On the soccer field, Mt. Lebanon's Zach Batteer is the type of talented player who seemingly never stops running.

A sophomore forward, Batteer has already run all the way through to the US Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program.

Batteer, the leading scorer for the undefeated and No. 1-ranked Blue Devils, has worked his way up through local, state and regional team selections and will be competing with and against some of the top players in his age group from across the country this December in Florida.

"He's a very special player with great soccer instincts," Mt. Lebanon coach Ron Wilcher said. "He works extremely hard during the game and is always making runs, opening up space for somebody else or trying to get himself in a good spot.

"He just works. He's a workhorse. He's always running and trying to get free, trying to force mistakes.

"That kind of effort is contagious. As a young player, as a sophomore, doing that it setting a good standard."

Obviously blessed with great soccer talent -- Batteer led the Blue Devils in scoring with more than a goal per game entering the week -- Wilcher is most impressed with a work ethic that Batteer shows in practice.

That work ethic doesn't end there, Wilcher said. He also works on his own to get better and on the field during matches in terms of the relentless style of play that allows him to be so successful.

"Whether it's schoolwork or sports or whatever it is, it's always come through my parents to preach to me not to slack off," Batteer said.

"When we do something in practice, I know I have to give my all. I have to get really good grades, even in honors courses.

"And when it comes to gametime, you have to bear down and not hold anything back. Run through the whole game."

Batteer will represent Region I as part of a team in a showcase tournament against the other three regions in the country Region I encompasses the Northeast quadrant of the United States.

Batteer, who is 15 and has been playing soccer since he was 4, impressed coaches and scouts through his play for Mt. Lebanon and for the Beadling Soccer Club travel team enough that he was chosen to participate in a statewide showcase tournament.

From there, rosters were examined and players were chosen to send a group of Pennsylvania all-stars against those from other Northeast states.

Batteer made it past the next cut to a four-day camp in New York before another "tryout" in Massachusetts.

"[Playing at that level] helps you out a lot because you learn that you have to play quick when you're playing some of the best kids in the country," Batteer said. "They're big and fast and if you try to hold onto the ball for too long, they'll hit you and you won't have the ball anymore.

"As a forward, you have to learn to be fast, make decisions quickly and finish when you get a chance to finish because there's not too many chances to finish."

He has been doing that quite a bit for Mt. Lebanon, which was 16-0 overall and had clinched the Class AAA Section 4 title with an 11-0 record heading into last night's final section match of the season against Bethel Park. The Blue Devils have one regular-season match left tomorrow against rival Upper St. Clair.

"For a young player, he's good in the air, in the penalty area," Wilcher said. "He's got a real knack and passion for trying to get into the right spots. He's scored some crucial goals for us. He's got a great upside. He has good pace and he's technical with the ball."

Batteer is just one of the reasons the Blue Devils are ranked No. 1 in WPIAL Class AAA by the Post-Gazette and figure to get the top seed in the WPIAL playoffs that begin next week. Mt. Lebanon had allowed a total of only three goals during its first 16 games.

"We just came into the preseason with the attitude that we're going to work hard to reach our ultimate goals of [WPIAL and PIAA championships]," Batteer said.

"I think coach Wilcher has prepared us for everything we might see in the playoffs. We'll be ready to go."