Jun 3, 2010 By Adam Brewer for The 4 min read

WASHINGTON – Sometimes in the postseason, the strangest things can happen, and in the WPIAL Class A baseball consolation game, strange was very commonplace. But, despite the strange nature of the game, California is glad it’s over, as the Trojans will make their fifth appearance in the state playoffs after a 5-4 victory over Vincentian Academy at Ross Memorial Park on Wednesday.

Pitcher T.D. Conway might have had the weirdest stat line, as he was credited with win and the save.

Conway started the do-or-die playoff game and pitched three scoreless innings, allowing only two hits with a free pass and a strikeout, while holding a 5-0 lead.

Zac Edmiston relieved Conway, and threw the next two innings with the shutout still intact for the Trojans (21-3).

In the sixth, Hartman called upon Tommy Sparrow to take the hill, but the Royals’ (14-10) bats awoke and were able to cash in on their scoring chances.

After Sparrow induced a groundout, he loaded the bases up with a double, a walk and a hit batsman.

Catcher Samuel Luketich came in to relieve Sparrow after the bags were juiced and yielded a fielder’s choice that got Vincentian on the board.

Luketich walked the next batter, and then California’s defense made a fielding error that allowed another run to make it 5-2.

The Royals’ Mike Darby smashed a two-run single to trim the Trojans’ lead to 5-4.

“Our plan coming into the game was to use three or so pitchers,” California skipper Don Hartman said. “They are a great baseball team with a lot of guys hitting above .400, so our game plan was to throw a lot of pitchers out there and have them throw some change-ups.”

In the most unusual of circumstances with the California bullpen empty, Hartman elected to go back with, as he was remained in the game, playing first and third base after his pitching duties.

Conway, who was not allowed any warm-up pitches because he has already pitched, was able to get out the inning after a fly out to left field.

“I give a lot of credit to T.D.,” Hartman said. “In that situation, and only being a sophomore, he showed a lot of poise. In my 18 years, I don’t think I ever had to put a kid back into pitch after starting the game. That situation doesn’t get any tougher, coming back into pitch without having a chance to throw warm-up pitches in a critical part of the game with runners on. He’s that type of kid you can put his back against the wall.”

In the seventh, Conway got two quick outs, but after a double and a passed ball, he had the game-tying run just 90 feet away.

Once again, Conway and the Trojans showed their mental toughness and recorded the last out after a hard-hit ball to left field for the final out.

“It was probably the weirdest game I ever played in,” Conway said. “I was nervous when I got back into the game; I didn’t think you could do that. Our pitching staff was strong this year, and our pitching coach showed a lot of confidence in us. That’s the most positions I ever played in one game, but I’m just happy to make the state playoffs.”

The Trojans scored all five of their runs in the bottom of the opening frame as their first six batters reached base.

D.J. Martinak led off with a bloop single, followed by three consecutive infield singles by Dakota Conway, Edmiston and Preston Shaw.

T.D. Conway had a bases-loaded walk that plated another run to make it 3-0.

Two batters later, Mike Britton had the biggest hit of the inning when he hit a double down the third base line that just went past the third basemen’s glove to drive in two runs.

“Its no secret that we are a small ball team,” Hartman said. “When we get guys on base, we are going to try to get those guys moving. We had a couple of seeing-eye singles and made the most of some breaks that went our way. I take anything we can get, I don’t care if it’s home runs or bunts or errors or anything.”

California will now play in the PIAA playoffs starting Monday as a lower seed, playing the District 10 champion.