Moon lost to Shaler, 7-0 in the Allegheny Co. A.L. Loser's Bracket Championship game. Thus ending Moon's run at the region 6 tourney.

Hi again everybody, The Moon Township American Legion team (19-5-1) is only one win away from advancing to the 2002 Pa. State American Legion Region 6 Tournament. Moon defeated and eliminated last year's Region 6 Champion, Swissvale, 10-1 in the Allegheny County A.L. Doub-Elim Tournament's loser's bracket. It is their fourth win in a row after a tournament opening loss to Plum. Derek Compo, struck out 12 and fired a three hitter. Moon will travel now to Shaler's Matulevic Field where they had so much success the past few years in the WPIAL and PIAA playoffs (A Moon team has never lost on this field, both former Shaler H.S. Head Coach Jerry Matulevic and Former Shaler American Legion Manager Whitey Gralewski call it Moon's home away from home). They will meet the home team, Shaler. The game is scheduled for tonight (Thursday) at 6 PM. A win will put them into the Regional for only the third time in Moon's franchise history. The 1999 team earned their way under Tommy Hoffman by going thru the loser's bracket also. The 1994 team under Bill Henefeld hosted the Region 6 tourney and was given an automatic berth. By the way, this year's Region 6 host is again Plum (1999 host also) and the games will be held at CCAC-Boyce Campus field and Plum High School. North Allegheny and Bethel Park won the winner's bracket games and are the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds. Plum as host is the No. 4 seed.

To clear up any confusion about the current playoffs. Each year Allegheny County sends four teams to the Region 6 tournament. This year because an Allegheny County team, Plum is hosting the regional tournament at CCAC-Boyce Campus Field and only three spots are open. The winners of the winner's bracket games, North Allegheny and Bethel Park go as the number one and two seeds. The winner of the loser's bracket championship game (Moon or Shaler) goes as the number three seed. And the host of the Regional, Plum, is the number four seed. If a Butler or Fayette team was hosting the regional. Allegheny County's fourth seed would be the loser's bracket championship game's loser.

Another note of irony, if Moon would win the Region 6 title and advance to the Pa. State American Legion tournament. Moon might meet Blackhawk or Hopewell. Both Beaver County teams qualified for the Region 8 tourney in Erie. Winner of that regional also advances to the State championship. Moon met Hopewell in the states up in St Marys, Pa. in 1999. Unfortunately, that ended up being a 3-0 loss.

The Moon Township American Legion team (18-5-1) enters its sixth game of the Allegheny County American Legion Double Elimination playoffs. After opening with Plum on Saturday and getting beat 13-5, Moon has reeled off wins over Upper Saint Clair, Mount Lebanon and Pleasant Hills in the loser's bracket. Moon meets Ron Rocco's Swissvale, another legion baseball program that has had tremendous success in Allegheny County and the regionals. Swissvale was last year's Region 6 Champion and went to Boyerstown for the 2001 Pa. State A.L. Championship tournament. A win over Swissvale would allow Moon to play on Thursday for the final Allegheny County spot in the Region 6 playoffs which begin next Tuesday at CCAC-Boyce as Plum is hosting. A loss and Moon Township would be eliminated

Moon in A.C. Playoff history has only ever advanced once out the Allegheny County double -elimination tourney to the Pennsylvania State Region 6 American Legion Tourney and that was in 1999. Moon ended winning the Regional that year and advanced to the PA. State Championship Tourney in St. Marys, Pa. Guess where the state tourney is again ? (St. Marys)!!!! Moon's only other appearance in the Regionals was when they hosted the tourney in 1994. Moon needs to win two more games to advance. Another loss and they would be eliminated. This is the Moon Township's seventh straight year into the A.C. Playoffs. Also their 13th appearance in the last 14 years, and 14th in the last 16. Moon's playoff history is second to none in Allegheny County. Plum and U.S.C. run a second close.

The Moon Area H.S. Baseball Program Banquet is set for this Sunday July 28 at 6:00 PM at the ELKS Club on Stoops Ferry Road in Moon Township. All players from the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Ninth Grade are invited to attend. Parents and Friends and family can purchase tickets through the Moon Area Pinch Hitters Club via invitations being mailed this week. The players will be honored on the great season and careers. Player gifts and the stat book will be handed out during the banquet. Also, the Batting Championship and 100/300 Club new member inductees announced. We apologize for the lateness of the banquet this year, due to the extended Varsity season and schedule conflicts the banquet got bounced around a lot. I hope to see you there !!!!!!

