At manager meetings before the start of the 2009 Greater Pittsburgh Federation League season, questions were raised about whether or not a new team, the Montour Minotaurs, would be competitive.

The team made up mainly of college players from St. Vincent and Washington & Jefferson and former Montour High School players, had no player older than 23 years old.

Montour put those questions to rest with a hot start that included a 7-3 win over St. Johns, the dominant Fed League team that has taken home seven titles in nine years.

"When I went to the meetings, they were just worried about us being able to compete," said player/manager Mike Christiansen, a 2007 graduate of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart High School.

"To be honest with you, where I got my [players], I knew we were all competitive and all collegiate athletes. I knew we were going to be able to compete.

"First time we came out and played St. Johns, we smoked them. We have been put to the test and whenever we have the players [show up], we are a solid team and there is not a doubt in my mind we can beat anyone."

Christiansen, a sophomore at St. Vincent College this past season, draws six of his players from there.

Through 17 games Montour is 9-8 in the Fed League, following a tough 2-1 loss to league-leading St. Johns-Lefty's on Tuesday.

Just as happy with the strong start for Montour in its inaugural season is St. Vincent head baseball coach Mick Janosko. Like most college coaches, he wants his players to get at-bats and innings pitched during the summer. He even went as far as letting his players use catcher's equipment and batting helmets during the Fed League season.

"He really does stress playing through the summer," Christiansen said. "He knows all about how we are doing."

A teammate of Christiansen's at St. Vincent College, pitcher Jeff Bugajski, has been Montour's top pitcher. Bugajski, a Fox Chapel graduate, is 4-0 in his four starts this season.

Offensively, Jim Pasquine and Tom Birko have been standouts. Pasquine plays at Washington & Jefferson and starts in the outfield for Montour. Hitting out of the three-spot, he has been Montour's top clutch hitter. On the mound Pasquine has delivered, too. He struck out 19 batters against Allegheny Valley earlier this season.

Birko, a recent Montour High School graduate, is the leadoff hitter. Christiansen said Birko likely leads the league in walks and on-base percentage. He is headed to Point Park in the fall to play baseball.

Finding pitching has been an issue for Montour this season. The starting pitching has been consistent for the most part but Christiansen said his team struggles when it has to go to the bullpen. In his team's second game against St. Johns, with limited pitching, Montour fell, 16-6.

The pitching situation was magnified to start the season as Montour had to open its inaugural campaign with five games in six days. The young team handled the early test, winning four of those five.

Along with Birko, the other former Montour players on the team are outfielder Butch Kriger and pitcher DanVietmeier. Kriger plays at Grove City and Vietmeier was a four-year starting pitcher at Washington & Jefferson.

Another OLSH graduate on the team is Eric Chimenti, who resides in Moon. He can play multiple positions in the infield or outfield and also pitches. Against Ohio Valley last week Chimenti pitched eight scoreless innings.

Montour is scheduled to play another league newcomer, Bellevue, today at Montour High School.