None of the players on the Burrell High School baseball team has been to a PIAA championship game, so it's a new experience for them ... but not for their coach.

Mark Spohn has won a PIAA semifinal game before to advance to the state title game. With his experience of coaching Burrell to the same position seven years ago, Spohn had a big piece of advice for his team.

Despite defeating three teams in one week to advance to the Class AA title game, Spohn wanted to make sure his team was not satisfied.

"I just told them don't be happy to get there," said Spohn, who also coached the Buccaneers to the 2001 title game, a 4-1 loss to Phoenixville.

"The last time we were there, we were just happy to be there. You want to show up and win that game and I am sure these guys won't let the big stage affect us. I think hopefully I can control their attitude. We don't want a letdown."

After a 15-1 regular season and a Section 3-AA title, Burrell advanced to the WPIAL semifinals by defeating Riverview, 10-1, and Center, 12-11. Their 17-game winning streak came to an end against Beaver Area in a 7-4 loss at Chippewa Park. They were able to bounce back in the PIAA playoffs.

"We stayed hungry. We didn't win anything in the WPIALs so we at least wanted the opportunity to win something in states. If you don't make the WPIAL title game, you stay a little more hungry" said Spohn, who who dealt with an 11-day layoff for his team after losing to Beaver and before the state playoffs commenced.

"We were down about the layoff and you never know how you are going to respond. I gave the kids a few days off and they came back hungry and stayed positive. They show up at practice and work on the things they need to work on. There was a good, positive attitude around the team."

They were designated as the WPIAL's third-place team and defeated District 9 champion Redbank Valley, 4-2, in the opening round.

Three days later at Seton Hill University, Burrell defeated Bishop McCort, 4-3, the same team that had knocked off Beaver Area in the PIAA first round.

In the PIAA semifinals the Buccaneers scored runs in the first and second innings before erupting for six runs in the third, route to an 8-1 win over District 10 champion Sharon.

Another district champion awaits Burrell as it travels to Blair County Ballpark in Altoona tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. to face Loyalsock of District 4.

Spohn wants to treat this like just another game and ensure he has a different return trip than in 2001.

"I hope I am in a better mood on the way back," Spohn laughed.

"We played a bad game last time we were there and it was pretty uncharacteristic of us. We will do what we normally do and keep things the same. I will downplay it as much as possible and just let our kids have fun. When they are having fun, we win, the two go hand in hand."

A number of seniors stepped up in the Sharon game with Seth Napierkowski, Steve Yakopec and Dave Kunkle all going 2 for 4 and Dan Olszewksi going 3 for 3.

By continuing to win in the PIAA playoffs, the careers of the Burrell senior starters, Kunkle at shortstop, Yakopec in center field, Naperkowski a pitcher/outfielder, Olszewksi a middle infielder, Shane Welsh at first base, Steve Pish in left field and Phil Spagnolo at third base has been lengthened.

"It's a great thing to still be playing. They are just great kids and I love being around them," Spohn said.

"We have fun together and being able to hang around them for a few extra practices is just great. With losing in the WPIALs they were down, but they knew we were still playing, so it wasn't the end of it. When something ends, you know it ends, but we knew our season wasn't over, so we couldn't be too down."

Eric McAlpine, a junior, is the starting catcher and Steve's younger brother, Dave, is a relief pitcher and right fielder.Coming up

• What: PIAA Class AA baseball final.

• When: Tomorrow, 10:30 a.m.

• Where: Blair County Ballpark, Altoona.

• Who: Burrell (20-2) vs. Loyalsock (22-4).

• The skinny: This will be the second time Burrell has made it to the PIAA title game. the last time was in 2001.