Staff writer
jmontecalvo@observer-reporter.com
Ron Mitko hadn't been used as a starting pitcher for Washington & Jefferson College baseball team very often over the last two years.
Mitko plays first base, the outfield and even took over the role of closer last year. His last start came in the championship game of last year's Presidents' Athletic Conference tournament.
So with the PAC title - and a possible berth in the NCAA Division III Tournament - on the line, head coach Jeff Mountain again gave the ball to Mitko. It was the fourth game of the double-elimination tournament for the Presidents and Mountain simply wanted Mitko to pitch as many quality innings as possible before bringing in a reliever.
But Mountain never had to go to his bullpen.
Mitko pitched a complete-game two-hitter and the Presidents captured their second consecutive PAC title with a 6-0 win over Thiel Saturday at Ross Memorial Park. It is W&J's third conference championship in four years.
"That's one of the most clutch pitching performances, given the circumstances and what was at stake," Mountain said. "That was a legendary postseason performance."
The Tomcats forced a second and deciding game in the championship round with a 6-4 victory over the Presidents in the first game of the day. W&J's Justin Benson, a Chartiers-Houston graduate, tied the game, 4-4, in the fifth inning with a solo home run, but Thiel scored a run in the sixth and another in the eighth for the win.
The final game, however, belonged to Mitko.
The left-hander effectively mixed pitches and got 17 outs via the groundball. He struck out four and faced only four batters over the minimum of 27.
"I really didn't expect to go all nine so I was giving it my all every inning and hoping not to die out," said Mitko, a senior. "I threw a lot of changeups and (catcher) Warren Stowe called a great game behind the plate."
The Presidents (31-13) were led offensively by Sam Mann. The senior went 3-for-4, scored three runs and hit a solo homer in the third. Jim Pasquine had a two-run double in the fifth and, along with second baseman Chris Varacallo, drove home a run in the first.
Mitko, meanwhile, got some help from his defense.
In the fourth inning, Varacallo prevented a Thiel (30-15) run by ranging to his right to corral a chopper and get the final out at first base. In the fifth, Shaun Pfeil made a diving stop at third base and threw out Chris Dunham. And W&J turned a key double play in the sixth.
"Ron Mitko came out and pitched a gem, and he deserves all the credit," Pfeil said. "Our eyes are really more on the NCAA tournament than anything. We looked at (the PAC) as if we should win it. This is just a step to get where we want to be."
Qualifying for the NCAA tournament is something W&J has been working toward the last four years. The 53-team field will be announced early Monday morning.
"It's special to win three (PAC) championships in four years," Mitko said. "But our ultimate goal is to make the NCAA tournament. It would be real rewarding."
The conference does not have an automatic bid, but even if W&J is doesn't receive a berth, the Presidents - especially the seniors - can certainly have reason to be proud. W&J has three 30-win seasons in a row and has been in the PAC tournament final round each of the last four years.
"I give these guys a lot of credit," Mountain said. "To be in a position where you don't have an automatic bid, every game counts. It puts that much pressure on every game and it's very difficult.
"The seniors have had a piece of or won both of the conference championships (regular season and tournament) in all four of their years. What a legacy."