Elizabeth Forward American Legion baseball manager Ralph Adams was a bit surprised when the Mon-Yough League standings were released last week.

"With an 8-7 record, I wasn't sure if we were in the playoff picture," said Adams. "Then I realized that Lincoln Place was the only team ahead of us in the standings. Lincoln Place is running away with the title, while the remaining teams are beating up on each other."

Elizabeth Forward added two more victories to its record with Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Mt. Washington, then lost, 7-6, to Swissvale in the seventh inning on Sunday.

"We have a 10-8 record with three games remaining," said Adams, prior to yesterday's game with Pleasant Hills. "We host Carrick on Saturday and finish up at Mount Washington on Sunday. We're hoping to have enough wins to qualify for the Allegheny County playoffs."

Those brackets will be determined Tuesday, with postseason play to begin the following night.

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Jon Brletic, a South Allegheny graduate, helps the Elizabeth Legion team in as a pitcher and offensively. Click photo for larger image.

"We had only eight teams in our league this season, so only the top three finishers qualify for the county playoffs," Adams said.

Greenfield and Brookline dropped out of the league after last season.

"It would be nice to win our remaining games and finish with 13 wins. That would assure us a playoff berth, but we may be able to qualify with 11 or 12 wins. It all depends on how many wins Carrick and Pleasant Hills finish with."

Elizabeth Forward was impressive in Saturday's doubleheader sweep of Mount Washington.

"Kyle Mowry pitched a 5-0 shutout in the first game, and Matt Shyosky led us to a 9-1 victory in Game 2," said Adams.

Mowry is a pitcher/infielder from South Allegheny High School who has a 3-2 record. Shyosky, a pitcher/outfielder who has a .358 batting average, is from Elizabeth Forward and has a 3-2 record.

"We have three players from South Allegheny on our 16-player roster," said Adams, who has been Elizabeth's coach five of the last six years.

"The rest of the team is from Elizabeth Forward."

Mowry is joined by South Allegheny teammates Zach Grayson, a catcher who is hitting .352, and Jon Brletic, a pitcher/utility player who leads the team with a .545 average and three home runs.

"Jon is a 19-year-old who played at Waynesburg College last year, but has transferred to Penn State Allegheny," said Adams. "Jon is my No. 4 hitter. He has played first base, second base, catcher and pitched for us. I plug him in wherever I need him."

Adams considers Joe McDaniel to be the team's ace pitcher, despite a 1-4 record.

"Joe has had some hard luck," said Adams. "He lost a couple 1-run games, including Sunday's game against Swissvale. He gave up five runs in the first inning, then shut them down until the seventh inning. They scored the winning run on an error."

McDaniel and Shyosky also play in the outfield, along with right fielder Dan Laffin and center fielder Brandon Myers. Laffin is hitting .414, while Myers has a .300 average.

The infield consists of first baseman Vince Ranalli, second baseman Dane Younge, shortstop/second baseman Max Graham, and third baseman Bill Meyers. Ranalli is hitting .418, while Graham stands in at .372.

"Bill has been out for 2¹/₂ weeks with tendonitis in his wrist," said Adams. "He's been cleared to hit, but isn't allowed to throw yet."

Others seeing playing time are infielder Jared Cunning, third baseman Jordan McKelvy, outfielder Luke Adams, infielder Dale Rothey and third baseman Cliff Harbert.