By ASHTON TOWNSEND
Josh Baraka played a major role in bringing Bishop-Kearney/Chesterton to the Class B Section V final.
Announced by the Private-Parochial coaches, the senior midfielder was named 2023 Player of the Year.
Baraka sparked the Kings’ offense averaging 1.3 goals per game during the regular season and 1.25 goals per game in sectionals. He led the squad in goals with 26 and assists with 14. Baraka led the Private-Parochial league with 66 points which ranked him seventh in all of Section V. He was tied for 10th in Section V for goals.
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Baraka scored in 15 out of the 20 games played for the Kings during regular and postseason, including a season high three against Rochester Prep/Vertus/RACS in an 8-1 win and another hat trick against Wayland-Cohocton in the sectional quarterfinals which led the Kings to a 3-1 victory. Baraka also scored two goals in seven games this season, which tallied up to nine multi-goal games on the year for the senior.
Baraka had seven games where he had an assist and against Keshequa he boasted a season high 4 assists in a 4-1 win. He had five multi-assist games this season including having two against WOIS/Franklin/SOTA in a 2-0 win, two versus Rochester Prep/Vertus/RACS where he also had two goals in an 8-1 win, two at C. G. Finney where he added a goal in a 4-0 win and added two more assists at home against C. G. Finney while boasting a hat trick in a 7-0 rout.
In sectionals he tallied five goals and an assist which helped the 14-5-1 (6-2-0) third-seeded Kings to the Class B sectional final where they took a 3-1 loss to Hornell in which Baraka added a goal.
Teammates Christian Maniscalco, Joe Shanks and Tommy Triassi joined Baraka on the All-League First Team. Triassi who was in the midfield with Baraka chipped in 11 goals and seven assists. Shanks added two goals and six assists. Maniscalco was part of backline which held teams to six shutouts on the season.
Octavio Gefell and Jadon Maus made the First Team for C. G. Finney. Gefell led Finney with 19 goals and also pitched in three assists. Maus held it down in net with three shutouts on the season. Both were named to First Team a year ago.
Trevor Nasso, Noah Sluk and Johnny Daby represented Northstar Christian on the First Team. Daby led Northstar with 18 goals while pitching in five assists. Nasso the keeper for Northstar was named to First Team last year as well. Noah Sluk helped Nasso hold opposing teams to six shutouts. Sluk also had two assists.
Joshua Wright made First Team for Vertus. Nathan Herring represented Lima Christian on the First Team with two goals.
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