Champs Sports Network

PITTSBURGH – Champs Sports Network the Best of the Batch Foundation and Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch have teamed up to present the 2012 Champs "Best of the Batch" WPIAL Pre-Season Team.

Members of the team were selected by members of the media along with coach’s submissions, while having displayed outstanding talent during the 2011 high school football season.

“We are excited to continue our relationship with the Best of the Batch Foundation and partnering to present this pre-season team” Champs Sports Network President, Matt Farago said.

Charlie Batch was quarterback of the Steel Valley Ironmen in the early 90’s leading the team WPIAL playoff appearances. He earned All-State third-team and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Fabulous 22" honors as a senior, not to mention lettering three times in football and twice in basketball.

“Charlie grew up playing in the WPIAL” Farago said, “That makes this team special, an NFL player that grew up playing the some of the same teams these young men are preparing to play in a few weeks is recognizing their efforts.”

The athlete’s will be rewarded with tickets to the Steelers Sunday night pre-season game at Heinz Field against the Colts. 17 WPIAL teams make up with 21 player list. Defending WPIAL Class-AAA Champion Montour leads the team with three representatives. Farago says he would like this to become an annual team.

“One of Champs and the Batch Foundation’s top priorities is to promote and uplift community kids; there is no question student-athletes will begin to strive for this honor in the years to come.”

 *Scroll down bellow to view this year's team*

About the Best of the Batch Foundation

Best of the Batch Foundation was founded by the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback, Charlie Batch, and is based in Charlie's hometown of Homestead, PA. The foundation offers programs that directly impact the youth of financially challenged communities around Pittsburgh and throughout the country. To learn more, visit our website http://www.batchfoundation.org/ . You can also join us on Facebook. 

About Charlie Batch

Charlie Batch grew up in Homestead, PA and attended Steel Valley High School. After graduating Charlie went on to play college football at Eastern Michigan University, setting numerous school and MAC conference records before graduating in 1997 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice.  Charlie was drafted in the second round of the 1998 NFL Draft by the Detroit Lions, where he spent the first four seasons of his career as the starting quarterback. Charlie has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2002, including Super Bowl XL and XLIII championship teams.