Trib HSSN diamond team of the week – Indiana Little Indians baseball

Coach – Dan Petroff (third year)

Records – Indiana clinched a share of the Section 3-4A championship with Valley with a 8-2 record. The Little Indians are 15-4 overall this season.

#Earned – Indiana made history last season in reaching the WPIAL and PIAA Class 4A championship games for a second straight year.

The Little Indians lost in both the district and state title games in 2024 to North Catholic and Holy Ghost Prep respectively.

Then last spring in one of the craziest postseason runs, Indiana went the distance again, beating Elizabeth Forward in the WPIAL title game and edging Montoursville in the PIAA championship for double gold.

Along the way, the Little Indians played in four extra-inning games, totaling 21 extra innings or the equivalent of three additional games, and won them all.

They became only the third District 7 team this century to reach the WPIAL and PIAA title games two consecutive years, winning at least half of those four championship contests.

The other two were Serra Catholic in 2009 and 2010 in Class A and Riverside in 2011 and 2012 in 2A.

Can the tribe make it three straight district and/or state title game appearances?

On Friday, they were awarded the No. 1 seed in the 2026 postseason in Class 4A.

Indiana is 15-4 this season and finished tie for first place in Section 3 with Valley. The two split their section series to conclude section play two weeks ago.

Last week, Indiana was in stay sharp mode with four nonsection contests, including a loss to Class 6A top-seeded Butler.

The Little Indians were 3-1 last week as they prep for the defense of their two crowns.

Standout performers – On Monday in a walk-off win over Armstrong, senior Charlie Manzi, the hero of the 2025 WPIAL title game win over Elizabeth Forward with a dramatic 11th-inning golden home run, was 3 for 4 with a double and two RBIs.

He also picked up the win in relief with two scoreless innings.

Senior Ethan Shank was 2 for 2 with a double, and senior Sully VanHoose had a run-scoring double.

Junior Brady Oakes enjoyed a big game in the regular season finale against Gateway.

Oakes was 2 for 4 at the plate with an RBI. He also picked up the win on the mound, allowing only three hits.

Shank and junior Shane McGugh combined for three hits, a double, a triple and two runs batted in as the Little Indians knocked off the Gators.

Indiana will have to continue to stay sharp in scrimmages.

With the first-round bye in the 4A postseason tournament, the Little Indians won’t hit the playoff field until May 18 when they play the winner of the first round game between No. 8 Knoch and No. 9 Blackhawk.

2026 Trib HSSN Diamond Teams of the Week

Week 5 – Elizabeth Forward Warriors baseball

Week 4 – Thomas Jefferson Jaguars softball

Week 3 – Thomas Jefferson Jaguars baseball

Week 2 – North Allegheny Tigers softball

Week 1 – Eden Christian Academy Warriors baseball