It was a gargantuan class, in terms of sheer numbers but also in terms of its accomplishments.

The 13 members of the Peters Township baseball team's senior class completed their illustrious careers June 5 with a loss to Canon-McMillan in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals at Consol Energy Park in Washington.

But while that loss stung, it was on that same field the week before that the Indians made history by becoming the first team since North Allegheny in 1990-91 to repeat as champions of the WPIAL's largest classification.

Though only one player lettered all four seasons, the 2008 Peters Township senior class compiled a four-season record of 80-19. That mark included one undefeated regular season, two WPIAL championships, three WPIAL semifinal appearances and PIAA playoff appearances and a PIAA silver medal.

"I've five kids who are three-year lettermen and they have gone [59-13] during that time," Peters Township coach Joe Maize said.

"As a program to do that over a three-year period is almost unheard of in high school baseball, particularly at the Quad-A level. The fact they have two gold medals in the WPIAL and their sophomore year went 19-0 in the regular season ... that's something that will be tough for any high school team to equal or break, and the fact we're the first back-to-back WPIAL champs in 20 years at the big-school level is something we're proud of."

A major part of that senior class is a player who will go down as one of the best in the history of the WPIAL in pitcher/catcher Jordan Jankowski. He blasted 36 home runs in the course of his career, a total recognized as likely the most in the history of the WPIAL.

Jankowski, who was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 34th round last week, has signed with Miami (Ohio) University. He hit .540 this year with 8 doubles, 9 homers and 35 walks. On the mound, Jankowski was 6-1 with 82 strikeouts in 49 innings.

"Just watching him progress from his freshman to senior year -- offensively especially -- was fun," Maize said. "It was something to watch.

"He was a pretty free-swinger early but very, very disciplined and very team-oriented his junior and senior years. He knew people were pitching around him, especially his senior year. He wasn't getting pitches to swing at, ut he had 25 or 26 walks and during the season had an on-base percentage of about .710."

Jankowski, who actually had 34 walks, isn't the only standout senior. Several others played prominent roles in the Indians' success. Jim Rider and Pete Ross formed a stellar up-the-middle infield combination for the past three years as Peters Township's shortstop and second baseman, respectively.

Rider, who hit .361 with eight doubles, will play at Kent State and Ross, who hit .439 with 19 RBIs, will attempt to walk on at Penn State.

"They're probably the best middle infield I have ever seen in high school," Maize said. "Just the way they turned the double play and the amount of area they covered, they had 15 or 16 [double plays] or somewhere around that number during the season. They gave our pitching staff a lot of confidence. The pitchers knew that if they could get a ground ball up the middle, it would get them out of the inning."

The strong defense continued with center fielder Mike Divella, another senior. Pitcher/infielder Nick Merich, pitcher/outfielder/designated hitter James Stratico, outfielder Pete Gallagher and outfielder/pinch-runner Cooper Fazio also were typically part of the everyday lineup.

Gallagher, who hit .362, will attempt to walk on to Pitt's baseball team. Merich, who was 9-2 with a 2.82 ERA, will play at Point Park and Stratico, who hit .380, at Penn State Altoona.

Outfielders Ben Boehme and Matt Stevens, infielder/pitchers Ryan McLaughlin and Zack Olawski and infielder Jordan Murman were other seniors on the roster who contributed.

All of the above graduated this month, but that doesn't mean Peters Township's program will falter much. The Indians, after all, will be a two-time defending WPIAL champion next season and won't relinquish their crown that easily.

"We're going to be young and inexperienced, but still enthusiastic," Maize said. "And they'll work real hard.

"We've got both of our freshmen who started -- [Will] McClure behind the plate and Austin Hancock at first base -- coming back. Our third baseman, Jimmy Sams, is coming back, and some kids who didn't get much of an opportunity this year are chomping at the bit to see what they can do.

"We'll work them hard to try to get ready. We'll be inexperienced. We'll maybe start five or six sophomores or juniors next year."