A Clutch Fourth Inning Defines the Win
Latrobe’s American Legion baseball team secured a hard‑fought 4‑3 victory over St. Michael on Tuesday, advancing to the Region 7 championship series. The win, highlighted by a decisive rally in the fourth inning, sets the stage for a showdown with Philipsburg later this week.
Shortstop Ty Wisniewski, who is also being considered for Latrobe’s starting quarterback position this fall, delivered the game‑changing hit. He tripled home two runs, turning a 2‑2 tie into a 3‑2 lead. The rally was supported by Grady Ruffner’s single that moved him to third, and Cole Short’s double that put the runner in scoring position.
Aaryn Chappel earned the win on the mound, allowing only three runs while striking out eight batters. Offensively, Mason Fridley and Josh Short contributed RBI singles, and Josh Short later added a sacrifice fly that scored his brother Cole for the winning run.
Philipsburg stayed alive in the tournament by defeating Claysburg 10‑4 earlier in the week. The Phils were propelled by Caleb Hudon and Parker Lamb, each driving in three runs, while Troy McNichol’s three‑run homer had put Claysburg ahead in the third inning.
The championship game is scheduled for Wednesday at 12:40 p.m., where Latrobe will look to capture the title. The team’s blend of pitching depth and timely hitting has been a hallmark of their postseason run.