The 2002 Moon Township American Legion Baseball team roster includes : Dan Weber (P), Joe Santucci (P), Dean Kraniou (P), Austin Sykes (INF/OF), Adrian Sykes (OF), Ryan Rinaldi (OF/1B), Chris Crighton (CF), Kevin Lovely (IF), Ken Kniss (IF), Derek Compo (C), Duane Compo (INF/OF), Jeff Bradford (OF), Scott Thompson (OF/P/INF), Derek Blyzwick (P), Dave Kuhn (OF/C), Michael Ritter (IF) and Dave Cimato (P/IF). Notable players missing from the PIAA Class AAA championship team are Brian Holliday, who signed with the Pgh. Pirates. John Scott, who is too old via American Legion rules, and Brian Jones, who moved to Chatanooga, Tennessee following the championship game. Blyzwick, Ritter, and Kuhn are currently playing for an AAU team and have seen limited Legion action. Imagine this, next year, American Legion is extending the age limit to 19. This means all these kids can get to play another year together.


Moon Township eliminates the defending Region 6 champion, Swissvale, 10-1, and keeps its playoff hopes alive

7/25/2002

Moon Township 10, Swissvale 1

BETHEL PARK - One more win, and the Moon Township American Legion baseball team will have fought through the losers' bracket and into the loser's bracket championship . Derek Compo pitched a three-hitter, striking out 12, and Chris Crighton led a 15-hit attack as Moon downed Swissvale, 10-1, Wednesday in the Allegheny County playoffs. Moon will meet Shaler at Shaler High School today at 6 p.m., and a victory sends Moon to the Region 6 Tournament , which begins Tuesday. Crighton banged out four hits and drove in three runs in support of Compo's dominant pitching. A four-run third inning proved to be all that Compo needed. Austin Sykes and Kevin Lovely also chipped in with a pair of RBIs each. No box score was given.


Moon Legion rolls, 20-4

7/24/2002

FOX CHAPEL - Sometimes, all a team needs is a little 14-run rally to change the course of a baseball game. Chris Crighton contributed a double and a triple as Moon's American Legion baseball team scored 14 runs in the bottom of the fourth inning on its way to a 20-4 victory in the Allegheny County playoff tournament. Austin Sykes pitched a complete game to secure the victory. Moon, now 18-5, lost its first game in the tournament, but has won three consecutive elimination games on three consecutive nights. Moon will play Swissvale at 6 p.m. today in Bethel Park. The top three teams - the winner's bracket finalists and the losers bracket champion -in the tournament advance to regional competition. Moon needs to win two games to become the losers bracket champion. Kevin Lovely contributed four hits for Moon Area, including two singles in the fourth inning.

Moon 20, Pleasant Hills 4

PLEASANT HILLS - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 = 4 - 7 - 4

MOON TOWNSHIP - 0 - 0 - 3 - 14 - 0 - 3 - X = 20 - 17 - 2

Winner - Austin Sykes (7 inns.) 5 strikeouts, 1 walk. Losing pitcher - Perry Wright (4 inns.) 2 strikeouts, 3 walks. 2B - Chris Crighton (MT), Austin Sykes (MT), Kevin Lovely (MT), Joe Santucci (MT), Duane Compo (MT). 3B - Chris Crighton. 2 or more hits - Derek Compo, David Kuhn, Austin Sykes, Joe Santucci, Duane Compo, Kevin Lovely (MT) 4, Mahoney (PH)


Moon advances in Legion playoffs

7/23/2002

BETHEL PARK - Chris Crighton's three-run homer highlighted a six-run fourth inning that lifted the Moon Township American Legion baseball team to a 13-5 win over Mount Lebanon in an Allegheny County Legion losers' bracket game Monday. Crighton's homer was one of four for Moon, as Austin Sykes, Adrian Sykes and Derek Compo also went yard for the winners (17-5). Dan Weber picked up the victory on the mound. Moon will try to stay afloat again today when it plays Pleasant Hills at Fox Chapel at 6 p.m. No box score was available for this game.


Moon Twp. Legion team on five-game roll

7/17/2002

MCCANDLESS - Ryan Rinaldi has fueled a five-game winning streak for the Moon Township American Legion baseball team. Rinaldi contributed three hits and three RBIS as Moon claimed a 14-3 victory over North Allegheny Tuesday in an Ohio River League game. The victory pushed Moon's record to 14-4 1. In the past five games, Rinaldi has contributed 10 hits. Five of his six hits in the past three games have gone for extra bases. Against North Allegheny, Rinaldi contributed a two-run double as Moon scored eight runs in the first inning. He later added a run-scoring single and a leadoff triple. He also pitched a complete game, allowing three hits in five innings. Adrian Sykes finished with three hits, including a two-run single in the first inning and a run-scoring triple in the second inning. Ken Kniss also contributed three hits.

