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Thursday, May 22, 2003

By Mike White, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Shaler Titans averaged nine runs in their first 21 games and won 20 of those contests. It was obvious they were into lacing an opponent.

But Shaler's team is also into leather.

"Our defense has been outstanding all year," said Shaler Coach Bob Hinds. "People overlook that."

There was no overlooking Shaler's defense yesterday as the Titans blanked Moon, 4-0, in a WPIAL Class AAA baseball quarterfinal at Pullman Park in Butler.

Shaler (21-1), the Post-Gazette's No. 1 Class AAA team, made some sparkling plays in the field and became the first WPIAL team to shut out Moon this season. Moon's loss also means there will be a new PIAA champion. The Tigers had won the past two titles.

"Our defense has been so overlooked this season. I know it's saved me in all of my victories," said Shaler senior pitcher Chris Squeglia.

The win against Moon lifted Squeglia's record to 8-0. He allowed seven hits and struck out eight, but Moon left 10 runners on base.

"This game was really won with our gloves," Hinds said. "We've averaged less than one error a game all season and we made some plays again today."

Two good defensive plays helped Shaler in the third inning. With Shaler leading, 1-0, Moon (13-8) had runners on first and third with only one out. No. 3 hitter Austin Sykes hit a grounder to Shaler third baseman Ray Seitz, who threw out the runner at home.

A wild pitch moved Moon's runners to second and third for cleanup hitter Nathan Nery. He hit a grounder up the middle, but second baseman Brian Bernardo made a nifty backhanded stop and threw out Nery at first.

Moon loaded the bases for Nery in the fifth, and he smashed a hard groundball to shortstop Scott Miller, who fielded it cleanly and got a forceout at second.

"We left 10 guys on base," said Moon Coach Tom Hoffman. "You can't do that against a good team. You can't do that against a mediocre team."

Shaler took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when George Neiman, who was 2 for 3, singled and scored on Squeglia's double.

Shaler scored three more in the sixth. Neiman led off with a double and moved to third on David Sibenac's single. Squeglia followed with a ground ball to second, but the throw home was too late to get Neiman. Shaler's third run scored on a wild pitch. Steve Meister's sacrifice fly brought home the fourth run.

"It feels real good knowing you beat the defending state champions," Squeglia said. "Because you have to figure they know how to win playoff games."