The Murrysville American Legion baseball team is experiencing an unexpected three-day break before tomorrow's opening round of the District 31 playoffs.

"We are very fortunate to have completed our regular-season schedule on Monday," Murrysville manager Ed Carr said. "That gives us three days to rest our pitchers. It also gives us some time to work on some of the offensive and defensive strategies we plan to use in the playoffs."

Murrysville finished the regular season with a 19-7 record, which includes a 15-3 mark in the North/West Division.

"The top four teams in each division qualify for the District 31 playoffs," Carr said. "We finished first in our division, which means we play the No. 4 team in the opening round of the playoffs. We are scheduled to begin [tomorrow] against Jeannette, Valley or Bushy Run."

All three rounds in the District 31 Tournament are best-of-three format. The winner of each district earns an automatic berth in the Region 7 playoffs.

"The last time Murrysville qualified for the region playoffs was in 2006," Carr said. "We're hoping to make a return trip this summer."

Carr has five players who have seen significant time on the mound -- Josh Staniscia, Nick Hoffman, Matt DiDiano, Len Poliziani and Marc Cassella. Staniscia is a lefty, while the other four are right-handed.

Hoffman and DiDiano have 4-0 records, Staniscia has a 4-1 mark, and Poliziani is 3-1.

All five pitchers also play other positions. Staniscia and Hoffman are outfielders. DiDiano plays third base. Poliziani and Cassella split time behind the plate.

"Josh [Staniscia] is the perfect leadoff batter," Carr said. "He has a .532 average, 12 extra base hits, 33 runs scored, and 20 stolen bases. Marc [Cassella] has a .435 average, three home runs, and 23 RBIs. Nick [Hoffman] has a .374 average and a 2.67 ERA."

Staniscia and Poliziani are two of three players from Murrysville who were chosen to participate in the Western final of the American Legion All-Star Showcase, which will take place July 13 at Butler's Pullman Park.

The third is Ryan Fitzmaurice, a second baseman who has a .321 average.

"Ryan missed time at the start of the season with a finger injury, but now he's healthy," Carr said.

Fitzmaurice and DiDiano are joined in the infield by shortstop Dom Venditti, and first basemen Miles Molinaro and Nick Eremic. Molinaro has a .347 average, two home runs and 19 RBIs.

Other members of the outfield are Josh Robinette, Bobby McGrath and Russ Duke. Robinette has a .531 average and leads the team with 29 RBIs. McGrath has a .454 average.

"Josh is a recent [Franklin Regional High School] graduate who will play at Davis & Elkins College next year," Carr said. "Bobby has been our biggest surprise this year.

The other four members of Murrysville's roster are infielders Chris Miehl and Tyler Horgan, and outfielders Joe Falce and Joe Buchanich.

"I've coached these guys since they were freshmen, so I know them very well," said Carr, a member of Franklin Regional's coaching staff. "They are a close-knit group of kids who are very dedicated to playing baseball."

Carr is a 1997 graduate of Penn Hills High School and a 2002 graduate of Penn State University.

"I started coaching while attending Penn State," Carr said. "I was a hitting coach for State College's little league team for two years, including the 2000 season, when we lost to Danny Almonte's team from the Bronx [New York]."

Carr was also an assistant at State College High School for two years and an assistant on the Legion team for one year.

"I returned to the Pittsburgh area in 2002, when I accepted a teaching position at Penn Hills," Carr said. "Six year ago, I joined Larry Wayman's coaching staff at Franklin Regional High School [as a varsity assistant and junior varsity head coach]."

Carr helped with Murrysville's Junior Legion team last season, and was promoted to manager of the Senior Legion team this year.

"I've been very fortunate to have Bob Saddler and Pat Marchese as my assistants," Carr said. "They are also assistant junior varsity coaches at Franklin Regional. We are like co-coaches; we work so well toghether."