Moon Twp. 14, North Allegheny 3

MOON TOWNSHIP - 8 - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 = 14 - 12 - 2

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 0 - 2 - 0 - 1 - 0 = 3 - 3 - 3

Winner - Ryan Rinaldi (5 inns.) 5 strikeouts, 1 walk. Losing pitcher -Dobies (2 inns.) 2 strikeouts, 1 walk. 2B - Rinaldi (MT), Joe Santucci (MT), Ken Kniss (MT), 3B -Rinaldi (MT), Adrian Sykes (MT), Kniss (MT), HR - Hawes (NA), 2 or more hits - Rinaldi (MT) 3, Sykes (MT) 3, Kniss (MT) 3


Ohio River Legion - Santucci again leads Moon Legion

7/16/2002

MOON TWP. - Joe Santucci used a grand slam to fracture a 0-0 tie and send Moon Township to an 8-6 victory over Robinson in an Ohio River League American Legion game. Santucci finished with four hits, and Ryan Rinaldi added a two-run homer, as Moon pushed its record to 13-4-1.

Moon Township 8, Robinson 6

ROBINSON TWP. - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 4 - 1 = 6 - 7 - 0

MOON TOWNSHIP - 0 - 0 - 5 - 3 - 0 - 0 - x = 8 - 13 - 0

Winner - Dan Weber (7 inns.) 5 strikeouts, 5 hits. Loser - Shaw (3 inns.) 1 strikeout, 2 walks. 2B - Yost (RO), Coprich (RO), Rinaldi (MT), Derek Compo (MT), Duane Compo (MT). 3B - Campbell (RO). HR -Rinaldi (MT), Joe Santucci (MT). 2 or more - Yost (RO), Rafalski (RO),


Ohio River American Legion

Moon Twp. 6, Bellevue 3

MOON TWP. - David Cimato had two hits and two RBIs to key Moon's win. Duane Compo and Jeff Bradford each had two hits as well to back the six-hit pitching of Joe Santucci. Moon Twp. is now 12-4-1. Sorry there was no line score for this game.


Ohio River Legion - Moon 10, Westview/Ross 10

7/14/2002

MOON TWP. - Chris Crighton had four hits, including a home run, in a game stopped by darkness. Derek Compo hit a home run for Moon, while Adrian Sykes added three hits, including a triple. Moon is 11-4-1.

Moon 10, West View/Ross 10

WEST VIEW/ROSS - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 6 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 10 - 1

MOON TOWNSHIP - 2 - 2 - 1 - 1 - 0 - 3 - 1 = 10 - 17 - 2

Pitchers - Moon- Derek Compo(5 inns.) 4 strikeouts, 5 walks. W/R- Yokitis (7 inns.) 2 strikeout. 2B - Zangaro (WR), Rofano (WR), Yokitis (WR), Chris Crighton (M), Adrian Sykes (M), Ryan Rinaldi (M), Duane Compo (M), Joe Santucci (M). 3B - Adrian Sykes (M). HR - Derek Compo (M), Crighton (M), Zangaro (WR). 2-or-more hits - Mamula (WR), Erstine (WR), Zangaro (WR) Yokitis (WR), Derek Compo (M), Lovely (M), Rinaldi (M), Santucci (M), Adrian Sykes (M) 3, Crighton (M) 4


Ohio River Legion - Moon 7, Elliot 3

ELLIOT - Joe Santucci hit a bases-loaded triple in the top of the seventh inning to lead Moon. Santucci led Moon with three hits, while Austin Sykes picked up the win, striking out seven.

Moon 7, Elliot 3

MOON TWP. - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 4 = 7 - 10 - 1

ELLIOTT - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 2 = 3 - 9 - 0

Winner - Austin Sykes (7 inns.) 7 strikeouts, 1 walk. Loser - Staude (3 inns.) 2 walks. 2B - Conti (E), Carothers (E), Lapt (E), Capan (E), Kevin Lovely (M), Ryan Rinaldi (M), Sykes (M), Adrian Sykes (M). 3B - Joe Santucci (M) 2-or-more hits - Santucci (M) 3, Conti (E), Carothers (E) Capan (E).


