Click here to subscribe today or Login.
WILKES-BARRE — It was exactly a year ago when Holy Redeemer started the best run for a baseball team in school history. Heck, getting to the state final was the best run for the school including the days when it was named Bishop Hoban.
Injuries and graduation hurt the team this year as the Royals struggled get over the .500 mark, eventually ending the regular season two games over.
Despite that, Redeemer began its quest to get back to the big stage on Monday. The Royals got an exceptional outing from right-hander David Wickiser, but they ran into another hot pitcher in Dunmore’s Michael Hannah, who matched Wickiser.
In the end, the Bucks got one more big hit and eliminated the Royals in the first round of the District 2 Class 3A bracket with a 3-2 win at Hollenback Park.
“I told them to keep their heads up. They have nothing to be ashamed of. They played a great game and lost to a very good pitcher,” Royals coach Chris Ritsick said. “They battled through a lot of adversity this year between injuries and losses and they fought to the last strike.”
In a rare feat, both pitchers tossed a complete games. Wickiser allowed just four base runners — all on hits — and struck out 10. Hannah gave up seven hits and two walks, while striking out nine.
“That was a classic, old school, drag-it-out, pitchers (duel) and that was great,” Dunmore coach Mike Hallinan said.
Wickiser struck out the side in the fifth and seventh innings as the junior changed speeds regularly to keep hitters guessing. He commanded his breaking ball and fastball to precise locations, keeping the Bucks lineup wondering where the next pitch would end up.
“From the first game of the year to this one, you’ve seen a lot of growth in Wick,” Ritsick added. “He became a pitcher this year between hitting spots, knowing counts, making pitches when he had to. It was a gutsy effort on his part.”
Dunmore (8-7), the No. 10 seed, will travel to face another Wyoming Valley Conference team on Wednesday in second-seeded Hanover Area (13-1) at 4:30 p.m.
The Bucks opened the scoring off Wickiser with a two-run triple by Ross Cordaro in the top of the second.
Redeemer answered immediately with consecutive hits to start the bottom of the frame, with the second knock being a run-scoring double from Collin Cook cutting the deficit to 2-1.
From there, Wickiser cruised, facing the minimum over the next three innings, helped along when Matt Hayden crushed a homer to left in the bottom of the fifth to tie the game at 2-2, as Hallinan felt the momentum turn.
“They’re at their home field. Have a big crowd here. And these kids have been in the big moments before,” Hallinan said. “So you look at it like this could be it because they’ve been here and we haven’t. So when that happened, you think ‘Should I get my number two up?’ But Mike dug deeper and got stronger as the game went on.”
Turns out, though, that the Bucks didn’t let the long ball effect its play. The first three batters in the top of the sixth reached base and they took a 3-2 lead on an RBI-single by Donny Walsh.
The Royals kept battling, getting two-out singles in the final two innings, but Hannah punched out four batters over that span to strand the runners as the Bucks picked up a huge win over a state runner-up to advance to the next round.
“We’re a young team with five sophomore and freshmen and over there, you have (Tom) Borum, Wickiser (and) Sean Wills is one of the best players I’ve seen in the area. That kid, when he comes up to the plate you hold your breath,” Hallinan added. “They’re well-coached. Coach Ritsick does a great job. That’s why they got where they were last year. That’s a good baseball team. And it’s unfortunate that one of us has to go home now.”
Carbondale 4, Wyoming Seminary 3
Carbondale’s second win of the season ended Wyoming Seminary’s season in the D2-3A first round.
Shane Wormuth homered and knocked in two runs for the 11th-seeded Chargers (2-13) in their upset of sixth-seeded Wyoming Seminary (10-5).
Carbondale heads to sixth-seeded Mid Valley on Wednesday for a quarterfinals game.
Aiden Murphy was 3-for-3 with two RBI for Seminary. The Blue Knights, though, managed just two more hits as Carbondale’s Andew Manarchuck pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts.
Meyers 8, GAR 4
Luke Bottger struck out nine and had two of Meyers’ six hits as the Mohawks eliminated GAR from the D2-3A playoffs.
