DALLAS — Wyoming Area had to really battle to win the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 softball title last year, including winning a special playoff game against Nanticoke.

Based on the early returns, this season will be a battle as well.

Wyoming Area held off a seventh-inning rally by Dallas, holding on for a 5-4 victory over a young Mountaineers team.

“We’re lucky to get out of here,” said Wyoming Area coach John McNeil, whose team wasn’t as fortunate in a 2-1 loss to Tunkhannock on Wednesday. “They are nice, young ball club. They played aggressive, they’re well-coached. We were just lucky to get out of here.”

Related Video

Wyoming Area (2-1) led 4-0 going into the bottom of the sixth when Dallas scored two runs. The Mountaineers (0-1) then made the Warriors sweat on the 39-degree day in the bottom of the seventh.

Mia Dixon, one of four freshmen in the lineup, opened the seventh with a double off the left-center fence. An out later, freshman Christina Schappert homered to center with the ball just to the right of the batter’s eye that extends about six feet higher than the rest of the fence.

The comeback attempt, though, stalled there as Wyoming Area pitcher Gwen Glatz got a couple grounders to end the game.

“We’re starting four freshmen, three sophomores and two juniors. It’s one of my youngest teams ever,” said Dallas coach Joyce Tinner, who is in her 21st season.

Young teams can fall victim to inexperience, and that was the case Friday. Dallas should have retired the side in the second, but an error left open the door for Wyoming Area. Heather Nametko answered with a two-run homer to left for a 2-0 lead.

Bree Bednarski added a two-run triple in the fourth where perhaps a better angle to the ball would have prevented it from slapping off the fence in foul territory and rolling away. Glatz knocked in what proved to be the winning run in the seventh, scoring Jess Parente. Parente doubled to lead off the inning.

Freshman Samantha Kern had a two-run double in the sixth for Dallas.

Dallas was playing its first game since before Easter when the team was in South Carolina as the Mounts’ opener was postponed. Now Wyoming Area will have a long wait until its next contest. The Warriors are off until Saturday, April 16, when they host Nanticoke at noon.

Tunkhannock 13,

Lake-Lehman 3

The Tigers jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the top of the first and finished with 17 hits in a five-inning win.

Faith Jones and Danielle Krispin finished with three hits apiece for Tunkhannock.

Wyo. Valley West 12,

Berwick 9 (9 inn)

Colleen Cwalina was 3 for 5 with a grand slam, a homer and six RBI as the Spartans prevailed in nine innings on the road.

Morgan Klosko also homered for Valley West. Audi Welles had three RBI, Mandi Zawadzki doubled and singled and Peyton Boler had three singles.

Chloe Ruckle pitched 6.1 innings. Melodi Raskiewicz pitched the final 2.2 innings to pick up the win.

Two games postponed

Coughlin at Crestwood was postponed and moved to Monday. Pittston Area at Hazleton Area was rescheduled for Wednesday.

Wyoming Area 5, Dallas 4

Wyo Area`AB`R`H`BI

Bednarski cf`4`0`1`2

Parente ss`4`1`1`0

Coolbaugh c`2`0`0`0

Glatz p`4`0`2`1

Karcutskie rf`4`1`0`0

Skok 3b`4`0`1`0

Remley 2b`3`0`1`0

Nametko 1b`3`2`1`2

Koptechney lf`3`1`0`0

Totals`30`5`7`5

Dallas`AB`R`H`BI

Schappert lf`4`0`1`2

Saba c`4`1`1`0

Spaciano ss`4`1`3`0

Kern cf`2`0`1`2

Johnson 1b`3`0`0`0

Kelley p`2`0`1`0

Coolbaugh`2`0`0`0

Dixon rf`3`1`1`0

Ross 3b`3`0`0`0

Totals`27`4`8`4

Wyoming Area`020`200`1`—`5

Dallas`000`002`2`—`4

2B — Parente, Kern, Dixon. 3B — Bednarski. HR — Nametko, Schappert.

Wyo. Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Glatz (W)`7`8`4`4`1`6

Dallas`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Kelley (L)`7`7`5`3`1`5

Tunkhannock 13, Lake-Lehman 3

Tunkhannock` `710`50`—`13

Lake-Lehman` `001`02`—`3

Pitching — W: Hope Jones 4 IP, 1 R, 3K; Kendra Schultz 1 IP, 2 R. L: Abbey Hogan 4 IP, 2 K.

Top hitters — TUN, Faith Jones 3 H; Danielle Krispin 3 H; Schultz 2 H

Dallas’ Kendra Saba slides into third base before being tagged by Wyoming Area’s Kristi Skok at the Back Mountain Little League field in Dallas on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL040916HSSOFT-WyoAreaDallas1.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas’ Kendra Saba slides into third base before being tagged by Wyoming Area’s Kristi Skok at the Back Mountain Little League field in Dallas on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Wyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz pitches in the softball game against Dallas at Back Mountain Little League field on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL040916HSSOFT-WyoAreaDallas4.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz pitches in the softball game against Dallas at Back Mountain Little League field on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Dallas’ Breezy Coolbaugh bunts and hustles down the first base line against Wyoming Area at Back Mountain Little League field in Dallas on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL040916HSSOFT-WyoAreaDallas3.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas’ Breezy Coolbaugh bunts and hustles down the first base line against Wyoming Area at Back Mountain Little League field in Dallas on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

Wyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz swings at the ball against Dallas at Back Mountain Little League field on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_TTL040916HSSOFT-WyoAreaDallas2.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz swings at the ball against Dallas at Back Mountain Little League field on Friday. Sean McKeag | Times Leader

By John Erzar

jerzar@timesleader.com

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar