Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Above, Alex Argenio connects for a hit for WA against Nanticoke. Left, Dave Mizzer got WA a win with a two-hitter against Nanticoke.
.Photos ourtesy of WA parents.
Above, Alex Argenio connects for a hit for WA against Nanticoke. Left, Dave Mizzer got WA a win with a two-hitter against Nanticoke.
.Photos ourtesy of WA parents.
Threes were wild for the Patriots last week. They scored 36 runs in three games week, won all three and took a three-game lead in Division I East. The Patriots are 8-1, second place Holy Redeemer is 5-4.
Though the Patriots averaged 13 runs a game, two of the games were close. In an 11-10 win Tuesday, Sam Parente got the save as he stopped a Tunkhannock rally in the bottom of the seventh. After giving up two runs, Parente got the final out on a groundball to second base with the tying run on second. The Patriots one and two batters, Carmen LoPresto and Nick Morreale, combined were 5-for-10 with three runs and three RBI. Paul Gattusso had four RBI.
On Friday the Patriots got two huge strikeouts from pitcher Jimmy McDermott in his first varsity appearance in the bottom of the seventh in a 14-12 win at Berwick. The junior right hander came in with the bases loaded, the winning run at first and struck out two to end the game. Earlier the Patriots had come within one run of ending the game by the 10-run rule.
Coach Paul Zaffuto said, because starters Patton and Dorbad have eaten innings, Friday’s game was the first time the Patriots had to go deep enough into the bullpen to get to McDermott.
On Wednesday the Patriots were home against Valley West in a game between 6-1 teams. Valley West scored in the first inning and PA scored three in their half on a walk, an error, hits by Morreale, Borino and Lemoncelli and a sac fly by Gattuso.
After allowing that first inning run, PA starter and winner Joe Dorbad retired nine consecutive batters. In the top of the fourth with the score still 3-1 a double by Moules and single by Durling put runners on first and third. Dorbad came up big striking out the next two batters and getting a ground ball to short to end the inning. Valley West threatened again in the fifth putting a runner on second with one out and Dorbad again got a timely K and then a liner to first to end the inning.
The score was still 3-1 into the bottom of the sixth when the Patriots batted around in the rain and scored eight to win 11-2. Pinch hitter John Woytach started the rally with an RBI single driving in Gattuso who doubled. Lemoncelli, DeOrio, Morreale and Borino also had hits in that sixth.
Zafutto says the 36 runs are a little misleading. “It’s not like we earned all those runs. A lot of them came on errors and overthrows. We left 28 runners on base with less than two outs.”
Warrior get first win
On Tuesday Wyoming Area beat Nanticoke 3-2 for their first win of the year, but lost two games to fall to 1-8. Dave Mizzer pitched a 2-hitter with seven strikeouts
After Nanticoke scored two in the top of the fourth, the Warriors tied it on an RBI double by Kevin Bott and an RBI single by Alex Argenio. Corey Furman scored the winning run, hustling home on a short passed ball in the bottom of the fifth.
On Friday the Warriors took a 3-2 lead into the seventh inning against Hazleton, but Hazleton rallied for three to pull it out, 5-3.
Donnie Eifert pitched well and was the tough luck loser. Andre Harris had two hits for WA and Jamie Bresnahan, Alex Argenio, Kenny Sorick, and Donnie Eifert one each.
On Thursday at Crestwood, WA lost another well-pitched game 3-1. Matt Wotherspoon struck out eight in a complete-game two-hitter for the Comets. Bresnahan deserved better, but was the loser. He and Murphy combined to strikeout eight.
Monday
Dallas at PA
WA at Coughlin
Thursday
PA at Hazleton
WA at Berwick