Ohio River Legion - Moon Twp. 26, Brookline 4

MOON TWP. - Chris Crighton used four hits to drive in seven runs as Moon Township pushed its record to 10-3. Crighton had a run-scoring single and a two-run single in the first inning as Moon scored 16 runs. He added a two-run homer and a run-scoring triple in a game stopped after five innings by the 10-run rule. Dean Kraniou, the winning pitcher, hit a three-run homer, while Kevin Lovely added a triple and two singles.

Moon Township 26, Brookline 4

BROOKLINE - 0 - 2 - 2 - 0 - 0 = 4 - 5 - 4

MOON TOWNSHIP - 16 - 3 - 5 - 2 - x = 26 - 17 - 0

Winner - Dean Kraniou (4 inns.) 2 strikeouts, 2 walks. Losing pitcher - Kress (0 inns.) 0 strikeouts, 4 walks. 2B - Ladd (B) 2, 3B - Kevin Lovely (MT), Chris Crighton (MT), Joe Santucci (MT), HR - Crighton (MT), Kraniou (MT), 2 or more hits - Austin Sykes (MT) 2, Ryan Rinaldi (MT) 2, Scott Thompson (MT) 2, Santucci (MT), Lovely (MT) 3, Crighton (MT) 4, Ladd (B) 2, Zilch (B) 2


Ohio River Legion - Elliott 8, Moon 1

MOON TWP. - Moon Township (9-3) outhit Elliot 9-5, but Elliot (11-5) benefitted from seven Moon errors. All of Elliott's runs scored were unearned, as Moon only lost for the third time.

ELLIOTT 8, MOON TWP. 1

ELLIOTT - 0 - 3 - 1 - 4 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 8 - 5 - 1

MOON TWP. 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 1 - 9 - 7

Winner - Carothers (7 inns.) 6 strikeouts, 3 walks. Loser - Joe Santucci (4 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 4 walks. 2B - Derek Compo (M), Staude (E). 3B - none. HR - none. 2 or more hits - Compo 3, Chris Crighton (M).


Ohio River Legion - Moon 9, Keystone Oaks 4

MOON TWP. - Austin Sykes and Ryan Rinaldi launched home runs as Moon Township pushed its record to 9-2 in the Ohio River League. Rinaldi hit a two-run homer in the first inning and finished with three hits and three RBIs. Sykes added a two-run homer in the fifth inning. Scott Thompson, making his first start of the season, pitched a complete game with five strikeouts.

Moon 9, Keystone Oaks 4

KEYSTONE OAKS - 1 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 = 4 - 8 - 3

MOON TOWNSHIP - 3 - 0 - 4 - 0 - 2 - 0 - x = 9 - 9 - 3

Winner - Scott Thompson (7 inns.) 5 strikeouts, 5 walks. Losing pitcher -Kuchera (6 inns.) 6 strikeouts, 1 walk. 2B -David Kuhn (MT), Chris Crighton (MT), 3B -Crighton (MT), Joe Santucci (MT), HR -Austin Sykes (MT), Ryan Rinaldi (MT), 2 or more hits - Morris (KO), Irvine (KO), McCullom (KO) 3, Crighton (MT) 2, Rinaldi (MT) 3


Moon's Sykes launches two homers in victory

MOON TWP. - Austin Sykes is trying to make July as unforgettable as June in Moon Township. Sykes, a key contributor to Moon's PIAA baseball championship last month, started July by launching two home runs in a 12-2 victory over Crafton-Ingram-Thornburg Monday in an Ohio River League American Legion game. Sykes hit a three-run home run in the first inning and a solo home run in the sixth inning. He also had a single as Moon moved its record to 7-1. Pitcher Dan Weber earned the victory by striking out six batters in six innings. Chris Crighton contributed three hits, while Scott Thompson and Weber each produced two hits.

Moon 12, CIT 2

Craf-Ingr-Thorn - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 = 2 - 7 - 5

Moon Township - 5 - 1 - 3 - 1 - 0 - 2 = 12 - 13 - 2

Winner - Dan Weber (6 inns.) 6 strikeouts, 1 walk. Losing pitcher -Shapiro (4 inns.) 5 strikeouts, 2 walks. 2B - Chris Crighton (MT), Dan Weber (MT). HR - Austin Sykes (MT) 2. 2 or more hits - Bingham (CIT) 2, A. Smilth (CIT) 2, Scott Thompson (MT) 2, Weber (MT) 2, Sykes (MT) 3, Crighton (MT) 3


Ohio Valley Legion - Moon 13, Bellvue 0

BELLVUE - Joe Santucci (OLSH Top Gun) scattered three singles while striking out eight as Moon Township improved to 5-1.

