Unable to recover from an exhausting extra-innings game on Friday, Kiski's Palomino team saw its season come to an end. Two defeats at the Butler tournament last weekend sealed its fate.

The frustration from squandering a solid pitching outing by pitching ace Mike Pereslucha in an extra-innings loss to Springdale carried over like a hangover to Saturday, where Bethel Park 10-run ruled Kiski with a 14-run onslaught.

Continually stranding runners on base, Kiski had its best chance to get a run across in the third inning, with two runners in scoring position and only one out. However, they ran into Springdale's ace Mike Devine and he struck out the next two batters.

Pereslucha finally had his first hiccup in the eighth inning and Springdale went on to win, 5-0. The loss took a lot out of Kiski and it really showed on Saturday. It hung with Bethel Park for three innings, only down two runs but the game got away from in the fourth inning.

"My team played 38 games all summer and the level of intensity and the desire to win made me so proud for 37 games, but against Bethel it just wasn't the same. We made such an effort to hang with Springdale, that game took everything out of us and we were so deflated," Kiski coach Zach Jankowski said.

Kiski advanced to the tournament at Butler after winning Quad County Palomino North sectional tournament by knocking off a high school from Ohio and Natrona Heights twice.

Jankowski coaches the varsity team at Kiski as well and tries to keep the entire team intact the best he can for summer Palomino ball. Kiski suffers from a weak feeder system that has no ninth grade or junior varsity team. And because of that, it relies more on the Palomino league than most teams to build momentum heading into the high school season.

"My goal is to keep as many guys playing together in the summer because it really does help in the spring. As far as a team's cohesiveness and just how well they get along, that goes along way in terms of winning games," Jankowski said.

The Palomino team was infused with some veteran leadership when Pereslucha and former high school teammate Dave Hill returned to play. Pereslucha received nearly a full academic scholarship to Allegheny College and picked up a changeup during his freshman campaign, where he was named co-rookie of the year for the team. Jankowski made him a player/coach.

"Mike was our ace, when he was on the mound everyone felt that we would win the game," Jankowski said.

He played third base at Allegheny and earned a spot in the starting rotation. Pereslucha helped Allegheny to a third-place finish in the NCAC.

"It was good to come back and to help a lot of the younger guys out. I had a say-so in different situations and I was respected more. I wasn't just a player, they valued my opinion," Pereslucha said after finishing his fifth season playing on the Palomino team.

Leadoff hitter and left fielder Sean Vogle enjoys learning from the players that have had that year at college. He will be a senior at Kiski in the fall.

"It's huge, having him around. He teaches us new drills and Mike has seen a whole different level of baseball and he can share his experience," Vogle said.

Ed Lynch, the power-hitting catcher graduated from Kiski Area and is currently on Seton Hill's roster. Second in the batting lineup was Zane Reese. He will continue to play ball after high school at Bethany College. Vogle still has one year left at Kiski and he is expected to be moved to center field.

"Sean Vogle was just outstanding in terms of his defense and as far being in a team leadership role and setting an example in the way he played," Jankowski said.