A young Warrior baseball team, fielding only four seniors, rallied from a 0-1ﾠ deficit in a best-of-three series to knock rival Richwood out of the playoffs, but couldn't get past a more experienced Valley-Fayette team in the one-game regional playoff.

Valley-Fayette eliminated PCHS from the regional playoffs with a 10-0 victory at Smithers on May 24.ﾠ The Greyhounds' Dillon Ganoe pitched four shutout innings and smacked a triple and a home run to lead V-F to victory.

PCHS couldn't find the bat rack and notched only three hits. The game ended by rule after five innings, closing the door on the Warriors' season.

Coach Mike DiPasquale said his four seniors played solid baseball this year, especially pitcher/3B Reid Harper, who broke multiple school batting records, including career batting average (.453 over four years) and most hits in a season (43).

"All the seniors contributed," he said. "Harley Kinder had a great year in the field, first year at second base. Gus Willis stepped in and did a great job behind the plate, never having to catch before, and Dan Richardson did an overall good job playing wherever we needed him. He did a good job"

DiPasquale also praised sophomore pitcher/infielder Steve Halterman, who set a school record with 12 doubles during the season.

The coach said he was proud of the Warriors' sectional championship, considering the team's lack of experience, but disappointed with a lost opportunity.

"If you look at the starting eight that we put on the field every game - Reid Harper and Steve Halterman were the only two guys that played that position last year," he said.

"Our first baseman, Logan Plumley, first time at first base. Harley Kinder's played second base for four years but he's never really played. The outfield is completely brand new - three new kids in the outfield.

"I thought we did well with what we had and looking back on it - if you had called me Monday, I probably wouldn't have wanted to talk too much. I was clearly upset because I thought we had a good chance at winning."

The coach has reason for optimism looking into next season.

"I think we'll be in a much better situation coming back next year because I really only have to replace my catcher, third baseman and second baseman," he said.

"Really - we can plug in. Cody Sharp got a lot of time in the infield last year. He can go right into third base or even second base depending on what side of the diamond I want him playing. Matt Arbogast got some catching time this year. He'll be all right back there. So really, I'm just looking for a second baseman.

"The outfield's fine. Garrett Clark's coming back. He'll probably play a lot more right field next year. The way he was pitching - I didn't really want to take the chance of him getting hurt doing something in the field."

The Warriors finished this season at 8-22 overall, but five of those games were lost in the sixth inning or later. With more experience at almost all positions next season, the Warriors hope to win more of those games, improve their overall record and notch a second regional championship in three years.

SEASON LEADERS:

Batting average (more than 30 at bats): Harper, .506; Richardson, .397; Halterman, .364; Wiley, .353; Hovorka, .340; Willis, .314; Plumley, .296.; Walker, .271.

Pitching:(W-L)/ ERA: Harper(2-9), 5.75; Halterman(0-2), 6.56; Clark(3-5), 6.77; Walker(1-2),10.88.

Fielding (more than 30 chances): Arbogast, 1.000; Willis, .932; Harper, .919; Plumley, .913; Walker, .900; Halterman, .836; Sharp,C., .738.