JEFFERSON TWP — Knoch High School baseball’s success on the field speaks for itself.

The Knights won the state championship in 2015 and the program produces winning seasons on a regular basis. And they’ve done it all without the benefit of having a middle school program as a feeder system.

Until now.

Through the relentless efforts of a group of parents, Knoch Middle School is fielding a baseball team for the first time this spring. The Knights are playing as a club team with hopes of becoming an official sport in the school district in a couple of years.

“We have a lot happening in our district right now,” Knoch athletic director Kurt Reiser said. “We have our building project, stadium renovation, switching to artificial turf ... There’s no funding available to start a middle school baseball program at this time.

“But these kids have been playing ball together for a long time. Their parents really wanted this and were willing to develop the funding for it. It was important to this group to be able to play under their school name. They showed the passion to get it done and we fully support that.”

The team consists of 13 eighth-graders and three seventh-graders — and they’re pretty good. Knoch began this season by defeating Pine-Richland, Hampton, Woodland Hills, North Hills and Deer Lakes (twice) by the combined score of 62-13.

Knoch’s first loss was a 5-4 decision to Plum on Thursday. The Knights play their home games at Laura Doerr Park.

“We’ve got a lot of pitchers. Our pitching has been tremendous,” Knoch coach Troy McCurdy said.

The mound staff includes a 6-foot-10 hurler, Zane Pacek. Cooper Allison and Hunter Lang are other starters. Pitching depth comes from Danny Simons, Alex Eddy, Landon Harrison, Kaden Dreher, David Breese, Brady Linamen and Kyle Morgan. The team averages 10 stolen bases per game.

Cooper and Ryan McCurdy hit back-to-back homers recently against North Hills. Dylan Roth scored a run against Deer Lakes by faking out the catcher at the plate.

“This is a heady group of kids,” Coach McCurdy said. “They know each other so well and they enjoy playing ball together. They’re thrilled about this team being put together.

“We’ve got a bunch of kids who can play multiple positions. They’re really into baseball.”

Danny, Evan Fink, Easton Fundark and Landon Harrison are among the players who routinely play different positions. Rocco DeLeonardis, a catcher, helps coach first base while recovering from a knee injury.

Area businesses have donated money to help fund the team. McCurdy and three other fathers of current players — Mike Peloni, Ben Allison and Nick Dreher — are the volunteer coaches.

“It’s not ideal, having fathers as coaches, but we’re able to have a team this way,” Coach McCurdy said. “Hopefully, the team becomes an official school sport at some point soon and a paid coach can be hired to run the program.

“At least we’ve gotten it started.”

Dante Pelloni is one of the top hitters on the team.

Coach McCurdy said Reiser has been supportive of the team, helping it out with scheduling, bus availability and other things.

“They’ve gotten a team started and that’s important,” Reiser said. “Parents in this district have always been very supportive. Middle school baseball will operate as a club team for a short time so we can see if the program can sustain itself.

“This was a group of parents who united together to get something done for the kids. We all appreciate that.”