Ringgold tops Valley View to claim 1st PIAA baseball championship
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Thursday, June 14, 2018 | 6:18 PM
UNIVERSITY PARK — Ringgold capped off an amazing season by doing the little things that win games.
The Rams parlayed solid defense and timely hitting into a 6-4 victory against District 2 champion Valley View in the PIAA Class 4A baseball title game Thursday at Penn State's Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
It was their first state title in baseball. Ringgold won a basketball title in 1995. The Rams entered the state playoffs as the WPIAL runner-up.
“This is amazing. I'm still trying to comprehend everything,” Ringgold shortstop Koby Bubash said. “No one gave us a chance, that's what makes winning this so much better. Everyone counted us out, and they miscounted.”
Ringgold didn't flinch when Valley View scored three runs in the first inning on a bases-loaded triple by Ryan Cwalinski.
Ringgold responded with two runs in the bottom of the first on Luke Winterbottom's single.
Valley View opened the second inning with four consecutive hits to grab a 4-2 lead, but Ringgold starting pitcher Josh Peters got a double play to end the threat, and the Cougars never scored again.
Peters and relief pitcher Jake Mullen worked out of jams in every inning, stranding 12 runners.
“We stuck to our game plan because we started out strong too,” Winterbottom said. “The double play was huge. It created a lot of momentum for us. It was game changing.”
In the bottom of the second, Ringgold took a 5-4 lead on a two-run single by Bubash, who then scored when Ryan Varley's single was misplayed for an error in right field.
“You have to come in and field the ball,” Bubash said. “Jake (Rongaus) and I worked on the double play every day at practice, and when it was hit to me, I knew we were going to get the double play. That gave us so much momentum.”
Bubash went 3 for 4 with two RBIs, and Winterbottom had two hits and two RBIs off Valley View ace and Lehigh recruit Mason Black.
“We would have liked to cash some of the runs in,” Valley View coach Jason Munley said. “If we would have come up with some timely hits, we'd be celebrating.
“We came, we fought and a couple things didn't go our way. Tip your hat to Ringgold, they played well. They were the best hitting team we saw all year.”
Jake Mayer doubled home a run in the fifth inning.
“It's hard to talk, so overwhelming,” Ringgold coach Don Roberts said. “Everyone played so great and got it done — down three runs and coming back.
“Koby made a real smart play and turned two. Josh settled down after the second inning and pitched well after that. Our big hitters came through. You have to stick with what works.”
When Peters reached the 100-pitch limit, Roberts brought in Mullen, who rarely pitched during the season.
“They were sitting on the fastball, so we started using the off-speed pitch,” Roberts said. “That's why we brought in Jake. He hadn't pitched much this season, but he has one of the best breaking balls.”
In the sixth inning, with a runner on first and one out, Winterbottom came up with a big play. Corey Pezak blooped what appeared to be a single to right, but Winterbottom fielded the ball on the hop and gunned down Dixon Black at second base.
It was big because when Mason Black doubled to left, Pazek was held at third.
“This is phenomenal. It's great for our school, huge the community and big for the WPIAL,” Roberts said. “We had a lot of people rooting for us, and it's an honor to bring this trophy back to the school.”
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or via Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
Tags: Ringgold
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