South Xtra: As Elizabeth Forward continues its march, memories for seniors keep growing
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Elizabeth Forward pitcher Ryan Meier works to a Carrick batter in a first-round PIAA Class AAAA playoff game.
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Time is running out for the memories Ryan Meier can create as a high school student.
Today is one of the last -- if not the last -- chance he'll have at Elizabeth Forward.
What a day it could be, though.
Meier, a senior and one of the better players on the undefeated WPIAL champion baseball team, will go through graduation ceremonies tonight with the rest of his class.
By day, he will compete with the rest of the Warriors in a PIAA Class AAA quarterfinal game against Grove City at noon at North Allegheny High School.
Meier doesn't mind such a potential conflict that could make for a long day. After all, he knows that if his season has extended into June, he'll gladly take whatever comes along with it.
"It'll be a fun day," Meier said Monday night after he tossed a 3-hitter with 10 strikeouts on the mound and went 2 for 4 at the plate in Elizabeth Forward's 13-2, five-inning win against City League representative Carrick in a PIAA first-round tournament game.
"Playing with my teammates is always something you look forward to, and hopefully we get the win so we can celebrate all through graduation. That'd be cool," Meier said.
The Warriors' Dan Altavilla has gotten plenty of attention for his pitching this season, and deservedly so. He led the WPIAL in strikeouts.
But Altavilla isn't the only undefeated starter with stellar statistics on the Elizabeth Forward pitching staff. Meier has been a shutdown pitcher himself.
A Bethany College recruit, Meier improved to 8-0 Monday, his ERA well less than 3.00.
"He's been fantastic for us all year," Warriors coach Frank Champ said. "He's stepped up, like in the Chartiers Valley game [WPIAL semifinal], we were already down, 6-0, and he really just shut the door on them. He gave our team momentum, and that really helped us to come back and make it to the WPIAL final.
"Ryan is part of the group of players we have who trains really hard in the offseason, long tosses and lifting weights. He's just a great kid. I'm very happy for the success he's had."
Meier, 5 feet 10, 165 pounds, is in his second season as one of Elizabeth Forward's primary pitchers. His fastball has decent velocity, but what makes it effective, said Champ, is that Meier can locate it expertly.
First Published June 9, 2011 12:00 am
