The Mt. Lebanon High School baseball season had been all about redemption.

Redemption for the previous two seasons, when the Blue Devils narrowly missed out on the playoffs on tiebreakers.

Redemption for at least two of its key players, who recovered from relatively severe injuries.

Redemption from stunning home losses to two of its biggest rivals in their final at bats that could have been devastating.

"Even though I've been part of some championship teams, this team is, I would say, the one that I'm most proud of," Blue Devils coach Pat McCloskey said. "This was a team with just one returning starter, and to be able to get Mt. Lebanon back into the postseason, fighting its way through a tough section like they did, I couldn't ask for any more from this group of guys."

Mt. Lebanon qualified for the postseason for the first time since winning the WPIAL Class AAAA title in 2006. In each of the three seasons since, a tiebreaker was needed to determine whether it would earn one of the section's three available playoff berths. Finally, this season the Blue Devils got in.

Their season came to an abrupt halt Tuesday, however, in a first-round loss to Greater Latrobe, 6-2, at Gateway. With the loss, Mt. lebanon closed the season with an 11-7 overall record. The Blue Devils finished tied for second in Section 4-AAAA with Bethel Park.

"A lot of people were surprised by our success, but we knew we had it in us to get into the playoffs," said senior first baseman Eddie Gavett, the team's lone returning starter from last season.

"I'm happy, and it feels real good to make the playoffs. Last year it was really tough missing them by one game, so it's rewarding to be in."

Mt. Lebanon got into the postseason by no small reason on the strength of contributions by juniors Kevin Ostergaard and Pete Slavonic.

Those right-handers were two of the Blue Devils' top three pitchers, with Ostergaard having gone 4-2 with a team-best 2.56 ERA and 24 strikeouts in 382/3 innings during the regular season, and Slavonic striking out 17 in 201/3 innings, third most on the staff.

What makes their seasons notable is both were coming off serious injuries. Ostergaard played on the varsity as a freshman but was out virtually all of last season due to injury. Slavonic was Mt. Lebanon's No. 1 pitcher last season but underwent back surgery in the winter and was just rounding into playing shape as the season began.

"Those two guys are returning starters, and both of them are two of our three best pitchers," Gavett said. "Pete has been really good for us; it was great he was able to come back. Kevin, when healthy, is just so good. It's just been great having those guys back and contributing."

Slavonic started what became Mt. Lebanon's most pivotal win of the season, a 5-2 victory at Bethel Park on April 17, tossing a complete game in a victory that ultimately was crucial in earning a playoff spot.

That win was the third of a winning streak for the Blue Devils that followed a potentially season-ruining defeat to eventual Section 3-AAAA champion Peters Township April 8 in which the Indians came from behind in the seventh inning for the win.

Mt. Lebanon's next defeat was also at home on April 23 against a section team -- Upper St. Clair -- that would go on to the playoffs and it also involved a blown seventh-inning lead.

Again, however, the Blue Devils didn't let it crush their spirit. They won two of the next three and three of their final five of the season, capped by a must-win 14-7 triumph against Upper St. Clair, avenging that loss and punching a ticket to the playoffs.

"We have reacted to adversity exceptionally well," McCloskey said.

"Individually, some players have gone through some adversity, whether it be pitching or hitting, and they came right back and carried us in future games.

"We faced a lot as a team, but it was fun the way they bounced back every time."

Junior Jordan Packy led the team in strikeouts (27 in 34 innings) and had the best record among its pitchers (4-1) during the regular season.

Leadoff hitter Ian Happ, a second baseman, led the team in hitting as a freshman with a .447 average.

Three seniors, third baseman Jeremy Tiedeman, Gavett and outfielder Adam Soodik, were the heart of the Blue Devils' lineup, combining for 43 RBIs, eight home runs and 42 runs scored while each hit at least .347.

Junior catcher Tom Sims batted second, scoring 14 runs. Ostergaard played shortstop when not on the mound, and senior Kevin Byrne and junior John Bruni (outfielders) and Jeremy Silver (shortstop) typically round out the lineup.

"I told the team the thing for which I'm most proud of them is that I've never been around a team that has so maximized its potential," McCloskey said. "That's what's made this season from a coaching standpoint so rewarding; we've gotten the most out of ourselves. Regardless of what happened in the playoffs, we'll walk away remembering this was a very special group."