WASHINGTON, Pa. — Knoch center fielder Dominick Bucko had to be in a full sprint to catch a ball in the right-center field gap. Once he got there, Bucko didn't stop running until he found a place to soak in the win with his teammates.

What happened to the baseball that recorded the final out of the Knights' first-ever WPIAL Class AAA Baseball Championship?

“I threw it up in the crowd,” Bucko said.

The jubilation was understandable in the moments following Knoch's 5-1 win over defending champion West Allegheny Wednesday night at Consol Energy Park.

The second-seeded Knights, who started the program in 1990, only had one playoff win before this season.

“It was amazing,” Bucko said. “From the beginning of the year we knew we could do it. We just did it.”

Bucko's catch came at a critical time for the 19-2 Knights, who also set a program record for wins in a season.

West Allegheny (16-6) was in the middle of a seventh-inning rally. Colin Claus reached on an error to start the top of the seventh inning.

Two batters later, Nick Ross reached on an error that scored Claus, cutting the lead to 5-1.

Another error let Dan Guilfoil on and Matt Starkman walked to load the bases.

Pinch hitter Connor Johnsen then hit an offering from Knoch junior pitcher Cole Shinsky that Bucko ran down.

Bucko thought he was going to have to dive, but was able to crouch down and make the grab around his ankles.

“Nothing is easy, but I'm excited,” Knights coach George Bradley said. “(Knoch) was ready to play today when they came today. ... These guys could have panicked, but they didn't. They looked at it as a different game.”

Control issues forced Shinsky to readjust. He issued a one-out walk to Nick Wiethorn in the first and got behind in the count to the next batter.

Shinsky relaxed after meetings with catcher Asa Adams and Bradley before he settled in and struck out the next two batters.

“Obviously, I had a little bit of jitters,” Shinsky said. “I don't like throwing to lefties. Three of the first four guys I faced were lefties and after that inning I was fine and back to myself.”

Shinsky kept the Indians off-balance for the first six innings.

He fanned eight batters and allowed two hits.

“He was able to throw all three pitches for strikes,” West Allegheny coach Bryan Cornell said. “That's exactly what he did. He was around the plate and we didn't throw three pitches for strikes.”

One of those pitches was something Shinsky wasn't sure he had.

“This is the first time I've been throwing a curveball at all, really,” Shinsky said. “I haven't thrown it for a strike all year. I struck out a couple guys on it tonight and that was key.”

Knoch plated three runs with two outs in the bottom of the second inning off Indians starting pitcher Tyler Eritz.

Bucko hit a two-run double and Chris Law drove in a run with a single that put the Knights up 3-0.

Knoch continued to pressure Eritz in the third inning, chasing him after Alex Stobert singled.

Claus walked the next three batters to put Knoch up 5-0.

With the bases still loaded and one out, Claus forced Bucko to ground into a bizarre double play.

After Garrett Traggiai was forced out at home, he went out of the baseline and slid into West Allegheny catcher Brandon Pouch, knocking him off his feet.

Pouch suffered an ankle injury and possible concussion. Traggiai was ejected and Bucko was ruled out at first due to Traggiai's interference.

Knoch will make its PIAA debut when it meets District 9 champion Punxsutawney Monday at a site and time to be determined.

West Allegheny 000 000 1 — 1 2 0

Knoch 032 000 x — 5 3 3

W: Cole Shinsky 7IP (8K, 1BB). L: Tyler Eritz 2 1/3 IP (2K, 4BB).

West Allegheny (16-6): Nick Wiethorn 1B, Dan Guilfoil 1B.

Knoch (19-2): Chris Law 1B RBI, Dom Bucko 3B 2-RBI, Alex Stobert 1B, Addis Crouch RBI, Logan Hickey RBI.

Monday: Knoch vs. Punxsutawney time and site to be determined.