West Allegheny storms to crown
Holds on against Peters Township through rain and lightning delays
Winning one-run games had become a habit for West Allegheny this season. The Indians did it one more time on the WPIAL’s biggest stage.
After two delays because of lightning, after West Allegheny blew a three- run lead, the Indians pulled out a 5-4 victory against Peters Township in the WPIAL Class 5A championship Wednesday night at Wild Things Park in Washington.
It was the 10th one-run game of the season for West Allegheny and the Indians’ record in those games is 9-1.
This time, a kid with Rain in his last name came through in a big way just after some rain had fallen. With two outs in the top of the eighth, Anthony Raineri delivered with a single that scored Brady Miller with the winning run.
West Allegheny ( 19- 4) knocked off No. 1-seeded Peters Township (21-2) for its fifth WPIAL title, and fourth under coach Bryan Cornell.
The game was the last of a championship tripleheader at Wild Things Park and the attendance for the day was 3,395.
Three other title games were played Tuesday at the same place and total attendance was 7,405, the best the WPIAL has ever had over two days since it started playing championships at the facility in 2004.
The West AlleghenyPeters Township game was delayed by lightning for about 30 minutes in the top of the sixth with West Allegheny holding a 4-3 lead.
When the contest resumed, Peters Township, which had lost only to Albert Gallatin this year, tied it in the bottom of the sixth with a two-out rally. Nate Nolan, who came on to pitch for West Allegheny in the fourth inning and went the rest of the way, walked Drew Ripepi. Then No. 2 hitter Jack Kail smacked his second triple of the game to bring home Ripepi with the tying run.
Kail was the go-ahead run, but No. 3 hitter Sam Miller popped out to first to end the inning.
The score was tied, 4-4, after seven innings when a second lightning delay stopped the game just before the start of the top of the eighth. This delay lasted 37 minutes.
West Allegheny scored the winning run after the delay. Peters Township got a runner to second in the bottom of the eighth with two outs, but Nolan got Kail to ground out to second to end the game.
West Allegheny had held the lead since the top of the first until the bottom of the sixth.
West Allegheny took a 4-1 lead after two innings, using a few hits, a sacrifice fly and a costly Peters Township error.
West Allegheny scored two in the first when Gavin Miller’s triple drove home Joseph Pustover, and Colin Marinpetro followed with a sacrifice fly.
West Allegheny scored two more off Peters Township starter Sam Miller in the second and Raineri started it with a walk, before moving to second on a bunt. With two outs, Pustover lined a single to center to score Raineri. On the throw home, Pustover took off and Peters Township catcher Jack Lutte threw wildly to second. The ball ended up rolling all the way to the fence, allowing Pustover to score to make it 4-0.
Peters Township’s first run came in the bottom of the first when Kail tripled and Sam Miller doubled.
Peters Township scored two runs in the bottom of the third on a most unusual play.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Bryce Thompson hit a grounder up the middle. The ball was fielded behind the bag by West Allegheny shortstop Brady Miller, who flipped to second baseman Pustover. But Pustover was looking at first and Miller’s toss fell to the ground, allowing two runners to score.
Both teams will be in the PIAA playoffs that begin Monday.