WPIAL-studded Palomino team co-champs at World Series

It never got to play the actual title game of the Palomino World Series, but the Youngstown Class B AstroFalcons All-Star Team still walked away champions — with some bonus history.

The winning sensation felt just like the AstroFalcons thought it would as they celebrated a co-title with Puerto Rico earlier this month at Uni-Trade Stadium in Laredo, Texas.

The final game was rained out, and travel issues forced officials to declare co-winners.

“It was a pretty eventful weekend,” said recent Norwin graduate Landon DiBeradin, a catcher for the AstroFalcons. “We knew we had what it took to go down and compete with some of the best teams around. As a team, we remained focused and kept our sights on the goal in front of us. It was unfortunate we couldn’t get to finish off that championship game because I believe we all knew we would win.”

Youngstown, coached by Latrobe native Don Pletcher, also featured Franklin Regional grads Timmy Quinn and Brian Pirone and Norwin’s Jayden Walker and Jake Bazala.

Quinn, Walker and Bazala will join DiBeradin at Mercyhurst.

The AstroFalcons finished 48-5 overall and went 9-0 in the postseason.

Quinn, a first baseman, hit .375 with three home runs and 34 RBIs.

“It was a great time down in Texas, and it felt good to play at such a high level,” Quinn said. “Our team was built to dominate. We had depth at every position, and our bats were unmatched.”

DiBeradin batted .415 with 16 RBIs, and Walker hit .475 with 28 driven in.

Bazala had a 4-1 record on the mound and a 1.90 ERA, and Pirone went 5-0 with 60 strikeouts and a no-hitter.

Pletcher, whose team finished third a few years ago when the Palomino World Series was played in San Francisco, began coaching in Latrobe Little League in 1976.

Pletcher, the uncle of former Latrobe standout wrestler Luke Pletcher, lives in Hermitage but still coaches wrestling.

“These guys were really good,” Pletcher said of his Palomino group. “I had D-I pitchers and talent all over the field. They are all good kids, and they had a great time. They came together and found that chemistry, and that was really important.

“I was able to sit on my bucket and watch.”

Youngstown was loaded with WPIAL talent, including Jimmy Sadler (Chartiers-Houston), Ty Kamerer (Shenango), Gavin Miller (West Allegheny), Gage Gilliot (Connellsville), Conor Carney (Seneca Valley), Joe Manesiotis (North Allegheny), Alex Tomsic (Blackhawk), Ethan Edkins (Seneca Valley) and Tom Beam (Pine-Richland).

Miller, a pitcher and middle infielder, is an Auburn commit. Sadler, a shortstop, is headed to West Virginia.

Other players were Jason Treveri (Boardman, Ohio), Aiden Kelly (Harbor Creek) and Joe Roth (Austintown).

Quinn pondered what his Palomino team might do in a game against his WPIAL Class 5A champion Franklin Regional Panthers.

“I think our FR team this year competes with the Youngstown team pretty well,” he said. “I would imagine it being a close game, but I think the Youngstown team would pull ahead. The adaptability of the hitters on the team was unreal. We were able to change our approach each pitch and see the ball well in our first at-bat, through the seventh inning. That being said, there were some slip-ups here and there, and if FR was able to get the big-time inning in like we almost always could, I think they might be able to snag a win. Definitely would be a game to watch.”

Pletcher said Quinn and his chatter kept the team loose and the first-base umpire vexed.

“He was the most outgoing on the team,” Pletcher said. “He was our spokesperson. You knew how loose he was because by the third day, he was walking down the street in Daisy Duke shorts and a cowboy hat.”

Pletcher said DiBeradin was a quiet team leader, “The opposite of Timmy.”

DiBeradin, who caught the first game of the three-game World Series and was slated to catch the final, said the team’s closeness and leadership was key.

“The coaches stuck behind us the whole way and made sure we were prepared to the best of our ability,” he said.