Neighboring rivals Riverside, Ellwood City play for title

Chris Adamski previews the upcoming WPIAL Class-AA title baseball game between Ellwood City and Riverside:

"It was a late afternoon, the first Monday in May.

But in Ellwood City, it was virtually autumn's Friday Night Lights.

When Ellwood City's Lincoln High School baseball team played host to Riverside High School -- its neighboring district (the schools are located 2.9 miles apart) -- on May 7, fans turned out in numbers and with enthusiasm that would rival many high school football games in Western Pennsylvania.

"It was like going to a Friday night football game," Ellwood City coach Jeff Fotia said. "There were more people there at a regular-season game than at any of the playoff games [this past week]."

"The Steel Valley coach [Tim Vickers] was up here scouting us, and he said he never saw an atmosphere like that for a high school baseball game," Fotia added."