May 6, 2006 By Dan Wozniak For The 3 min read

Waynesburg Central entered Friday’s Section 2-AA game against visiting Washington with much on the line. The Raiders were in a four-way tie for second place and, with a victory, would have tied the Prexies for first place.

The game was originally scheduled for Wednesday, but was rescheduled because of rain, and the extra time paid off for Washington, which earned an 8-5 victory at Madison Field at Meadowland Park for its fourth win in a row.

Waynesburg (7-8, 5-5) began the game well and in complete control, scoring two runs on five hits in the second inning.

On the defensive side, Raiders pitcher Cory Tichenell and company started out strong as well with no runs or hits in the first three innings.

Washington (8-5, 6-3), however, gained momentum in the fourth when Tichenell found himself in a jam with the bases loaded and none out. The Prexies capitalized and brought in three runs in taking a 3-2 lead.

Raiders coach Brad Monas didn’t panic when his starter struggled.

“Cory was showing me throughout the game that he still had good stuff in his pitches, so we stuck with him,” said Monas.

Washington was able to extend its lead to 8-2 thanks to solid hitting and a solid performance by a pair of pitchers in senior Bob Hasson and junior Evans. The two combined to allow 10 hits, five runs and six strikeouts in seven innings.

“We have come a long way since our first part of the season,” said Washington coach Bob Peton. “We really are making some great strides and coming along well offensively.”

Trailing by six runs in the bottom of the seventh, the Raiders put together a rally.

With men on first and second and one out, star catcher Mitch Monas smashed a pitch from Evans over the right field fence, hitting the scoreboard and bringing life back into the Raiders’ dugout.

Monas finished the game just shy of a cycle. He was absent a single in the game, but went a solid three-for-four with four RBIs.

The Prexies were able to keep their composure and seal the victory in the next few pitches, but as the playoffs approach, Peton continues to worry about his pitching staff.

“I lost my two pitchers in the middle of our rotation for the rest of the season due to arm strains and injuries. We will have to use these two guys for the majority of the rest of our games,” said Peton. “We will struggle with that because it is natural to get tired, but we will continue to make the situation the best we can.”

Washington holds a one-half game lead over Charleroi with the Raiders, Southmoreland, Brownsville and Beth-Center all one game behind.

Waynesburg still controls its own destiny with games next week against Burgettsotwn and Brownsville.

“Every game in this particular section is a like a playoff game,” said coach Monas. “And we will continue to treat each opponent that way.”