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By DOUG PAPE [email protected]
Sunday, May 28, 2000 Page:
WILKES-BARRE TWP. – Lake-Lehman, which drew an opening-round bye in the PIAA
District 2 Class 2A baseball playoffs, had not played a game in 10 days before
Saturday’s semifinal against Meyers.
The extended break was a concern for Black Knight head coach Scott Miner.
But Miner’s worries were quickly put to rest as the Lehman lineup bruised
Meyers’ pitching for 12 hits en route to a 12-2, 10-run rule victory in six
innings at Betzler Fields.
“They’re making me look good,” Miner said. “I was worried about the
layoff, but the kids worked really hard the last three days and we came out
with a purpose today. The kids’ goal all along was to make it to the district
final.”
Lehman (13-2), the Wyoming Valley Conference 2A Division winner, advances
to the final against Valley View (13-0) at 5 p.m. Thursday at Lackawanna
County Stadium. The Cougars edged Crestwood, 6-5 on Saturday.
The Black Knights got off to a quick start as Rich Patton knocked in a run
with a single in the first. Chris Navin followed with a two-run single, and
Lehman led 3-0 after one.
In the second, Meyers got on the board when Scott Majikes singled in Jared
Mudzik. Lehman quickly answered when D.J. Kapson belted a triple, which scored
Steve Moyer and Zach Ragukas, who had reached base on singles. Kapson scored
on a throwing error and Lehman led 6-1 after two.
Ragukas doubled home two runs in the third before the Black Knights, ahead
8-2, sealed the victory in the sixth. With the bases loaded, Patton was hit by
a pitch, which scored Ragukas. Navin followed with a two-run double and a John
Sharkus single scored the game-clinching run, which ended Meyers’ season at
9-7.
Miner credited his team’s aggressiveness as the key to victory.
“We constantly put pressure on you every inning,” he said. “My six,
seven, eight and nine guys all hit over .300 or close to it.
“They get on base a lot, so it’s very difficult for the other team to play
against us because we constantly put pressure on you running the bases and
taking extra bases.”
Greg Woronko stymied Mohawk hitters, pitching six innings with five
strikeouts, a walk, four hits and two runs.
Mike Conahan got to Woronko in the fifth as he singled in Jarred Carlo for
Meyers’ other run.
Call Pape at 829-7227