First Posted: 4/4/2013
Josh Razvillas got Pittston Area off to an impressive start to the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 season Thursday when he lofted a home run just to the left of the 402-foot sign in center field in the bottom of the first inning.
The blast by Razvillas, however, was the only run production for the Patriots.
“That’s not our game,” Pittston Area coach Paul Zaffuto said after Coughlin ruined the opener with a 6-1 victory. “If we’re relying on home runs, we’re losing.
“We couldn’t do anything after we got on base.”
The Patriots struggled throughout their opener.
The home field was no advantage as Pittston Area struggled in tough conditions on a cool, windy day on an infield still rounding into shape in the spring.
“This infield is really rough,” Zaffuto said. “The balls are all over. It’s in the kids’ heads. They really think that bad hop is going to happen.
“I don’t think Coughlin knows how bad the field is and they were just coming through the ball like normal. We didn’t challenge them. We hit two groundballs all day.”
The Patriots mishandled groundballs on two of the game’s first three batters and finished with six errors while allowing five unearned runs.
“We gave them 11 extra outs and we popped up three bunts,” Zaffuto said. “So you’re talking about 14 outs that we gave them.”
Coughlin improved to 2-0 behind the pitching of Josh Featherman and Dave Marriggi. They combined on a four-hitter with nine strikeouts.
The biggest hit came on an Eric Adamczyk three-run double with two outs in the top of the third for a 5-1 lead.
Pittston Area did not score after the first inning.
“That was a bomb that Raz hit,” Zaffuto said. “He’s been swinging the bat well as of late.
“In a scrimmage against Old Forge, he hit the same type of 400-foot home run.”
Pat McGinty had two hits for Pittston Area. Felix Mascelli also had a single.
Michael Schwab pitched into the seventh inning for the Patriots, allowing just one unearned run. He struck out four and walked one in 6 1/3 innings.
The game was originally scheduled to be played at Coughlin, but was moved as part of the opening week changes as schools struggled to get fields ready and find days where the weather could accommodate a game.
Pittston Area had its opener postponed because of cold Tuesday.
The game against Crestwood was scheduled to be made up Saturday afternoon.
“Come May 15 or May 24 or whatever the last day is, we’re going to be a different team than we are right now,” Zaffuto said.
Tunkhannock 4, Wyoming Area 0
Wyoming Area also sputtered offensively while opening its WVC season Thursday at home.
The Warriors managed just three hits in a 4-0 Division 2 loss to Tunkhannock.
The Tigers Ty Weiss, mixing in knuckleballs, worked six innings and Jeremy Lee finished up in the seventh for the Tigers.
Zach Lopatka doubled for the only Wyoming Area extra-base hit. Santino Romanelli and Jeremy Zezza had the other hits.
Zezza also struck out three in three scoreless innings of relief.
Joe Gavenonis took the loss despite allowing just two earned runs on three hits in four innings. He struck out five and walked one.
THIS WEEK
Monday
WA at Lake Lehman
Hazleton at PA
Wednesday
Holy Redeemer at WA
PA at Berwick
Friday
WA at Dallas
PA at Valley West