The Moniteau High baseball team had to wait five days for a chance to win the first District 9 title in school history.

The Warriors will have to wait a little longer.

Redbank Valley pinch hitter Nolan Sovik hit a two-out, two-run double off the right field wall at Pullman Park on an 0-2 inside fastball to give the Bulldogs a dramatic 5-4 win Saturday afternoon.

It is Redbank Valley's second consecutive District 9 Class AA title.

The game was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but because of rain and a graduation, it was moved back to Saturday at Pullman Park — the fourth different scheduled day and third different scheduled venue.

It was a painful loss for a young Moniteau team that was one strike away from punching its ticket to the PIAA playoffs, which begin Monday.

"To be that close, to be one strike away from the first district title in school history," said Moniteau coach Ross Martin, "it's tough. It hurts."

It looked like the Warriors would cruise to the title.

Moniteau scored three runs in the top of the second inning on just one hit, but it was a big one. No. 8 hitter Jay Wiles lashed a two-run triple and scored on a RBI groundout by Joe Stiner.

It appeared three runs would be plenty for Moniteau pitcher Zach Wheeler, who worked quickly, threw strikes and was dominant for five innings.

But Redbank Valley (11-5) scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning off Wheeler to cut the lead to 4-3.

Wheeler got the first out of the seventh on his first pitch of the inning, but gave up consecutive singles, then a fielder's choice groundout to set up Sovik's heroics.

Sovik swung and missed the first pitch, then fouled off the second before the biggest hit of his career.

"Nolan is a free swinger," said Redbank Valley coach Dustin Merwin. "He's one of the guys I know I can count on off the bench. I knew he would put the ball in play. If they were going to beat us, I wanted their defense to do it."

There was no defense for his clutch hit that soared over the glove of Moniteau right fielder Mike Saper and off the wall.

Sovik was carried off the field.

Come-from-behind wins are old hat for the Bulldogs this season, Merwin said.

"I can't even remember us being ahead late in a game," the coach quipped. "When we were down, I told the guys we have two innings left. We've been here before."

Moniteau was trying to go where no Warrior team had gone before.

"It's not a case of Zach making a bad pitch," Martin said. "He made a good pitch. The kid just hit it. You have to tip your cap to him. Zach has been one of the more dominant pitchers in the league the second half of the season and he did a heck of a job today. He's frustrated right now. We all are."

Despite the loss, the Warriors are squinting into a bright future.

Most of the team returns next season for another run.

"The future looks very bright," Martin said. "We have a lot of kids back and a lot of freshmen who didn't play much who will be ready next season.

"We're excited, but a win here today would have gone a long way toward making us even more excited," Martin added. "The coaches are proud of them and the community is proud of them."

Moniteau 030 010 0 — 4 5 2Redbank Valley 010 002 2 — 5 9 2(Two out when winning run scored)W: Kent Schick (7 IP) 2 K, 2 BB.

L: Zach Wheeler (6 2/3 IP) 2 K, 1 BB.

Moniteau (9-7): Zane Slater 2B; Dakota Campbell 2-1B; Jay Wiles 3B, 2-RBI; Joe Stiner 2B, RBI

Redbank Valley (11-5): Brandon Bain 1B; Schick 3-1B; Nolan Sovik 2B, 2-RBI; Justin Radaker 2-1B; Kevin Doverspike 2B, RBI