Trojans surprise Shady Side Academy with late runs

By JEREMY TEPPER
MVI Sports

The last time California was in the playoffs, the Trojans went on to win the WPIAL Class A championship in 2019. On Wednesday, that previous playoff experience proved to be crucial.

California dug itself an early hole, falling behind 2-0 through five innings against Shady Side Academy in the first round of the WPIAL 2A playoffs. But the Trojans stayed the course and stayed calm, collecting two runs in the 6th inning and two in the 7th to beat the Bulldogs 4-2. The Trojans have now advanced to the quarterfinals, where they will play Seton LaSalle on Friday.

“I usually say I’ll take talent over experience any day, but today, the experience and the talent helped out because they did not get flustered,” said California coach Lou Pasquale. “We were down two runs and didn’t have a hit until the 5th inning. In the end, talent and experience definitely helped out.”

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