Eagles, Trojans set for showdown in Altoona

Vinny Pezzimenti

As of late Tuesday afternoon, Bald Eagle Area second baseman Dillon Schall knew very little about Mount Union, the Eagles' opponent in the District 6 Class AA championship game.

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Except for one thing. “I hear,” Schall said, “that they have pretty good pitching.” Schall heard correctly.

For as well as BEA ace A.J. Robinson has thrown this postseason, Mount Union’s Brock Goodling is nearly matching him pitch for pitch. Robinson is 7-0 on the season and has nearly been unhittable of late. Goodling is 10-0 and has been just as untouchable.

It all sets up for a compelling title game meeting today (6 p.m.) at Altoona’s Blair County Ballpark.

But there is more to these teams than pitching.

The sixth-seeded Eagles (15-8) have won six straight games and 11 of their last 13. They’ve outscored their three playoff opponents 41-0 combined.

The top-seeded and unbeaten Trojans (20-0) received a first-round playoff bye before trouncing Philipsburg- Osceola 15-0 and slipping by Central 2-0. They’ve outscored opponents 172-15 this season.

Many of the players from both teams played against one another as 16-year olds in VFW baseball. Robinson said they split two games that year.

Beyond that, both teams have been there and done that.

BEA, the reigning district champion, is making a third straight title-game appearance and won a state title in 2007. Mount Union is seeking its seeking its 16th district championship and has won three state titles under 36-year coach Nick Imperioli.

Both teams have also already clinched PIAA tournament berths.

Summing up the numbers and tradition, Robinson unveiled one caveat.

“I don’t think it’s about records,” he said. “I think it’s who wants it more.”

BEA coach Jim Gardner hasn’t seen Mount Union play, but has been given scouting reports from those who have. One common theme prevails: The Trojans like to play small ball. That means lots of bunting and hit and run.

“We’re getting physically and mentally prepared for that kind of approach,” Gardner said.

Because of Robinson’s dominance, the Eagles haven’t had to worry much about opponents’ strategy at the plate lately. The senior left-hander is riding a 27-inning scoreless streak that dates back to May 2.

“He’s just getting stronger,” Gardner said. “His confidence is getting stronger.”

Robinson has thrown in every postseason game, although he only came on for one inning of relief in the first round against Central Cambria. He then no-hit Bell-wood- Antis in a five-inning game before limiting Westmont Hilltop to four hits and no runs in a semifinal victory two days later.

He said throwing over the winter, when he didn’t wrestle, primed his arm for short rests.

“I’ve been throwing all winter and preparing myself to go seven innings or to go five innings, then go two days, and pitch a full game,” Robinson said.

On days after pitching, Robinson has utilized what he calls, “mini bullpen” sessions, where he throws from 30 feet away “just to keep the blood moving.”

“It’s been working, though Gardner will yell at me,” Robinson said. “He’ll yell at me to quit throwing and stuff.”

Robinson has also mixed in ice and Ibuprofen to keep the arm strong.

“It’s the best it has felt in a long time actually,” he said.

Maybe even more important than arm durability, Gardner said Robinson has become more of a thinking man’s pitcher than the one in recent years, when he almost exclusively relied on his heavy fastball to retire hitters.

“He’s become a really intelligent pitcher,” Gardner said. “He doesn’t just try to throw the ball by people. He hits his spots with all of his pitches.

“As you advance through the playoffs, all that stuff is really important to keep them off balance. As we progress here, everybody is going to be able to hit a fastball. You have to be able to get those other pitches over. He’s proven that he can do that consistently.”

Goodling is just a sophomore who went 7-1 as a freshman. He has allowed just four postseason hits, one to P-O and three to Central.

“I don’t know a lot about him. He sounds like a Luke Curtis-type pitcher,” Robinson said in reference to the hard-throwing P-O ace that BEA beat twice during the regular season. “I don’t think it’s anything we haven’t seen this year.”