Xtra Points: Plum baseball on historical run – Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A spot in history is now within the sights of the Plum baseball team. It’s a “perfect” spot for the Mustangs — right next to Joe Namath.

You may ask what in the name of Broadway Joe would a WPIAL baseball team have in common with a Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback? It’s about a baseball story with the perfect ending.

Plum finished the regular season 19-0. The WPIAL playoffs start next week and Plum could accomplish something that hasn’t been done in the WPIAL in 55 years, since Namath and his buddies were ruling the baseball diamonds at Beaver Falls High School.

The WPIAL started having classifications for baseball in 1979. Since then, only five teams have won WPIAL championships with a perfect record, but never in the highest classification. Before 1979, WPIAL teams were in one classification. So, the last team to win a WPIAL title with an undefeated record in the largest classification was Beaver Falls in 1961. Namath was one of the stars of the team and had two hits in the title game when Beaver Falls beat Elizabeth Forward, 4-1, at Forbes Field (Bill Robinson, who would win a World Series with the Pirates 18 years later, played for Elizabeth Forward).

Don’t think that this chance for history is lost on this group of Plum teenagers. The Mustangs had no idea about the possibility until a few days ago. When star senior outfielder Alex Kirilloff found out Monday night, he immediately sent a group text to his teammates and coaches.

“When he sent that text out, I think it raised some eyebrows because the kids are talking about it now,” said Plum coach Carl Vollmer. “Without a doubt this adds some extra motivation because it can create a little legacy for us. It’s something they can talk about at their 30-year class reunion. It has the potential to be something very special.”

It says here that Plum will make history with a perfect WPIAL playoff run. Kirilloff is projected to be a first-round draft pick as an outfielder, but his pitching has also been stellar for the Mustangs. Plum would need to win four games to win the championship and Kirilloff could pitch three of those four games. Plus, Plum has a lot more talent to go along with Kirilloff.

“The reason it has not been done in 50-some years is because it’s not an easy thing to do,” said Vollmer. “In one-and-done baseball, you just have to be the best team for that one day. It doesn’t matter what you did in the past. It comes down to pitching on that one day.I think we have enough ingredients to possibly win it. I think we have done enough to have the confidence to do it.”

About Namath and baseball

While Namath went on to quarterback stardom, he was an outstanding basketball and baseball player at Beaver Falls. In fact, Namath has said in numerous stories over the years that he initially wanted to play baseball after high school, but his mother wanted him to go to college. So, off he went to the University of Alabama and became a football star and later won a Super Bowl.

But Namath was so good in baseball at Beaver Falls that the Chicago Cubs reportedly offered him $50,000 to sign in 1961. That was a lot of money back then. 

More history

The WPIAL baseball committee meets today to make playoff pairings and seedings. Neshannock is the defending WPIAL Class AA champion and could be the No. 1 seed. Another WPIAL title could put coach Mike Kirkwood in legendary status.

Kirkwood has won five WPIAL titles. The only other coach known to win six was Abby Fallquist, who coached McKeesport from the late 1920s into the 1960s.

But Kirkwood isn’t the only one associated with Neshannock who could make history. Last Friday, senior pitcher Frank Fraschetti became only the sixth player in WPIAL history to win 30 career games. Two more wins would tie Fraschetti (30-4) for second on the all-time list. The all-time WPIAL leader is Jared Lapkowicz, a 2005 Carmichaels graduate who was 38-4.

$62 million stadium

Imagine if a school district in the Pittsburgh area approved a plan to build a $62.8 million high school stadium. It would be crazy. Well, Texas high school football is that crazy.

The McKinney School District in Texas will build a $62 million stadium that will seat 12,000 and be home to three high schools in the district. But it’s not just that the school district wanted to build a stadium. Voters in the town of McKinney recently voted to pass a bond that, in part, approved the building of the stadium.

But this is not that unusual for Texas high school football. Allen High School is only a few miles away from McKinney and has a $60 million stadium that holds 18,000. Katy High is also planning to build a $62 million stadium.

Mike White: mwhite@post-gazette.com and Twitter @mwhiteburgh.