There are six seniors listed on the Chartiers-Houston High School baseball roster.

Those players couldn't have imagined a much better way for the final regular season of their high school careers to play out.

Before a season-ending defeat to Avella Wednesday, the Bucs had won 14 in a row, finished 15-3 overall and captured the Section 2-A championship with a 14-1 section record. They had the fourth-best record in all of WPIAL Class A and are enjoying their best season since 2004-05 -- when this crop of seniors were freshmen.

"Without a doubt this is the best we have played since I was a freshman," senior pitcher/infielder/outfielder Andy Petras said, referring to the 21-2 team that played in the WPIAL title game and PIAA semifinals. "We've been playing real close as a team and so many guys are stepping up and doing their part. It's nice. We're looking forward to the playoffs."

That Petras has been part of such a stellar season is an accomplishment in itself. That he has played such a major role in it -- arguably posting the finest set of batting and pitching statistics together in all the WPIAL this season -- is remarkable.

Petras was 10-0 with a 1.24 ERA and 62 strikeouts this season on the mound as the Bucs' ace and hit .465 with six home runs, 35 RBIs, 12 stolen bases and 22 runs as the team's cleanup hitter.

Put together, those numbers are extraordinary. But what really makes them amazing is the fact that they have come just months after sustaining an injury that led to major internal bleeding in his abdomen after being hit during a late-season Chartiers-Houston football practice.

Petras was hospitalized, underwent surgery to correct the problem and spent time in intensive care at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh.

"He's having an incredible season, especially coming off the surgery he had," Chartiers-Houston coach Dan Alderson said. "There were times we didn't even know if he'd be able to play. We just wanted to just get him back and get him healthy. Where he's at now is just incredible. It shows the work ethic he has.

"He stayed patient, and you can't ask for a whole lot more than what he's done. Offensively and pitching wise, he's had a tremendous season. But he's also been real focused and been a leader for us this year."

Petras said the healing process took months. He lost weight and was forced to stay away from any strenuous activity. In a stroke of luck, he was deemed ready for a return to his former active self "just in time" for the Bucs' preseason baseball practice. "I was ready and 100 percent, almost that day," he said.

The spectacular season both individually and for the team has been icing on the cake. Petras is happy just to be playing.

"As soon as I found out what they told me had happened, the first thing that came to my mind was: 'Will I even be able to play baseball this season?'" Petras recalled. "I'm thankful I had a full recovery.

I'm so thankful right now."

Petras, 5 feet 10, 170 pounds and a running back/defensive back on the C-H football team, has a future on a college baseball diamond.

Alderson said walking on to the Ohio University team or accepting various offers from smaller local schools were among Petras' options.

Petras said he is in contact with coaches at several schools.

"I haven't made a final decision yet, but I'm close," he said. "Right now I'm still trying to keep my options open."

If being a pitcher is what Petras ends up doing at the next level, a college coach will get a right-hander who has shown command of his three pitches -- a fastball, circle changeup and curveball.

Heading into the weekend, Chartiers-Houston was awaiting to hear what its seeding would be for the WPIAL playoffs. The top four seeds were to get first-round byes and the Bucs figured to be on the bubble for receiving one of those coveted spots.

"We're very happy because, going into the season, the goals are to make the playoffs, win a section title and hopefully get a bye in the first round of the playoffs," said Alderson, who has guided the Bucs to the playoffs in each of his eight seasons as head coach.

"I'm very happy with the season, especially considering we had such a young team."