Anthony Macko had a pair of RBI for Meyers (11-4), which will play at Montrose (9-3) on Wednesday. Nick Pugh was 2-for-3 with a double.
George Planceino tripled for GAR (1-14). Aaron Farrell doubled and had an RBI.
Lake-Lehman 2, Riverside 1
The Black Knights advanced in the D2-3A playoffs with a road win at Riverside.
Lake-Lehman (8-7) will play top-seeded Lakeland (13-1) at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the University of Scranton.
D2-5A QUARTERFINALS
Wyo. Valley West 5, Abington Heights 2
The Spartans will live to play another day as both Draig Ruff and Austin Sienkiewicz each had two-hit games as Wyoming Valley West (9-5) advanced to Wednesday’s semifinal at Crestwood. Ruff’s double was the Spartans’ lone extra-base hit.
Patrick Adamski pitched 4.2 innings over two-run baseball — one earned run — while giving up three hits and two walks. He struck out five.
Wallenpaupack 7, Pittston Area 0
The Patriots (7-7) were only able to four hits while committing three errors as they fell to Wallenpaupack (7-6).
Joe Cencetti had Pittston Area’s lone extra-base hit, as he went 1-for-3 with a double. Kevin Krawcyzk, Riley Brody and Dylan Spurlin each singled in a losing effort.
Crestwood 17, Coughlin 2 (3 inn.)
Brett Caladie drove in four runs as Crestwood (10-4) made quick work of winless Coughlin (0-14).
The Comets finished with 13 hits, with Matt Taleroski having a double and single and Evan Knapp finishing with two singles. Crestwood is scheduled to play at home Wednesday against Wyoming Valley West, but Monday’s game was moved to Coughlin due to field conditions.
Dylan Bronack doubled and drove in a run for Coughlin.
D2/11 CLASS A QUARTERFINALS
MMI Prep 5, Lincoln Leadership 2
MMI Prep scored three times in the top of the seventh to defeat District 11’s Lincoln Leadership Academy.
Marcus Kassick knocked in two runs for the Preppers, who advance to the District 2 Class A championship game against Forest City on May 29 at PNC Field. The game is also a semifinal in the D2/11-A subregional.
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 3A FIRST ROUND
Dunmore 3, Holy Redeemer 2
Dunmore`AB`R`H`BI
Grippi ss`3`1`0`0
Ruggiero 2b`3`0`0`0
Walsh 3b` 3`0`1`1
Hannah p`3`1`1`0
Talutto rf`3`0`0`0
Borgia cf`3`0`0`0
Mandalana c`3`1`1`0
Cordaro lf`3`0`1`2
Finan 1b`0`0`0`0
Damiano dh`3`0`0`0
Totals`27`3`4`3
Holy Redeemer`AB`R`H`BI
Wills cf`4`0`2`0
Conway 2b `3`0`0`0
Wickiser p`3`0`0`0
Borum c` 3`1`1`0
Rogutskie 3b`0`0`0`0
Cook dh`3`0`2`1
Vender rf`1`0`1`0
Price ss`3`0`0`0
Desiderio 1b`2`0`0`0
Zarola ph`1`0`0`0
Hayden lf`3`1`1`1
Totals`26`2`7`2
2B — Cook; 3B — Cordaro; HR — Hayden.
Dunmore`020`001`0 — 3
Holy Redeemer`010`010`0 — 2
Dunmore`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Hannah (W)`7.0`7`2`2`0`9
Holy Redeemer `IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Wiskiser (L)`7.0`4`3`3`0`10
Carbondale 4, Wyoming Seminary 3
Carbondale`AB`R`H`BI
Tolerico cf`4`1`1`0
Wormuth 3b`3`1`1`2
DePalama ss`4`0`1`1
Connolly rf`3`0`1`1
Larson c`3`0`1`0
Durkin 1b`3`0`1`0
Vadella lf`3`0`0`0
Manarchick p`3`1`0`0
Herbert dh`2`1`1`0
Newcomb 2b`0`0`0`0
Totals`28`4`7`4
Seminary`AB`R`H`BI
Phillips ss`2`1`0`0
Nockley 3b`3`0`0`0
Oravic`2`0`1`1
Kachi cr`0`2`0`0
Murphy rf-p`3`0`3`2
Amend cf`0`0`0`0
Jerome lf`3`0`0`0
Sweitzer p-2b`3`0`0`0
Negron cf-rf`3`0`0`0
Hromisin 2b-cf`3`0`1`0
Nardone 1b`1`0`0`0
Totals`23`3`5`3
Carbondale`200`020`0 – 4
Seminary`100`002`0 – 3
2B – Tolerico, Durkin. HR – Wormuth.
