MONROEVILLE — Knoch was primed to advance, but it couldn't advance a runner.

The Knights' baseball season ended Wednesday with a 1-0 WPIAL Class AAA playoff loss to Elizabeth Forward at Gateway High.

"We were in position. We just never got the big hit," Knoch coach Curt Schnur said. "Stellar pitching was the story of this game."

And how.

Elizabeth Forward began the day averaging nine runs a game while Knoch averaged seven. On Wednesday, the teams combined for six singles and one unearned run in a game that was played in 90 minutes.

The Warriors scored in the bottom of the first inning when Mike Pohodich reached on an infield error, stole second and came home on a Buddy Wilson single that eluded diving shortstop Mac Megahan.

"It's a good thing we pushed that run across when we did because both of those pitchers were tough," EF coach Frank Champ said.

Winning pitcher Dan Altavilla recorded a two-hitter, striking out eight consecutive batters during his first trip through Knoch's batting order. The Knights fanned only once the remainder of the game.

Altavilla threw 84 pitches — 56 for strikes — and faced three batters over the minimum. The junior right-hander retired the side on 12 or fewer pitches five times in seven innings.

The Knights made some noise in the fourth and fifth innings. Nathan Junk walked to open the fourth and Andrew Wirtz reached on an infield error. Cullen Hinderliter popped to short and Dale Gallo grounded sharply into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Robert Zanella was hit by a pitch to begin the fifth and Marcus Cashell singled to right for the Knights' first hit. When the ball stopped in the high outfield grass, Zanella beat the throw to third while Cashell took second on that throw.

Alas, Megahan popped to the mound, Zane Voltz flied out to shallow center and John DeWalt struck out.

Altavilla entered the game with a 6-1 record, a 2.00 earned run average and 57 strikeouts in 35 innings.

"He was faster than our hitters thought, but our guys adjusted and began putting the bat on the ball," Schnur said. "We couldn't get to (Altavilla) when we needed to."

Hinderliter didn't do a bad job of pitching, either.

Knoch's senior right-hander threw 89 pitches — 47 over the final four innings — in keeping the game close. He also was pitching with a heavy heart after the death of his grandfather Saturday.

"I was really close to him," Hinderliter said. "He always came to watch me play. He would have been here today. It was sad not having him here."

Hinderliter struck out five and survived four walks. He also overcame a bruised foot after being hit by a line drive during his last mound appearance. Hinderliter was on crutches last week.

"I never had any doubt I'd be able to pitch today," he said.

"Cullen overcame a lot today," Schnur said. "It shows the character of that kid. If we get another hit in that fifth inning, he's the story everyone's talking about."

Elizabeth Forward won its first WPIAL playoff game in 27 years after claiming its first baseball section title in nearly 30 seasons.

"Their guy gave us fits," Champ said of Hinderliter. "He had us off-balance, hitting off our front foot all day. We were very fortunate to get past him."

Elizabeth Forward plays the winner of today's Trinity-Laurel Highlands game in the next round.

Knoch says goodbye to nine seniors: Cashell, Zanella, Wirtz, Hinderliter, Gallo, Voltz, DeWalt, Justin Wolford and Sam Stone. Stone suffered as season-ending knee injury early in the spring.

Knoch 000 000 0 — 0 2 1Elizabeth Forward 100 000 x — 1 4 1W: Dan Altavilla 7IP (9K, 1BB).

L: Cullen Hinderliter 6IP (5K, 4BB).

Knoch (11-9): Dale Gallo 1B, Marcus Cashell 1B

Elizabeth Forward (17-4): Buddy Wilson 2-1B RBI, Dylan Wassel 1B, Louis Simon 1B