California Area has the best record among WPIAL Class A baseball teams this season, but the Trojans still had to wait until the final date on their schedule to earn an outright section title.

California (18-2, 12-2) needed to go on the road to avenge one of its two defeats against upstart Bentworth. The Trojans prevailed, 8-5, to wrap up their 18th section title, according to coach Don Hartman.

"It was definitely a playoff atmosphere," Hartman said. "Their place at Bentworth was packed. Kids on both sides had nerves. It was fun to be a part of."

The WPIAL playoffs will be even more fun to be a part of for California if the Trojans play as well in this annual tournament as they have in recent seasons.

The Trojans advanced to at least the WPIAL semifinals in each of the past three seasons and are ranked No. 3 in WPIAL Class A by the Post-Gazette heading into the playoffs that are scheduled to begin this week. Pairings, dates, sites and times were not available at press time.

"We overcame a little adversity this year," said Hartman. "We've had some players hurt, some ineligible for a while academically, but the young guys stepped it up. We dropped a couple of games, but all that matters at this point is we're very pleased to be back on track.

"The older guys realize what they have to do to get to the level they did last year. We're starting to play very good baseball at the time we need to play good baseball.

"I'm really pleased at this point."

Pitching has been a big reason for the Trojans' success. The staff is deep and talented, and that depth was tested and needed as California played eight games in 10 days to close out the season. The team won seven of those eight contests.

"If we have any advantage, I feel like we have five kids who throw the ball and have shown that over the course of these seasons," Hartman said.

The starters include junior right-handers Matt Hartman, Travis VanOlst and Brandon Rossi and sophomore lefty Ben Carson, who is 7-0. But senior left-hander Zack Jeney is the team's ace, as he has been for much of his high school career.

Jeney, who is 4-1 this season after going 12-1 last season, can throw in the upper 80s mph with great movement to go along with an offspeed pitch, curveball, slider and changeup.

"He has the whole package," said Hartman, a California alumnus who is in his 10th season as head coach and 17th on the staff. "He's the best player I've coached by far and one of the very best to put on a California uniform."

Jeney has committed Louisburg College in Louisburg, N.C., which has one of the top junior college programs in the nation.

Twelve former Louisburg players have gone on to play in the major leagues, and Hartman called the school a "feeder for SEC schools," referring to what is generally accepted as the top Division I baseball conference in the country.

Two other senior leaders are shortstop Mike Galis and catcher J.D. Hawk, each of whom is a three-year starter and is among the team leaders in runs and RBIs along with Jeney.

The seniors will be trying to leave California having been at least a WPIAL semifinalist four times.

That the Trojans will be among the top seeds and favorites to get to the final is of little concern to Hartman. The playoff brackets were to be announced after a meeting Friday and Hartman expected the Trojans to open play Tuesday or Wednesday.

"At this point, our record means nothing," Hartman said. "We found out last year that things have got to go your way to win. From here on out, we have to play very smart baseball.

"If we lose, it will be all over, and 18-2 won't mean anything."