PIAA Baseball Playoffs: Elizabeth Forward beats Grove City
Share with others:
Elizabeth Forward's John Kutzfara was caught leaning, and when the pickoff throw to third base came from the Grove City pitcher, Kutfara knew his fate.
"I'm not going to lie. I was in trouble," Kutzfara said.
The next thing Kutzfara knew, he was mobbed at home plate by his celebrating teammates. Once again, everything worked out perfectly for Elizabeth Forward.
An errant pickoff throw by Grove City pitcher Jeff Revesz allowed Kutzfara to score the winning run with one out in the bottom of the eighth as Elizabeth Forward came from behind to beat Grove City, 3-2, in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal game Thursday afternoon at North Allegheny.
The win moved Elizabeth Forward a step closer to becoming the first team from the WPIAL to win a PIAA title with a perfect record. The 23-0 Warriors play in the semifinals Monday. Grove City finished the season 18-3.
All season, Elizabeth Forward had never been in a contest like this -- trailing late in the game. Grove City took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, and Elizabeth Forward tied it in the fourth, but Grove City went ahead, 2-1, in the top of the eighth when a ground ball went through the legs of Elizabeth Forward shortstop Cody Shotwell, allowing a run to score.
Elizabeth Forward senior ace Dan Altavilla pitched all eight innings, threw 105 pitches and was in line to lose for the first time since his junior year.
"What's big is most of us seniors have been on the varsity since we were sophomores," Kutzfara said. "We've experienced different situations and different scenarios. We know what it's like to lose a close one and be in close games. So, there is always a certain calmness with us, and we were still calm in this game."
Maybe Kutzfara, a catcher, was a little too calm at third in the eighth inning.
First Published June 10, 2011 12:00 am
