For the Monroeville American Legion baseball team, a trip to the Allegheny County playoffs comes down to its regular-season finale this afternoon, Thursday, at 5 against West Deer.

Monroeville, Penn Hills and Springdale have battled down the stretch for the final two playoff spots from the Allegheny River League.

Each of the teams began the week with 10 victories.

Monroeville was scheduled to play West Deer on Tuesday and Springdale last night, Wednesday.

Both games were to be played past the deadline for this week's edition.

The game against Springdale was the rubber game between the teams.

Monroeville beat Springdale, 8-3, in early June, with Springdale avenging the loss, 11-4, last Thursday.

Monroeville finished off a three-game season-series sweep of Penn Hills last Friday with a 2-1 victory in nine innings.

The season series is the one and only tie-break- er criteria needed when determining playoff qualifiers.

"This has been a good team, in terms of both skills and character," Monroeville manager Bill Segar said.

Segar cited the heart and determination his players showed in their extra-inning win over Penn Hills.

It was that same heart and determination, he added, that led the squad to an important win over Elizabeth on Monday in the completion of a suspended game from earlier in the season.

Rain halted the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the second.

The game picked up with two outs and three Monroe- ville runners on base.

Monroeville already had scored three runs in the inning.

However, John Sarandis struck out to end the threat.

Segar turned over the pitching duties to Luke Kochka, who had a little bit of relief work earlier in the season.

Jacob Kleya started the game but was ineligible to continue Monday because he pitched all nine innings against Penn Hills on Friday.

Kochka rose to the occasion against Elizabeth, surrendering just three hits, one walk and one earned run in five innings of work.

He retired the side in the third and fifth innings.

"Luke, like Jacob, is a young kid," Segar said.

"He's only 15, and this is his first year of Legion baseball. He had great control (against Elizabeth). It was a crucial game for us, and he never lost focus, no matter who was up for Elizabeth."

Elizabeth scored a run in the top of the fourth to take a 4-3 lead, but Monroeville rallied with three runs in the bottom of the frame.

Rob Kalkstein and Chris Vergos hit RBI triples, while Scott Cavrak plated a run on a groundout.

Mike Mulkerin gave Kochka and Monroeville some insurance with a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the fifth.

It was Mulkerin's fifth home run of the season. He smacked a grand slam in Monroeville's 13-6 loss to Shaler on Sunday.

The top four teams from the Allegheny River League, as well as the top four from the Mon-Yough, Southern and Ohio River leagues make up the 16-team field for the Alleg- heny County playoffs, set to start on Saturday.

Plum and Shaler have clinched the top two spots from the Allegheny River League.

Monroeville missed the Allegheny County playoffs in 2008.