St. Johns Lambros clinched its third consecutive trip to the National Amateur Baseball Federation's regional tournament in Youngstown, Ohio, by winning the Greater Pittsburgh Federation League's regular-season championship last week.

And it's fair to say the Saints, the defending champions who were 27-1 in league play coming into this week, would not be accomplishing all that they have in recent seasons without a solid middle of the order.

And what is the heart of that middle? A valuable hitter in the third spot.

St. Johns Lambros has that in Jason Foreman, a Shaler Area High School graduate and McCandless resident.

"Every lineup that's good has a quality No. 3 hitter," St. Johns manger Tom McCarthy said. "We don't have another kid who's a prototypical, stereotypical No. 3 hitter like Jason. We can put a body in there and get through it, but we don't have another hitter who can give you consistent singles and doubles and add in some power.

"When you look at our games, for the most part, we have very solid games when Jason's there. When he's not there, we're not as solid."

Through the weekend, Foreman was leading St. Johns in batting average (.446) and was third in RBIs (20). A former California University of Pennsylvania standout and Wild Things player, Foreman has been a fixture at third base and the No. 3 spot over the past few seasons for the Saints, a Fed League powerhouse.

"Whatever's best for the team," Foreman said. "[McCarthy] basically sets me get free. Even at 3-and-0, I have the green light if I want it. It's just him showing confidence in me.

"Everyone on this team, [Nos.] 1 through 9, could be 3 hitters. If they played on another team in the Fed League, they'd be 3 hitters. It just happens that's just where I fell in."

Foreman used to play for the Fed League's Bellevue team until that franchise folded. McCarthy said that offseason, he jumped at the chance to bring Foreman aboard because he envisioned Foreman becoming exactly what he has become: A stabilizing presence in the infield and at the plate.

As long as Foreman is available on a given day, McCarthy is worry-free about an important part of his infield and an important part of his order.

"They need an infielder there all the time," Foreman said. "When we start moving people places, we don't play as well as we do when we have a regular lineup."

The only drawback: With that stability comes an aversion on the Saints' part to allow Foreman to pitch because it disturbs the chemistry of the team.

"He probably doesn't get to throw as much as he would like," McCarthy said. "But when you have 11 other people who are strictly pitchers, that creates some restrictions. When you have someone as good as Jay is at third base, you'd like to keep him there."

"I understand," Foreman said. "It's not that big a deal to me. To be honest, it's not so bad because you're not as sore the next day."

Foreman might want to get the ice packs and Ben-Gay ready, however, because McCarthy said he is considering utilizing Foreman to close out games during the postseason.

Foreman made his first mound appearance of the season during a win against Allegheny Valley on Monday.

"Here's Jason on the mound, and this kid hasn't pitched in how long?" McCarthy said. "And he just threw pure gas and pure strikes. And it was just something to see. He gave me that look, 'See, I told you I could still pitch.'

"I should have known though, because with J, there's not a whole lot he can't do."