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Unbeaten and beyond

Plymouth continues American Legion dominance

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AMERICAN LEGION

July 20, 2008

Robaczewski

Clocker (W)

By Dave Rosengrant drosengrant@timesleader.com
Sports Reporter

WRIGHT TWP. — It might be time to start asking the question of just how good is Plymouth Grontkowski.

Not even last year’s team, which won the Wyoming Valley League and Region 5 championships and finished third in the state was this successful.

Plymouth reeled off its 20th straight win on Saturday to remain unbeaten and advance to the finals of the Wyoming Valley American Legion League playoffs with an 11-2 win over Tunkhannock. Plymouth will play the winner of today’s elimination game between Tunkhannock and Mountain Post on Monday in the finals. Mountain Post avoided elimination by dispatching Greater Pittston 10-3 on Saturday.

The Plymouth team from a year ago also won 18 games entering the postseason, but had five losses while playing more games. The 2008 edition has also outscored its opponents 214-53 in 20 games.

“Last year we had the big names like Sean Toole, Dave Janus and Tim Kufta that were contributing big time,” said postgrad Al Clocker, who earned the win on Saturday throwing three perfect innings in relief. “This year, everyone is contributing. We are a very well-rounded team and even the guys in the bottom of the order are contributing.”

Clocker, who took over in the fourth inning when Evan Robaczewski left with an elbow injury, was lights out. He only struck out one but retired all eight batters he faced while inducing five groundball outs, including a double play.

“I can’t take all the credit because (catcher) Steve (Zielen) called a really good game and the defense helped a lot making great plays behind me,” Clocker said.

The game didn’t start off being a laugher as Tunkhannock (13-7) held a 2-0 lead entering the bottom of the third thanks to Tyler Austin’s solo home run, Will Zaleppa’s RBI single and pitcher Jason Strohl not allowing a hit.

But things changed in the bottom of the frame as Plymouth scored six runs, highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of Chris Pollick. Plymouth added three more in the bottom of the fourth to open a 9-3 lead with the big blow coming from Ryan Geffert (2-for-3).

The Southern Connecticut State recruit blasted a monstrous home run to the opposite field over the fence in right-center to put the game out of reach.

“We are confident,” said Plymouth manager T.J. Carlin. “We were only down two runs and it was only the second inning. We just sit back and know that we are going get the hits.”

Matt Alfieri went 2-for-3 to lead Tunkhannock’s offense.

In the nightcap at the Mountain Post 781 field, the host team rode a quality pitching performance from Bucknell-bound right-hander Matt Lamore to stave off elimination.

Lamore hit his locations exceptionally well to keep the Greater Pittston lineup from putting together a rally. He pitched all seven innings striking out four, only walking two batters and just giving up six hits.

His team will now try to avenge a loss to Tunkhannock two days ago in an elimination game at 1 p.m. today.

“We just need to play good defense and not leave any runners on base,” Lamore said. “Last year, we faced Nanticoke twice in three days too and ended being second in the (league and region).”

Billy Baratta had three hits for Mountain Post, while Kyle Belanchik and Pete Lamore each contributed with two.

Matt Kobeski went 2-for-3 for Pittston, which ends its season with a 12-8 record.

Sam Parente struck out six in the loss.

Plymouth 11, Tunkhannock 2

Tunkhannock					Plymouth
	ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
Fassett 2b	3	0	0	0	Clocker cf	4	2	2	1
Alfieri cf	3	1	2	0	Rbczwsk p	0	0	0	0
Zaleppa ss	3	0	1	1	Durling dh	3	2	2	3
Givens c	3	0	1	0	Gavrish ph	0	1	0	0
Lenivy lf	3	0	0	0	Geffert 1b	3	1	2	2
Strohl p	0	0	0	0	Jola pr	0	0	0	0
Austin dh	2	1	1	1	Moules lf	3	1	0	1
Harvey 3b	2	0	0	0	SZielen c	4	1	0	0
Greenip ph	1	0	0	0	Pollick rf	3	0	1	3
Crimmel rf	2	0	0	0	MZielen ph	1	0	0	0
Cyphers 1b	3	0	0	0	Kufta 2b	3	1	1	0
					Alles 3b	2	1	1	0
					Kozich ph	1	0	0	0
					Tressa ss	3	1	2	1
Totals	24	2	5	2	Totals	30	11	11	11

Tunkhannock	011	000	0	—	2
Plymouth	006	311	x	—	11

2B – Alfieri, Clocker, Tressa, Pollick; HR – Austin, Geffert

	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO
Tunkhannock
Strohl (L)	3.1	8	9	7	1

Sick

2.2

Mountain Post 10, Greater Pittston 3

Greater Pittston					Mountain Post
	ab	r	h	bi		ab	r	h	bi
Lemoncelli ss	4	1	1	0	Bedrin cf	3	1	2	1
Sorick 3b	3	0	0	0	MLamore p	4	0	0	0
Borino 1b	3	0	0	0	Sweeney lf	4	0	0	0
Parente p	3	0	0	1	Belanchk 1b	3	2	2	1
Zielinski c	3	0	1	0	Murray pr	0	0	0	0
Bartuska lf	3	1	0	0	Baratta 3b	4	1	3	0
McDermtt rf	3	1	1	0	PLamore ss	3	1	2	1
Duliba cf	2	0	1	0	Ritz pr	0	1	0	0
Kobeski 2b	3	0	2	1	Hmmrstn 2b	0	0	0	0
					Ermish dh	4	2	1	0
					Payton c	3	0	1	2


Totals	27	3	6	2	Totals	31	10	12	6