Chartiers Valley captured its first WPIAL Class AAA baseball championship Tuesday thanks to clutch performances from a pair of seniors early and two sophomores late.
Colts sophomore center fielder Konor Corchado tripled home the tying run with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning and scored the winning run on an infield hit by sophomore left fielder Steve Alauzan, as No. 8-seed Chartiers Valley (16-7) rallied for a 4-3 victory against Blackhawk at Consol Energy Park.
It was the Colts' first trip to the finals since losing to Moon in 2009.
“I'm proud the team made history for their school,” Chartiers Valley coach Jim Jaskowski said. “It was the seniors early and the sophomores late. It's been that way all season.”
Both teams advanced to the PIAA tournament. Chartiers Valley will play the winner of the District 6 championship game between Bellefonte and Hollidaysburg on Monday at Seneca Valley.
Blackhawk plays District 9 champion Punxsutawney the same day.
Chartiers Valley took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fifth when senior shortstop Brady Gulakowski launched a two-out, 2-1 pitch over the right-field fence.
“He left it belt high on the inside,” Gulakowski said. “I knew it was gone when I hit it.”
The home run seemed to bother Blackhawk pitcher Mark Engel, who sent the next pitch over first baseman Dante Panucci's head. Home plate umpire Mike Burrell walked out and talked to Engel and then addressed both coaches.
No. 3-seeded Blackhawk (18-5) then used Engel's spark in a three-run sixth to take a 3-2 lead on an RBI single by Mike Turconi and a two-run single by Engel. The Cougars were making their seventh appearance in the final and third trip since 2011.
“Mark is a battler,” Blackhawk coach Bob Amalia said. “We wouldn't be here without him. We didn't play our best game, but I was proud how we battled.
“I told them, ‘would you rather win the WPIAL title or be a state champion?' ”
Chartiers Valley quickly responded behind the sophomores.
“This was a team effort,” Jaskowski said. “Cole and Brady carried us early.
“This is a hard tournament to win. They'll remember this the rest of their lives.”
Colts ace Cole Horew, who will attend Point Park, struck out seven and walked none. He allowed his first hit of the game — a leadoff double by Engel — in the top of the fifth inning.
“There is no better feeling than winning this title,” Horew said. “This is something that will last forever.”
Chartiers Valley missed scoring opportunities in the first and second innings. The Colts loaded the bases in the first, but Engel induced a ground ball double play.
They had two on in the third, but Horew lined into a double play.
Panucci had two hits, including a double in the first inning, for Chartiers Valley.
Paul Schofield is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at pschofield@tribweb.com or Twitter @Schofield_Trib.
