It would be easy for the Moon Area High School baseball team to make excuses this year, but instead the Tigers are making quick work of the opposition.

Through 16 games Moon was 13-3 overall and had a playoff spot clinched with a 9-2 section record. Eight of its wins have come by 10 runs or more.

The Tigers have managed to do all of this despite injuries that have ravaged the pitching rotation and playing without a home field until a month into the season.

"We can't look for excuses because when you look for them, you find them," Moon coach Dom Santeufemio said.

The weather has taken a particularly tough toll on Moon as it had to wait indoors rather than test the new surface at McCormick Field at Moon Middle School. The field was not ready for Moon until the 11th game of the season.

The damp, cool weather has also made it difficult for a couple of pitchers upon whom Santeufemio was counting this year to bounce back from injuries and remain consistent.

A junior pitcher, Brian Flannery, has battled tendinitis in his right (throwing) elbow. That was a big blow to the Moon pitching staff, considering Flannery won seven games as a sophomore last year. Flannery has not been able to maintain the same velocity he had last season because of the elbow problems.

Another junior pitcher, Nicholas Grace, has slowly worked his way back into the lineup after undergoing Tommy John surgery after his freshman year. He won three games as a freshman and this year during a spring break trip, he showed his potential.

Grace pitched a perfect game against a team from Minnesota in a 10-0 win in late March during a four-game swing in Florida.

"They couldn't touch him down there in Florida but up here with the rain and cold weather, he is not throwing the same," Santeufemio said. "Nicky has a lot of potential but I am not too sure if this is going to be the year for it. Next year could be his year."

Stepping up in place of the injured pitchers has been a pair of juniors who are both 4-1, Michael Jeffreys and Brad Schnelle.

At the plate there have been far less issues for Moon. Going into this week, everyone in the starting lineup is hitting at least .330 and as a team the Tigers are hitting better than .400.

"The strength is the hitting," Santeufemio said. "One through nine -- everyone can hit the ball. We knew we had the bats coming into this year."

The first two batters in the lineup, Scott Liller and Zak Schmidt, were both hitting .520 through 15 games this season. Both are returning starters with Liller at second base and Schmidt in center field.

Senior shortstop Phil Bondi bats third in the lineup and also comes in as the team's closer. Sophomore third baseman Brett Hoffman bats cleanup and was hitting .385. Hitting fifth in the lineup is senior right fielder Nico Marocco, who was hitting better than .400.

Nearly the entire Moon lineup is made up of returning starters. One of the few players not to start last year, senior first basemen Paul Pitaro, saw starting time his sophomore year but was out for most of last season with a knee injury.

Senior Alex Knox is a starting left fielder and also pitches. Junior catcher Dom DeAngelis took over behind the plate this year for two-year starter Ryan Suess, who has graduated. DeAngelis is hitting .460.

With the help of the powerful bats and the experience the Tigers did a good job of building momentum as the season progressed, bouncing back from a season opening 10-6 loss at Pine-Richland to win 10 consecutive games. They hit a bump in the road with consecutive losses to Hopewell and Chartiers Valley before rebounding with a 17-7 win against McGuffey and a come from behind win at West Allegheny.

In the West Allegheny game, Moon fell behind 7-0 in the first inning before belting three home runs and rallying to win, 13-8.

"I don't think anybody panicked after the Hopewell game. We came back against West Allegheny and regained the momentum," Santeufemio said. "If we play our game, we can play with anyone. I don't think anyone on this team lost any confidence."