Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Riverside celebrates after defeating Greensburg Central Catholic, 12-1, in five innings in the WPIAL Class AA baseball championship last night at Falconi Field. Click photo for larger image.

The journey was the hard part. Due to an accident, Riverside's team bus sat in traffic on Interstate 79 for more than two hours on the way to the WPIAL Class AA championship game yesterday.

The game itself? That was a breeze.

Riverside (22-1) knocked around another opponent, dusting off Greensburg Central Catholic, 12-1, to win the Class AA title at Falconi Field in Washington.

Like 14 other Riverside opponents this season, Greensburg Central Catholic (20-2) needed mercy to stop the onslaught. The game was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run rule. It was the 15th time this season Riverside has forced the 10-run rule.

"That bus ride was the hardest part of the day," said Christian Valeriano, a star outfielder for Riverside.

Everything looked easy against Greensburg Central Catholic. After spotting the Centurions a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, Riverside came back and grabbed a 7-1 advantage after two innings.

"They're very good," said Greensburg Central Catholic coach Jack Korpar. "You saw the ropes they hit. The balls we were catching were on the warning track."

You could make a case for Riverside putting together one of the most impressive runs to a WPIAL title in a long time. The Panthers came in averaging 11 runs a game and they toyed with a Greensburg Central Catholic team that had a 20-1 record. Riverside's victory avenged a loss to North Catholic in the title game last year.

Valeriano said, "We don't go into every game expecting to kill everyone."

It just happens -- often. This is a team that has eight starters batting better than .400. Ryan McCandless is the "weak link." He's hitting only a little better than .350. The Panthers have scored 10 runs or more in 18 games.

"We spend a lot of time on hitting," said Riverside coach Dan Oliastro, who won his second WPIAL title in 39 years as coach. "We face live pitching every single day in practice. We spend a lot of time hitting soft toss and off tees. People think tees are for little kids, but we spend a lot of time using tees."

Riverside teed off on Greensburg Central Catholic for nine hits in only four innings. Seven players had a hit. Valeriano was 2 for 2 with two RBIs. Third baseman Jon Jurinko had two hits and scored three runs. Center fielder Steve Lowry had a triple and three RBIs.

Greensburg Central Catholic started Calvin Buerkle, who lasted only 2¹/₃ innings before being relieved by Mike Verdun.

"We couldn't get the curveball over," Korpar said. "When you have to rely on your fastball against these guys, you're in trouble."

But when discussing Riverside's talent, please don't overlook the Panthers' pitching. Last night was the first time Riverside has given up a run in four WPIAL playoff games. Ace John Elms got the win to lift his record to 11-0.

Greensburg Central Catholic took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Max Suter's RBI single, but the Centurions had only one hit the rest of the way. Elms struck out seven.

"I remember watching him when he was just a little kid in Little League," Oliastro said. "He always had the arm."

There was no wild victory celebration for Riverside after the game. They wear pinstripe uniforms, but, with their business-like attitude, you could have sworn they were wearing pinstripe suits.

"This is just a step for what we really want, and that's a state championship," said Valeriano.

Greensburg Central Catholic didn't seem too upset, either. Maybe the Centurions knew they just couldn't measure up to this Riverside team. Both teams will compete in the PIAA playoffs that will begin Monday. Riverside is the defending PIAA champion.

"There's a tomorrow for us," Korpar said.

"Losses like this bother coaches more than they do the kids. The kids have Playstations and computers. They'll go home and text message someone. I'm sure they're upset, but they're not going to jump a bridge.