Carbondale`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Manarchick W`7.0`5`3`3`1`7
Seminary`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Sweitzer L`4.1`5`4`2`1`4
Murphy`2.2`2`0`0`1`3
Meyers 8, GAR 4
GAR`AB`R`H`BI
Peguero cf`3`1`0`0
Peters ss`4`0`1`0
O’Day`4`0`1`1
N.Taylor 3b`0`0`0`0
Soto dh`3`0`0`0
Vicloso 1b`3`0`0`0
Disia 2b`2`1`0`0
Rosario c`1`0`0`0
Plancenio lf`3`1`1`0
Farrell rf`3`1`1`0
Totals`26`4`4`2
Meyers`AB`R`H`BI
A.Macko ss`2`1`1`2
Strobel cf`3`0`0`0
Bottger p`3`2`2`1
K.Macko 3b`2`1`0`0
K.Ostrowski lf`3`1`0`0
Bynon rf`0`0`0`0
Galey dh`2`0`0`1
Pugh 2b`3`1`2`0
Casey pr`0`1`0`0
Gilgallon 1b`1`1`0`0
Polanowski 2b`0`0`0`0
Richards c`3`0`1`1
Totals`22`8`6`5
GAR`010`000`3 – 4
Meyers`312`002`x – 8
2B – Farrell, Bottger, Pugh. 3B – Plancenio.
GAR`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
O’Day L`4.0`4`6`1`4`4
Peters`2.0`2`2`2`2`0
Meyers`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Bottger W`6.0`2`1`0`4`9
Pugh`1.0`2`3`1`1`0
DISTRICT 2 CLASS 5A QUARTERFINALS
Wyo. Valley West 5, Abington Heights 2
Abington`AB`R`H`BI
Freda ss`3`0`0`0
Burke rf`2`0`0`0
Habeeb dh`3`0`1`1
Myers c`3`0`0`0
Barci cf`3`1`1`0
Petty 2b`3`0`0`0
Lacy 1b`3`0`0`0
Dempsey lf`3`0`0`0
Myers 3b`3`1`1`0
Termini p`0`0`0`0
Vaccarro p`0`0`0
Totals`26`2`3`1
WVW`AB`R`H`BI
Okane lf`2`1`0`0
Ruff cf`3`2`2`1
Sienkiewicz ss`2`1`2`3
Packer c`3`0`0`0
Kane 3b`3`0`0`0
Adamski p`1`0`0`0
Baranski p`1`0`0`0
Federici 3b`2`0`0`0
Banas dh`3`0`0`0
Kobusky rb`3`1`1`0
Stevens rf`0`0`0`0
Totals`23`5`5`4
Abington Heights`010`010`0 — 2
Wyo. Valley West`100`040`x — 5
2B — Ruff.
