A Playoff Push for Riverview
The Riverview baseball team clinched a spot in the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state tournament with a commanding 12-2 victory over South Side in the WPIAL Class 2A third-place game on Tuesday night. The win not only underscored the team’s offensive firepower but also cemented their return to the state stage for the second consecutive year.
Miles Duncan stole the spotlight with his first high school home run, a timely blast that extended Riverview’s lead in the fifth inning. On the mound, Lukas Duncan delivered a solid outing, surrendering just five hits while walking four and striking out seven. Owen Metz anchored the lineup with three singles, contributing to a total of 13 hits for the team.
Coach Bill Gras praised the squad’s energy after a semifinal loss that had briefly dimmed their momentum. ‘We’ve worked on staying focused and playing with confidence,’ Gras said, noting that the team’s preparation has been intense since the earlier setback.
The next challenge arrives in the form of a rematch with Mercyhurst Prep, a program that boasts an 18-game winning streak and a .405 team batting average. Riverview’s players are aware of the opposition’s strengths, but they also carry the memory of the 1983 Riverview team that made a deep run, and they are eager to carve out their own legacy.
Miles Duncan, who will be seeing his first PIAA playoff game, expressed excitement for the younger teammates to experience the atmosphere. ‘It’s a great opportunity for the newer guys to feel the intensity of a state tournament game,’ he said, adding that the squad aims to establish early leads and ride that momentum forward.
As the team gears up for the upcoming state tournament, the blend of seasoned contributors and fresh talent promises a compelling narrative. With a roster that includes Ashton Saunders, Dom DelRosso, Owen Orbich, Jake Sprajcar, Hunter Krahe, Rex Roberts, Ryan Shaw, Dawson Frasier and Liam Tomlinson, Riverview hopes to translate regular-season success into a memorable postseason run.