Two years ago, Frontier Club endured a winless season. Last year, the team captured just three victories. On Monday, though, Frontier Club capped off its incredible turnaround season, as the Wagoneers defeated Bardine’s 5-1 to capture the Latrobe-Derry Area Teener League Championship at Rosa-Oglietti Park.

As a result of their sweep in the best-of-three series, the Wagoneers claimed their first title since 2016.

“I knew we had a good team coming into it,” said shortstop Aaryn Chappel, who was also on last year’s squad. “Ever since I stepped on the field with this team, I said we’re going to win a championship one day.”

To do so, the fourth-seeded Wagoneers (21-6) once again produced plenty of late offense. After scoring five times in the seventh in the Game One victory on Saturday, Frontier Club scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth on Monday to break a 1-1 tie.

With one out, Chappel reached on an error to start the rally. He stole second, and Grady Ruffner then put the Wagoneers in the lead with a single to right field. After an intentional walk and a fielder’s choice, the Meat Links committed another error, which allowed Ruffner to score. The Wagoneers added to their cushion, as Anthony Tuschong delivered a two-run single to left to extend the lead to 5-1.

“We wanted to just put the ball in play as much as possible and put the pressure on them and see what they could do, and it worked out our way,” detailed Chappel.

Through much of the first six innings, Ruffner and Bardine’s hurler Miles Smith were stellar. After the teams combined for 26 runs in the first game of the best-of-three series, Monday’s contest was scoreless into the fourth.

Smith was nearly perfect for the Meat Links (21-7), as he retired nine straight batters after allowing a leadoff double to Chappel in the first. Ruffner, meanwhile, worked around numerous threats by Bardine’s, stranding seven baserunners through four frames.

The Wagoneers opened the scoring in the bottom of the fourth, as Chappel again doubled to commence the frame, and he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Ruffner. That set the stage for Noah Noel, who delivered an RBI single.

Frontier Club’s lead was short-lived, though, as Bardine’s tied the score in the fifth. Owen Smith drew a two-out walk, and moved to second on a stolen base. Joey Razza then followed with a single to left to plate Smith.

Ruffner earned the win, working six strong innings, allowing one run on five hits, with two walks and five strikeouts. In addition to a pair of doubles, Chappel also scored two runs for the Wagoneers. Noll produced an RBI single and drew a walk, while Ruffner, Tuschong, and Nick Bauer also accounted for hits for Frontier Club.

Smith, conversely, was the tough-luck loser. The southpaw also worked six innings, allowing one earned on six hits, with a walk and eight strikeouts. Chase Burket led the offense for Bardine’s, as he delivered a pair of hits. Pickle Burket, Joey Razza, and Drew Blossey also registered hits for the Meat Links, who were denied their second title in three years.