Seneca Valley shuts out Norwin for 5th WPIAL baseball title
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Tuesday, May 27, 2025 | 3:20 PM
The Seneca Valley baseball team celebrates after defeating Norwin, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley pitcher Ryan Rebholz celebrates after getting a strikeout to end the top of the third inning during the WPIAL Class 6A championship game against Norwin on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley’s Ryan Piekutoski carries the WPIAL championship trophy to fans after defeating Norwin, 1-0, in the Class 6A final on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
The Seneca Valley baseball team celebrates after defeating Norwin, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley’s Owen Voelp makes a leaping, running-saving catch in right field against Norwin during the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley’s Ryan Piekutoski tags out Norwin’s Nathan Silberman at third base during the sixth inning of the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley pitcher Luis Torrenega delivers against Norwin during the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley pitcher Ryan Rebholz throws against Norwin during the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Norwin pitcher Ethen Culbertson delivers against Seneca Valley during the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley’s Ryan Piekutoski (center) celebrates with Luis Torrenega and Micah Olayer after defeating Norwin, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley’s Ryan Piekutoski carries the WPIAL championship trophy to fans with his teammates after defeating Norwin, 1-0, in the Class 6A final on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
The Seneca Valley baseball team celebrates with fans after defeating Norwin, 1-0, in the WPIAL Class 6A championship game on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, at EQT Park.
Seneca Valley claimed its fifth WPIAL baseball title by winning an old-fashioned pitcher’s duel.
Seneca Valley pitchers Ryan Rebholz and Luis Torrenegra combined on a two-hit shutout, and the Raiders claimed their first championship since 2014 with a 1-0 victory against Norwin on Tuesday at EQT Park in Washington.
Rebholz took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before he had to leave the game after taking a line drive off his right foot from the bat of Tristyn Taveras.
Torrenegra came on to retire the final four batters to earn the save and clinch the victory. The win sends the Raiders (17-6) into the PIAA playoffs. Norwin ends season 14-9.
Norwin starter Ethan Culbertson only allowed four hits, and Seneca Valley never threatened to score in the final five innings.
“We had two great teams and two good pitchers battling,” Seneca Valley coach Eric Semega said. “Fortunately, we were able to get a run.
“Ryan and Luis pitched well. They had some hard outs, but we were able to make the plays.”
Check out the highlights of today's #WPIAL Class 6A Baseball Championship Game that saw #3 Seneca Valley defeat #4 Norwin, 1-0, for the Raiders fifth championship pic.twitter.com/lEvmgbh4QN
— TribLive HSSN (@TribLiveHSSN) May 27, 2025
The lone run of the game came in the bottom of the first inning when Mason Fisher doubled down the left-field line off shortstop Nathan Silberman’s glove as he collided with third baseman Jake Knight.
Fisher moved to third on a grounder and scored when Ryan Piekutoski checked his swing and got a weak grounder past pitcher Ethan Culberton.
“We practice popups all the time,” Norwin coach Craig Spisak said. “But it is tough to catch one when you collide. But that’s baseball. You get their top hitter on a check swing, and he gets the ball past our pitcher.”
Seneca Valley had four hits, and the Knights had two.
“Winning this title again is special,” Semega said. “It is hard to achieve. The team showed a lot of grit and determination.”
Norwin did not get a hit until Silberman singled to right with one out in the sixth inning.
Taveras then lined a shot off Rebholz’s foot. The ball rolled into the outfield, and right fielder Owen Voelp picked it up and gunned down Silberman trying to move to third.
“That is on me,” Spisak said. “The kid made a great throw. It was a bang-bang play. I thought it was our best chance to score.”
Culberton allowed four hits, walked one and struck out five. Rebholz struck out three and walked four. Torrenegra struck out two.
Seneca Valley’s infielders were not challenged as Norwin flied out 14 times.
“We tried to get them to get the ball on the ground,” Spisak said. “But when a pitch comes in slow, you try to lift it. We did have some hard outs.”
The Raiders will face either the District 6 or District 10 champion in the opening round of the state tournament.
Paul Schofield is a TribLive reporter covering high school and college sports and local golf. He joined the Trib in 1995 after spending 15 years at the Daily Courier in Connellsville, where he served as sports editor for 14 years. He can be reached at pschofield@triblive.com.
Tags: Norwin, Seneca Valley
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