High Schools - Philadelphia Electrical loses player, and game, in Class AAA playoff

Not only did Philadelphia Electrical and Technology Charter wind up short on runs. It could have used another player, as well.

PET yesterday fell to Blue Mountain, of Schuylkill Haven, 14-0, in five innings, in a PIAA Class AAA first-round playoff held at Ashburn Field, in South Philly, and its lineup featured just eight players for most of the final two frames.

Assistant Matt Pooler said reliever Luke Moscinski, after fielding a dribbler in the visiting fourth, was knocked almost unconscious by the batter's knee while reaching up to make a tag about two-thirds of the way up the first-base line.

Though the Chargers did have 10 players in uniform, coach Mark Olkowski already had subbed Aaron Casby for Anthony Digneo in rightfield to start the inning and, by rule, Digneo could not re-enter the lineup in Moscinski's spot.

Moscinski was due to lead off the bottom of the fourth. PET incurred an automatic out.

"We put Aaron in because the game was out of hand and we figured at least he'd be able to say he played in a state playoff," Pooler said. "Who thinks about somebody getting hurt bad enough that it's going to knock him out of the game?

"Though the umps said we couldn't put Anthony back in, they did say we could finish with eight. So, that's what happened. We thought about two outfielders, but we worried about gappers. We went with three infielders and flip-flopped according to righty or lefty batters."

Chuck Fitzgerald started on the mound for PET, and had to resume pitching after Moscinski's injury. The Chargers were limited to two hits, one apiece by Fitzgerald and Ricky Holmes.

In other playoffs:

* In Class AA, Prep Charter fell to Pine Grove, 11-1, in five innings, in a game played at Blue Mountain. PC jumped to 1-0 lead in the first as Kyle Stanon walked, moved up on a sac by losing pitcher Sam Shipley and scored on Sean McGovern's RBI single.

* In Class A, at Ashburn Field, Girard Academic Music Program was humbled by Christopher Dock, 16-1, in six innings. The visitors scored eight in the sixth. The Pioneers collected five hits (all singles). They scored in the fifth as Dom Raia singled and later came around on Nick Coppola's hit. Foster McKoskey took the loss. *