By Michael Love
Sports editor

Clint White said he had some frustrating moments during Plum's battle with Pittsburgh Central Catholic for the Section 4-AAAA championship Wednesday at Plum High School.
The Mustang senior pitcher started the section finale and cruised through the first three innings but gave up three runs in the fourth.

At the plate, he knocked in a run with a groundout in the third but wasn't able to get a two-out hit with a runner on second in both the first and fifth innings.

Then came the bottom of the seventh.

With the Mustangs and Vikings knotted at three and the title on the line, White delivered.

He clubbed a two-out, RBI single to right field that scored Kyle Simmons with the game-winning run as Plum downed Central Catholic, 4-3, and claimed its second straight section title.
Simmons and White were mobbed by their teammates as they celebrated at home plate.

"Today was a rollercoaster ride for me," White said. "(Getting the game-winning hit) probably is the highest moment of my baseball career. It's an amazing feeling. It wasn't just me out there. Everyone contributed to this win. Everyone does their part. That's what makes this a great team."

The Mustangs and Vikings each finished section play 11-1. They split the season series and share the section crown.
It's Plum's second straight section title. The Mustangs are 22-2 in section play over the past two seasons.

"The whole season was to prepare for a game like this," said Carl Vollmer, Plum head coach. "Good teams go out and get it done. A couple things didn't go our way, but we battled through it."

Now, it's on to the WPIAL playoffs. Plum hopes to find itself with a high seed.

The playoff pairings committee is scheduled to meet tomorrow (Friday) and Vollmer expects the first-round matchups, sites and times to be released later in the day.

Simmons, batting from the ninth position in the order, singled and walked twice, scoring three of Plum's four runs against Central Catholic.

Anthony DeFabio's single in the bottom of the fifth drove in a run to tie the game at three.
Scott McGough relieved White with one out in the fifth and went the rest of the way.

He struck out four and worked out of a jam in the top of the seventh. The Vikings had runners on first and second with one out, but McGough and the Mustang defense kept Central Catholic off the board.
"These kids have a tremendous amount of character," Vollmer said. "They believe in what the coaches are doing and they execute. Everyone on this team does what he can to help the team win. It's a true team effort every game."

Editor's note: Wednesday's game between Plum and Pittsburgh Central Catholic was played after the deadline for this week's print edition.