After Carmichaels won the WPIAL Class A baseball title in 2005, Southwest Regional Medical Center in Greene County pitched in and helped pay for the Mighty Mikes' championship rings.

Since then, the medical center has become the team's featured sponsor.

Who knew they would be needing them so much three seasons later?

A rash of injuries has turned the Carmichaels team into a walking medical unit and has forced Mikes coach Dave Bates into continually shuffling his lineup, yet the Mighty Mikes have defied the odds as they sit atop the Section 1-A standings.

"If you would have told us before the season started that we would be 11-1, I would have laughed," Bates said.

And that was before the injuries.

Carmichaels took an 11-1 overall record and 9-0 section mark into Thursday's non-section game against Waynesburg Central.

"I don't think there is anyone in Carmichaels who isn't surprised," Bates said.

"With all these injuries and [student] trips there are so many unknowns. I feel like we're doing algebra problems and not playing baseball."

In addition to the injuries, Bates was without nine players during a four-game stretch of section games against Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown, West Greene and Geibel because of a recent band trip to Florida. Younger players stepped up and the Mikes swept the four games, outscoring their opponents, 39-5.

The list of players down with injuries reads like a disabled list of an entire league. Senior left fielder Zack Crutchman is still out with a torn muscle and freshman Trevor Robinson is out with a broken wrist. Senior third basemen Ethan Virgili has returned to the team after offseason knee surgery.

Freshman Dan Antonelli took a shot in the eye back in preseason and has missed time. Senior Cody Andrews is still out after ACL surgery and senior catcher Zach Durbin dislocated his patella last month after missing most of last season because of a broken wrist.

"I just did my letterman sheet and I had 16 kids letter this year," Bates said.

"I never had 16 kids letter. I have had years where 10 kids letter, to have 16 that's just maniacal. We have had seasons go by where we might have lost a catcher but to have five or six guys go down with just freak injuries, I have never seen it."

Of the players who remained healthy, junior shortstop Chuck Gasti is a returning starter along with junior Joby Lapkowiicz, a pitcher and center fielder. Sophomore Bill Musgrove, another pitcher, saw limited action last year and is starting this year. After he returned from his injury, Virgili returned to left field.

Robinson and Andrews are the last two starters left from the lineup card in the WPIAL championship game where the Mikes ended Chartiers-Houston's quest for an undefeated season with a 2-0 win in 2005.

Andrews, a big part of that team, has been a starter in either right or center field since his freshman year. He is still awaiting full release from rehab after knee surgery.

The catching situation became difficult for Bates to address when Virgili was unable to go behind the plate after his surgery. Durbin had started the season doing a solid job behind the plate in his first year catching, but a freak accident in the school hallway when a friend playfully jumped on his back, knocked him out of the lineup.

Nathan Keller emerged from the back of the depth chart to take over as catcher after the injuries and he has excelled at the position.

"Nathan Keller was the third guy we were looking at as a catcher," Bates said. "After the injuries Nate came to me in the hall and said he would be glad to try. Turns out, if there is any one position he was meant to play it was catcher."

Sophomore Zach Wolfe stepped up after the injury bug hit to hold down first base. Anthonie Farrar, a sophomore, has a great arm and is starting in center field. Freshman Phil Zack has been a designated hitter and sees some time in right field. Freshman Jonathan Krall stepped in at second base to fill in for players on the band trip.

Coming into the season, the Mikes were hoping to rely on their pitching staff and so far it has not disappointed. Lapkowiicz is 6-0 on the mound and the Mikes had limited teams to one or fewer runs six times through 12 games.

After Lapkowicz the number two starter is up for grabs with so many pitchers close together. Gasti and Robinson along with Wolfe, a left-hander, can be called upon and Musgrove has been the team's fireman, coming in for late-inning relief work.

"We are just so young this year, we don't know to be scared," Bates said. Nobody told these kids that they're not supposed to be achieving these things.

"They have a never-quit attitude and they were not going to be satisfied coming into this season not being very good just because they were young. These kids have challenged each other."