Shady Side Academy baseball team has two-week layoff
Many of the players on the Shady Side Academy baseball team have waited much of their lives for a chance at a state championship. Waiting 14 days to begin fulfilling that dream won't seem like too long of a layoff.
Two weeks after losing in the WPIAL Class AA semifinals, the Indians (17-3) play Saegertown 10:30 a.m. today at Slippery Rock University. The Panthers (22-1) are coming off an 8-4 victory against Titusville last week.
Last season, Saegertown defeated a team that had lost in the WPIAL semifinals (Laurel) in the first round of the PIAA playoffs. Saegertown eventually lost to WPIAL champion Riverside in the PIAA quarterfinals.
It was Riverside that ended Shady Side Academy's WPIAL tournament run in a 2-1 semifinal victory May 21.
"The key is mental," Indians coach Bob Grandizio said. "Getting in the right mindset is everything. I coach football and wrestling here, too, and in all three sports I see the 'WPIAL hangover.' I've also seen it in basketball -- you name it.
"We all gear up for this WPIAL thing and get all fired up about it, and by the time we get to the state playoffs, you're kind of cashed out. We want to make sure we're not one of those teams. We'll keep it in perspective that the ultimate goal is a state championship."
The winner of the Saegertown-Shady Side Academy game will play the winner of today's Ellwood City-North Star game Thursday in the quarterfinals.
Two weeks after losing in the WPIAL Class AA semifinals, the Indians (17-3) play Saegertown 10:30 a.m. today at Slippery Rock University. The Panthers (22-1) are coming off an 8-4 victory against Titusville last week.
Last season, Saegertown defeated a team that had lost in the WPIAL semifinals (Laurel) in the first round of the PIAA playoffs. Saegertown eventually lost to WPIAL champion Riverside in the PIAA quarterfinals.
It was Riverside that ended Shady Side Academy's WPIAL tournament run in a 2-1 semifinal victory May 21.
"The key is mental," Indians coach Bob Grandizio said. "Getting in the right mindset is everything. I coach football and wrestling here, too, and in all three sports I see the 'WPIAL hangover.' I've also seen it in basketball -- you name it.
"We all gear up for this WPIAL thing and get all fired up about it, and by the time we get to the state playoffs, you're kind of cashed out. We want to make sure we're not one of those teams. We'll keep it in perspective that the ultimate goal is a state championship."
The winner of the Saegertown-Shady Side Academy game will play the winner of today's Ellwood City-North Star game Thursday in the quarterfinals.
baseball