Abington Heights`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Termini`5`5`5`4`2`8
Vaccaro`1`0`0`0`0`1
Wyo. Valley West`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Adamski`4.2`3`2`1`2`5
Baranski`2.1`0`0`0`0`5
Wallenpaupack 7, Pittston Area 0
Wallenpaupack`AB`R`H`BI
Santiago cf`4`3`2`0
Holbert 3b`4`1`1`0
Kirsten ss`4`2`3`2
Vosburgh p`4`0`1`2
Alessi c`4`0`2`1
McCormack lf`1`0`0`0
Nolan dh`1`0`0`0
Maldacher rf`3`0`2`0
Sands 1b`4`0`1`0
Liddy 2b`3`0`1`1
Totals`32`7`13`6
Pittston Area`AB`R`H`BI
Ralston cf`3`0`0`0
K. Krawcyzk ss`3`0`1`0
J. Stella 1b`3`0`0`0
A. Krawcyzk lf`0`0`0`0
D. Stella lf`0`0`0`0
Brody dh`3`0`1`0
Cardinale pr`0`0`0`0
Cherkas p, 1b`2`0`0`0
Ralston p`0`0`0`0
Spurlin c`2`0`1`0
Cencetti 3b`3`0`1`0
Dillion rf`1`0`0`0
McAndrew ph`1`0`0`0
DeLucca ph`1`0`0`0
Cunius 2b`2`0`0`0
Totals`24`0`4`0
Wallenpaupack`201`001`3 — 7
Pittston Area`000`000`0 — 0
2B — Cencetti; 3B — Alessi.
Wallenpaupack`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Vosburgh`7.0`4`0`0`1`9
Pittston Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Cherkas`5.2`9`4`2`1`3
Ralston`0.1`3`3`1`0`0
Mascelli`1`1`0`0`0`0
Crestwood 17, Coughlin 2 (3 inn.)
Coughlin`AB`R`H`BI
Oko cf`2`0`0`0
Marek 2b`2`0`0`0
Clarke p`0`0`0`0
Wychock p`0`0`0`0
Wozniak p-3b`2`0`1`0
Egidio lf`2`0`1`0
Yozwiak 1b`2`0`0`0
Rhodes c`1`1`1`0
Rodriguez rf`0`0`0`0
Bronack dh`1`1`1`1
Smith 2b`1`0`0`0
Betancourt ss`0`0`0`1
Totals`13`2`4`2
Crestwood`AB`R`H`BI
B.Caladie ss`3`2`2`4
Toronzi ph`1`0`1`1
Macko 1b`1`2`1`0
Darden 2b`2`2`0`1
Papura p`0`0`0`0
Brozena dh`2`1`1`1
Palmero 3b`1`2`1`0
Kindler rf`2`1`1`1
Knapp lf`2`2`2`1
Rozitski c`1`3`1`1
Taleroski cf`2`2`2`1
Bufunno ph`1`0`1`1
Totals`18`17`13`12
Coughlin`020 — 2
Crestwood`179 — 17
2B — Bronak, Macko, Palmero, Taleroski.
Coughlin`IP`H`R`ER`BB
Wozniak L`1.1`7`6`6`1`0
Clarke`0.2`3`8`8`4`0
Wychock`0.2`3`3`1`1`0
Crestwood`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Papura W`3.0`4`2`2`0`4
DISTRICT 2/11 CLASS A QUARTERFINALS
MMI Prep 5, Lincoln Leadership Acad. 2
MMI`AB`R`H`BI
Palmero ss`5`0`0`0
Danchision p`3`1`0`0
Yamulla 2b`0`0`0`0
Book dh`2`2`1`0
Hoover 3b`0`0`0`0
Lobitz p`1`0`0`0
Kassick cf`3`0`2`2
Jordan`3`1`0`0
McNulty 1b`4`0`1`1
Warner rf`2`0`0`0
Badamo lf`2`0`0`0
Rinaldi cr`0`1`0`0
Totals`25`5`4`3
LLA`AB`R`H`BI
De Los Santos`3`0`1`0
Montero`3`0`0`0
Rosa`4`0`0`0
Pagan`3`0`0`0
B.Diaz`3`1`1`0
Martinez`2`1`1`2
Presinal`3`0`1`0
D.Diaz`1`0`0`0
Tenebruso`2`0`0`0
Batista`1`0`0`0
Totals`25`2`4`2
MMI`002`000`3 — 5
LLA`000`002`0 — 2
HR — Martinez.
MMI`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Danchision`5.1`3`2`2`5`5
Lobitz W`1.2`1`0`0`1`4
LLA`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Montero`4.0`1`2`2`7`8
Rosa L`3.0`3`3`0`5`1
