Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Mountaineers also triumph, beat Tunkhannock
Wyoming Area shortstop Serra Degnan (left) fields a ball as Berwick’s Margaret Bridge steals second base in a WVC Division I softball game in West Pittston on Monday afternoon.
BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
WRIGHT TWP. — Sarah Bertoni pitched a three-hitter and had two singles to lead Nanticoke Area to a 2-1 victory over Crestwood in Wyoming Valley Conference Division I softball action on Monday.
It wasn’t just another game for Bertoni, a senior who helped lead Nanticoke to the PIAA Class 2A state championship last year. It marked the first time that she went up against her father, Bob, who is the new Crestwood head coach.
“It felt different, of course,” Sarah said. “However, it was a lot of fun. He teased me a little before the game started and then again after it was over. We were both cracking jokes.”
Sarah admitted that she felt a bit awkward seeing her dad coach third base for the opposing team, but once she got into a pitching rhythm, she concentrated on the game.
“Crestwood has a very good team,” she said. “They have an excellent defense. I think they’re going to go far.
Bob Bertoni said he was a bit nervous.
“It was a little different, but once the game started we both knew our roles,” he said. “She wanted to beat my team as bad as I wanted to beat their team. I was definitely able to concentrate on my team.”
Bertoni formerly coached the Nanticoke baseball team before becoming the Crestwood softball coach this season.
His wife, Eileen, was sort of caught in the middle on Monday.
“I was a little bit on edge,” she said. “It’s Sarah’s last year, so I rooted for her. I was happy for both of them. We (Nanticoke) have a great team, but my husband’s a great coach.”
Nanticoke scored the winning run on an RBI single by Sammy Gow in the top of the second inning, scoring Lindsay Roberts from third base.
Crestwood took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on an RBI single by Alex Hoops, that brought home Rachael Ritz from third. Ritz reached first on bunt single and made it on a Nanticoke throwing error that occurred when she stole second.
Nanticoke is now 2-0, while Crestwood is 1-1.
Nanticoke Area
020
000
0
—
2
Crestwood
100
000
0
—
1
WP – Sarah Bertoni 7IP, 3H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 5K; LP –Alyssa Davies 7IP, 6H, 2R, 2ER, 0BB, 3K;
2B—.3B—. HR— . Top hitters –NAN: Saras Bertoni two singles, Sammy Gow, two singled, Lindsay Roberts singled and scored one run. CRE: Alexandra Hoops tw singles and an RBI, Rachael Ritz singled and scored a run.
Dallas 8, Tunkhannock 2
Kristan Baker pitched a four-hitter, and was 2-for-3 with a double and home run as the Mountaineers defeated the Tigers in a matchup of two of the top teams in the Wyoming Valley Conference.
Sarah Konopki was 3-for-4 with a double, and Mary Kate Osick had a double and three RBI.
Artonya Gordon and Schyler Yatsk each had an RBI double to pace Tunkhannock.
Dallas is 2-0, while Tunkhannock is 1-1 The Tigers’ victory came last week against Berwick.
Dallas
102
130
1
—
8
Tunkhannock
100
100
0
—
2
WP – Kristan Baker 7P, 4H, 2R, 2ER, 6BB, 2K; LP – Ashley Inman 7 IP, 10-H, 8R, 6ER, 1BB, 5K;
2B—.DAL:Baker, Sarah Konopki 2, Mary Kate Osick. TUN: Artonya Gordon, Schyler Yatsk.. 3B—. HR—DAL: Baker. Top hitters –DAL: Baker 2-for-3 with double and home run; Konopki 3-for-4 with double. Osick 2-for-4 with double and 3 RBI. TUN: Artonya Gordon, Schyler Yatsk.
Berwick 2, Wyoming Area 1
Sara Berlin was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles to lead Berwick to victory over Wyoming Area. Margarte Bridge hurled a five-hitter to notch the win.
Berwick
000
110
0
—
2
Wyoming Area
000
001
0
—
1
WP –Margaret Bridge 7 IP, 5H, 1R, 1ER, 3BB, 5K; LP – Alex Holtz 7IP ,7H, 2R, 1ER, 4BB, 2K;.
2B—BER: Sara Berlin 2. WA; Kaitlyn Kross. 3B—. HR— . Top hitters –BER: Sara Berlin 3-for-3 with two doubles. WA: Kaitlyn Kross one double.
Holy Redeemer 7, Pittston Area 4
Biz Eaton and Alyssa Platko both were 1-for-3 and both scored two runs to lead the Royals to victory over the Patriots. Marissa Narson led the Patriots with a triple.
Hazleton Area 7, Coughlin 0
The Cougars opened their Wyoming Valley Conference season led by Ali Schuetz, who fired six strong innings to pick up the win, allowing only two hits while striking out three.
Schuetz helped her own cause with a two-run triple in the first inning. Candice Van Horn had a good game, going 3-for-3 with a home run. She added a two-run triple and a single to knock in three runs.
Linda Mas had a double while Daniell Cerep, Mary Patterson and Chris Answini added singles for Coughlin.