Playing in the loser's bracket this season has brought out the winning ways for the Pine-Richland Palomino team.

In the sectional and regional tournaments, Pine-Richland went 6-1, battling back through the loser's bracket.

Like last season, a first-round loss in the double-elimination sectional tournament sparked a five-game winning streak and a sectional championship.

"We knew we had nothing to lose and it was pretty much now or never once we were in the loser's bracket," first basemen Matt Yoklic said. "We had to do a lot of scrapping to get most of our wins this year and that's what we did in the tournament."

With the win in the sectional tournament, Pine-Richland qualified for the regional tournament again. The team's summer season came to an end after four games in the regional tournament. Two losses to North Hills knocked out Pine-Richland but not after an over-achieving summer where a much younger version of the Palomino team replaced a veteran group from last year.

Manager Mike Nittoli was forced to replace eight players and build around a core of only six players.

"The new kids picked up that attitude our team had last year," Nittoli said. "They had that same never-say-die attitude. Some of the guys who were there last year helped with the situation when we were in the loser's bracket."

The leadership from Palomino veterans Yoklic and Brendan Scioscia was critical for Pine-Richland after the first round loss. Scioscia, a rising sophomore at Waynesburg University, was the only collegiate player on the roster. Yoklic was instrumental in Pine-Richland's success during the WPIAL season.

The Palomino season nearly came to an end much earlier than the last week of July. After losing to Kittanning in the first game, Nittoli found his team down 5-0 against a team from Warren, Ohio.

"I thought we were out after two games," Nittoli said.

Pine-Richland battled back to tie the game and eventually won in extra innings. From there, the improbable run included wins against Kiski, Hampton, Saxonburg and a team from Youngstown, Ohio, in the span of three days.

Other returning players from last season were brothers John and Mike Benton. John Benton emerged as one of the best defensive outfielders in the Palomino League. He made a memorable catch in a must-win tournament game against Kiski. With two outs in the sixth inning and the bases loaded in a tie game, a Kiski batter sent a ball to deep left field. Benton made a diving catch, running into the wall that resulted in six staples to close a gash in his head.

His brother Mike Benton, a workhorse on the mound, pitched the final inning in that game to earn the save. Nittoli also counted on the arm of Shane Stauffer. In a doubleheader earlier in the season Stauffer caught the first game and then pitched a complete game immediately after.

"This team really had the same attitude as last year," said Bill Grubbs, an assistant coach who pitched batting practice. "We lost some key players and with the young guys, you don't know what to expect from them, but I thought they played real well together."

Xavier recruit Mitch Elliott was another top outfielder for Pine-Richland. He hit leadoff and played center field, the same role he filled during the Rams' WPIAL season. Regular shortstop Aaron Kovalchick played every position on the diamond at least once this season and was the No. 3 pitcher on the staff.

At the plate, J.R. Willard was the top power threat. He led the team in home runs and started at third base. Nittoli was able to use him as an innings eater to keep Stauffer and Benton fresh in the tournaments.

The one player on the roster from outside Pine-Richland was catcher Jake Wockley, who started at catcher and played for Shaler in the spring. Outfielders Pat Connel, Shane McPeak and Mike Koller stepped up in the field and at the plate.

On an inexperienced team by Palomino standards, Brett Owens was the youngest player on the team. He came into his own when Nittoli was looking for a shortstop. He will be a sophomore next year at Pine-Richland.

In the two postseason tournaments, Pine-Richland was without Ryan Wirth who traveled to New Orleans with his church group. Wirth was a major reason for Pine-Richland's success this summer on the mound as the team's ace during the regular season.