Trafford Junior Legion baseball wins Westmoreland County title

Trafford Junior Legion team captured the Westmoreland Junior League title July 16 by defeating 14th Ward (Woodland Hills), 6-1.

Trafford combined a strong pitching performance by Dom Delio and the clutch hitting of Evan Gigliotti to pull out the win.

Delio took a perfect game into the seventh inning before Jayson Peters broke it up with a single to center field.

He struck out 10 before Gigliotti came in to get the final out. He allowed two singles.

“Dom was unbelievable,” Trafford coach Steve Freas said. “He was on and so calm from the time he got to the field.

“He’s pitched in a lot of big games and was so confident. He didn’t want to come out.”

Gigliotti broke the game opened with a two-run double to highlight a four-run fourth inning. Peyton Mastro (walk) and Jordan White (hit by pitch) added the other two RBIs in the inning.

Caleb Kerstetter drove in a run in the third inning and Ben Grabowski clubbed a home run over the left field fence.

Kerstetter, Grabowski and Delio each had two hits for Trafford.

Trafford, previously known as Penn Township, was scheduled to start play in the Western Regional at Homer City on July 19, where it was to open up against undefeated Saint Marys.

Trafford has played in three consecutive regional championship games.

Freas was scheduled to miss the regional because of a planned vacation.

“We’re looking to make four in a row,” Freas said. “We want to win the regional again.

“We have a strong pitching staff and have good balance.”

Freas said Gigliotti has been both solid on the mound and in the field. He’s also come up with key hits.

Catcher Caleb Kerstetter is another player having a solid season.

“Caleb is coming into his own,” Freas said. “He was at a summer camp the night of the championship game and had his mother pick him up and get him to the game. He’s developed into a special player.”

Grabowski is another player having a good season at the plate and on the mound. The Penn-Trafford rising sophomore has a live arm.

Penn-Trafford high school baseball coach Lou Cortazzo said he’s touched the upper 80s this summer.

Trafford (15-1) has won 15 consecutive games after dropping the opener 1-0 to Plum.

Other players contributing include Bryce Ruby (first baseman/pitcher) and Jordan White (shortstop/centerfielder).

Ruby is one of the top hitters and White has been the table-setter in the lead-off spot.

Trafford’s ultimate goal is to get back to the state tournament, which begins July 27 at Homer City.

Penn Township won the state title in 2021.