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MOOSIC — Wallenpaupack applied pressure from the mound — 12 strikeouts by pitchers Austin Gilpin and Mitch Guerrieri.
The Buckhorns added more on the basepaths, putting runners on the move and forcing Crestwood out of rhythm around the diamond.
And though it was just one big inning at the plate that delivered gold medals to the Bucks, everything else added up to keep the Comets from a long-awaited district title.
Wallenpaupack’s 6-1 victory in Sunday’s District 2 Class 5A championship at PNC Field featured just one extra-base hit, but plenty of headaches for Crestwood.
“I give their offense credit — they’re pesky,” Comets coach Tony Caladie said. “They slap the ball, they do everything you want to do. They ran well. They’ve got three or four kids that can really run on that team. … That’s a tough spot to be in.
“They kept doing it and doing it, and I give them credit.”
Top-seeded Wallenpaupack grinded out a run with two outs in the bottom of the second as Guerrieri drew a walk on a full count and then went to third on a hit-and-run single by Chris Brindle.
That bit of strategy allowed a wild pitch to score the game’s first run as Guerrieri would score on a wild pitch.
The Buckhorns would continue to hassle the Comets with some small ball in the fourth inning before Tyler Kirsten broke things open with a two-run single that made it 6-0 as five runs crossed the plate in the frame.
Before that, it was an RBI groundout from Brindle and a run-scoring single by Adam Sands, who also came home on a wild pitch. Five of the Bucks’ six runs came with two outs.
“We knew they were a good team, and we knew we were going to have to scrape together some runs like that to be able to win it,” Paupack coach Todd Schmalzle said. “We feel confident that if we can get a lead, our pitching’s going to hold.”
Crestwood, the No. 2 seed, managed to push an unearned run across in the fifth. Evan Knapp led off with a single, went to second on a sacrifice and then scored when a grounder to short led to a throw that sailed high to first base.
But that was all they got against Gilpin, who went five innings and struck out nine, allowing just one walk.
“The Gilpin kid was really good tonight,” Caladie said. “I mean, he threw well. Fastball, curveball right over the top and kept our hitters off balance. Good velocity. And we couldn’t string anything together.”
Shortstop Brett Caladie led the Comets at the plate, picking up two of their six hits. Justin Darden, Curtis Tokach, Evan Knapp and Mick Baffuno also singled.
Crestwood players and coaches stood on the third-base line after the game as Wallenpaupack received its gold medals and championship plaque. With the Comets starting seven juniors in the field on Sunday, they’re aiming at making it back to this point in 2018.
“We have a lot of guys coming back next year. A lot of juniors are going to be seniors,” Caladie said. “I want them to remember the moment, I want them to be ready so that that’s us (celebrating) next year. That’s the goal.”
District 2 Class 5A championship
Wallenpaupack 6, Crestwood 1
Crestwood`AB`R`H`BI
Caladie ss`3`0`2`0
Kindler ph`1`0`0`0
Macko p`2`0`0`0
Trimmer p`0`0`0`0
Kovalchik ph`1`0`0`0
Kaminski p`0`0`0`0
Anthony ph`1`0`0`0
Darden 2b`3`0`1`0
Chalk 1b`0`0`0`0
Graves dh`3`0`0`0
Wegener c`3`0`0`0
Tokach 3b`2`0`1`0
Brozena rf`2`0`0`0
Baffuno rf`1`0`1`0
Knapp lf`3`1`1`0
Taleroski cf`1`0`0`0
Morra ph`1`0`0`0
Totals`26`1`6`0
Wallenpaupack`AB`R`H`BI
Theobald cf`3`1`1`0
Kirsten 3b-ss`4`0`1`2
Vosburg rf`3`0`0`0
Alessi c`2`1`1`0
Gilpin p-3b`2`0`0`0
Guerreri ss-p`1`2`0`0
Brindle 1b`3`0`1`1
Holbert 2b`0`0`0`0
Sands dh`3`1`1`1
Santiago lf`3`1`3`0
Totals`24`6`8`4
Crestwood`000`010`0`—`1
Wallenpaupack`010`500`x`—`6
2B — Santiago
Crestwood`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Macko (L)`3.2`4`6`6`4`1
Trimmer`0.1`1`0`0`0`1
Kaminski`2.0`3`0`0`0`0
Paupack`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO
Gilpin (W)`5.0`4`1`0`1`9
Guerrieri`2.0`2`0`0`0`3
