HERMAN - Summit Academy 14, Pittsburgh East Christian 7.

The score meant little to anybody. Even Summit Academy's players didn't quite catch the significance.

It was a victory - the first and only one in the eight-year history of the Knights' baseball program.

"The kids were aware of our winless record," said Summit Academy varsity coach John McCloud said. "We talked about it with them all the time. We stressed it.

"They were excited to win, to be sure, but that's not why we play baseball. We play to have fun, but these guys are the first to ever win a game here," he added.

The Knights lost more than 100 games over eight seasons without a win before finally defeating Pittsburgh East Christian - which has a boys softball team - two weeks ago.

Instead of wins on the scoreboard, Summit Academy emphasizes wins within the game. Playing two scoreless innings against Mars, scoring six runs in the fourth inning of a 21-6 loss to Kiski Prep in the first night game the Knights ever played.

"Six runs in an inning - that's a win for us," said McCloud, who doesn't keep statistics of his team's games.

The Knights' junior varsity is 0-9 and lost by the 10-run mercy rule eight straight times before losing an 8-0 decision to Kiski Prep last week.

"Our biggest problem is pitching," junior varsity coach and Butler graduate Jason Minehart said. "We don't have anybody who can throw more than three or four innings. Their arms get tuckered out."

That's because most of Summit Academy's players have not played baseball since Little League. Seventy percent of the roster consists of kids who play other sports.

Shortstop Rob Snowden and left fielder Maurice Crump were point guards in basketball. Catcher Anthony Inks was a 140-pound wrestler, and first baseman Chris Stanton was a heavyweight wrestler.

"What motivates them to play?" McCloud said, repeating a question. "Learning. A kid stands in the batting cage and swings the bat 40 or 50 times without ever hitting the ball.

"He hits it on the 51st swing - and wants to stay in there."

One of the Knights' pitchers, Dustin McClung, has been dubbed "Wild Thing" by his teammates.

"When he first started pitching in practice, nobody would step in to face him because they were afraid," McCloud said. "He had no idea where the ball was going. He's since gotten a lot better."

The Knights suffered a 12-0 loss to Freeport Tuesday, issuing 11 walks - six in a row at one point - and committing four errors in five innings.

But in the top of the fifth, Crump made a leaping catch in left field and second baseman Matt Goddard made a diving stop behind second base for an unassisted force play.

"I've been trying to get Matt to dive for a ball all; year," McCloud said. "Today, he did it."

Another win within the game.

Freeport's players even applauded the aforementioned plays from their dugout.

"They recognize how much that team has improved," Freeport coach Chris Graczyk said. "They still make mistakes, but they play hard.

"I admire the job their coaches do. Having the kind of patience to work with kids who haven't played the game in years … No other team around here deals with that. To be honest, I don't know if I could do it," he added.

McCloud emphasized the very excitement of accomplishing something on the baseball field keeps his team's spirit alive.

Summit Academy has no players back from last year.

"That's one of the reasons they're not worried about the history of the program. They weren't here for it," McCloud said.

"We haven't hit a curve ball this season. My arm's sore from throwing so many curves in practice. But learning how to catch a ball, make a good throw. … We keep things very, very basic. If we take the outs people hand us, we're happy."

Snowden, Crump, basketball standout Haadee Bennett and Inks are the team captains.

"They don't let anybody get down," McCloud said. "We haven't had to deal with any discouraged players all year."

"We don't have to keep the players focused," Minehart said. "They're learning the game each day. They keep themselves focused."

Besides, McCloud said baseball teaches his players two important traits in life: Character and humility.

"When you're getting beat 15-0, it's easy to be humble," he said. "And it's OK. Things aren't always going to go your way in life.

"These kids have learned how to stick together and support each other. That's the biggest win of all," he added.