George Guido: The 1989 baseball, softball playoffs were wettest on record

By: George Guido
Tuesday, May 21, 2019 | 5:48 PM

Last year was the wettest in the Pittsburgh region’s history.

But for anyone who was involved in scholastic sports in these parts during the spring of 1989, you would have a hard time convincing them that year wasn’t a record-setter.

It was punctuated by rain, rain and more rain.

The WPIAL had to extend the regular season three times, with teams playing double- and triple-headers to get their games in.

The season was rolling along nicely enough. A big showdown for first place between Highlands and Kittanning occurred May 4 at Highlands.

The Wildcats won convincingly, 9-4, to pull within a half game of the Golden Rams.

Kittanning also held the tiebreaker since it defeated Highlands twice. Many sections at the time had three matchups during the season.

Things unraveled the following week. Three days of steady rain pushed the WPIAL to extend the regular season from May 13 to May 17.

Schools tried to get games in on the 13th, but many fields were unplayable.

Brad Hobaugh, then the Kittanning coach, was faced with his team having to play five games in four days to finish the season.

“I think we have a deep pitching staff,” Hobaugh told the Valley News Dispatch. “We’ll find out.

Pitch counts and innings pitched weren’t part of the equation at the time. A high school team could theoretically pitch one guy every inning of every game, something still done today in softball.

Innings limitations came the following season.

Rain continued throughout the next several days. Then-WPIAL executive director Chuck Heberling extended the season another day before finally ruling the regular season would end May 20 and only games that had a bearing on the playoffs would be played.

WPIAL schools awaited an official letter from Heberling’s office. Keep in mind, these were days without email, and you’d cross your fingers that the U.S. mail ran seamlessly.

There were other worries. Burrell had its prom scheduled on the Friday make-up day, and many of the girls were concerned about getting ready for the big night. It was decided in advance Valley would play Highlands that day instead of Burrell.

Two teams from each section made the WPIAL playoffs. It was determined the two teams with the best winning percentage in each section went to the postseason — not necessarily the team with the most victories.

Creative scheduling took over.

Then-defending WPIAL Class AA champion Ford City had an unusual doubleheader that Friday. The Sabers played Apollo-Ridge in Game 1, then Elderton in Game 2.

After sweeping a doubleheader against Fox Chapel on a Thursday, Kittanning played Burrell at Community Park at 1 p.m., then Kiski Area at 4.

The Wildcats won all four games in a matter of about 27 hours to stay in contention.

While TV viewers in the Alle-Kiski Valley and elsewhere settled in to watch the series finale of “Miami Vice,” the rains continued.

Saturday was a mess. Some WPIAL teams played tripleheaders in the rain. Others played a game at one site, hopped on the bus and played a road game.

Valley thought its softball season was over because it couldn’t get its final game in because Kittanning was unable to field a team.

Heberling at first refused to rule a forfeit in favor of Valley but had a change of heart and awarded the Vikings the win, creating a three-way tie in the section.

As a compromise, Valley would play section rival Kiski Area in a preliminary round playoff game.

The Vikings, behind freshman Joey Lynn Gatto, defeated the Cavaliers, 4-1.

Kittanning started the playoffs with a major upset over then-defending state champion Bethel Park, 8-6, at the then-named Freeport Borough Field.

Things didn’t get much better as the playoffs extended into June. There were 10.52 inches of rainfall in June 1989, making it the second-wettest month on record.

The PIAA Class AAA baseball semifinal between Connellsville and Mt. Pleasant was postponed seven days, likewise the Class AA semi between Center and Bellwood-Antis.

The rain finally let up for Connellsville to defeat Mt. Pleasant, 3-2, and top Williamsport for the state title the following day.