opponents scrambling.
What set him apart was his mix of speeds and a razor‑sharp curveball that kept batters guessing, a skill he honed during a 14‑inning stretch in which he yielded just a single hit.
His dominance translated into eight of Plum’s 17 victories, and a no‑hitter against Penn‑Trafford helped the team climb to a tie for second place in Section 1‑5A.
A Season of Excellence Across the Valley
The Alle‑Kiski Valley showcased a wealth of talent this season, with Freeport’s Kason Barker batting .385 and adding 23 RBIs, while Riverview’s Lukas Duncan posted a .419 average and a .542 on‑base percentage.
Other standouts included Brennan Ryan of Plum, who hit .460 with four home runs, and Max Vollmer, whose .484 average featured seven doubles, two triples and seven homers.
Coaches and analysts credit the depth of pitching and hitting across the conference to the strong developmental pipelines nurtured by the WPIAL and PIAA, with institutions like Pitt‑Johnstown providing a steady feed of talent.