Moon Twp. 13, Bellevue 0

Moon Twp. - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 7 - 4 = 13 - 17 - 0

Bellevue - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 = 0 - 3 - 2

Winner - Santucci (6 inns.) 8 strikeouts, 2 walks. Loser - Martin (6 inns.) 7 strikeouts, 4 walks. 3B - Derek Compo (MT), Cimato (MT). 2 or more hits - Derek Compo, Sykes (MT), Thompson (MT), Cimato 3, Kniss (MT) 3, Duane Compo (MT).


Ohio River Legion - Moon 7, Robinson 4

ROBINSON TWP. - David Cimato rang up eight strikeouts as Moon improved to 4-1. David Kuhn finished with three hits, including a double and a triple, while Ryan Rinaldi added a double. Chris Crighton had two hits and two RBIs for Moon.

Moon 7, Robinson 4

MOON TOWNSHIP. - 0 - 4 - 0 - 1 - 0 - 1 - 1 = 7 - 9 - 0

ROBINSON TWP. - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - 0 = 4 - 4 - 2

Winner - David Cimato (7 inns.) 8 strikeouts, 2 walks. Loser - Tachinski (4 inns.) 2 strikeout, 2 walks. 2B - Dafalski (R), Taslav (R), David Kuhn (M), Ryan Rinaldi (M), Dan Weber (M). 3B - Kuhn (M). HR - Taslov (R). 2-or-more hits - Taslov (R), Chris Crighton (M), Kuhn (M) 3.


Ohio River Legion - Moon splits

MOON TWP. - David Kuhn and Chris Crighton combined to contribute nine hits - including seven extra-base hits - over two games, but Moon Township emerged with a single victory. Moon Township lost to West View-Ross, 9-3, Monday after claiming a 17-5 victory over Brookline. Kuhn had three doubles and a single in the first game and a solo home run in the second game. Crighton had two home runs in the first game and a double in the second game. Ryan Rinaldi and Crighton had back-to-back home runs against Brookline.

Moon 17, Brookline 5

MOON TWP. - 3 - 3 - 1 - 3 - 0 - 0 - 7 = 17 - 17 - 1

BROOKLINE - 3 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 0 - 2 - x = 5 - 8 - 3

Winner - Dan Weber (7 inns.) 9 strikeouts, 1 walk. Losing pitcher - Mackey (5inns.) 7 strikeouts, 3 walks. 2B - Ryan Rinaldi (MT), David Kuhn (MT) 3, Flayko (B). HR - Rinaldi (MT) 1, Chris Crighton (MT) 2, Ladd (B). 2 or more hits -Flayko (B), O'Rourke (B), Joe Santucci (MT) 2, Dean Kraniou (MT) 2, Weber (MT) 2, Rinaldi (MT) 2, Crighton (MT) 3, Kuhn (MT) 4

West View-Ross 9, Moon 3

WEST VIEW/ROSS - 0 - 0 - 0 - 6 - 0 - 3 - 0 = 9 - 9 - 0

MOON TOWNSHIP - 0 - 0 - 0 - 1 - 2 - 0 - 0 = 3 - 5 - 3

Winner - Unavailable. Losing pitcher - Adrian Sykes (3 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 4 walks. 2B - Crighton (MT) 1. HR -Dave Kuhn (MT) 1. 2 or more hits - Scott Thompson (MT) 2, Havilla (WVR) 2.


Ohio Valley Legion - Moon 10, North Allegheny 9

MOON TWP. - David Kuhn's three-run double fueled a game-changing seven-run rally in the bottom of the fourth inning. Moon was trailing 5-2 when the inning started. Scott Thompson contributed two hits, and Derek Compo was the winning pitcher, as Moon pushed its record to 2-0.

Moon 10, No. Allegheny 9

NORTH ALLEGHENY - 1 - 2 - 0 - 2 - 0 - 0 - 4 = 9 - 9 - 2

MOON TOWNSHIP - 0 - 1 - 1 - 7 - 1 - 0 - x = 10 - 8 - 2

Winner - Compo (5 inns.) 3 strikeouts, 2 walks. Losing pitcher - Luffy (6 inns.) 5 strikeouts, 5 walks. 2B - Jurena (NA), Dobies (NA), Kuhn (MT), Cimato (MT), Compo (MT) . 2 or more hits - Jurena (NA) 3, Thompson (MT) 2.