PITTSTON TWP. — Pittston Township scored seven runs in the second inning en route to an 8-5 win over Jenkins Township in District 16 Little League pool play action on Wednesday.
Aidan Mehal hit a two-run home run in the second. Hits from Ryan Turant, Anthony Cencetti, Sean Connors, JJ Walsh and Matt Cocco aided to the seven-run frame. Brayden Powers picked up the win on the mound for Pittston Township. He stuck out one, walked one, and gave up six hits.
Jenkins Township took the early lead when Matt Prociak doubled home Aiden Flaim in the top of the second. After finding themselves down 7-1 after the second, Jenkins Township got a two-run home run from Johnson and an RBI single from Jack Long to close the deficit to 7-4.
Both teams added a run late. Jenkins’ Township’s Matt Johnson took the tough-luck loss after walking three and striking out two.
The top two teams in each pool will square off in the semifinals on Thursday, July 7. The championship for both District 16 and 31 will be on Monday, July 11 at Pittston Township.
DISTRICT 16
Pittston Twp. 2,
S. Wilkes-Barre 1
Anthony Cencetti had two hits and struck out 10 batters in a nine-inning Pittston Township win over South Wilkes-Barre. He allowed one run on seven hits in 6.1 innings.
Zach Elko drove in the winning run in the ninth. Braden Powers pitched the final two innings of shutout baseball.
Jenkins Twp. 7,
Pittston City 0
Karl Pecha struck out 10 on the mound to lead Jenkins Township in a rain-shortened five-inning game. Kyle Breymeier, Tyler Wassel, Jack Long and Matt Johnson all contributed at the plate.
Devin Markert topped Pittston City.
Hanover 14,
NWBADP 0
North Wilkes-Barre/Avoca/Dupont/Pittston City’s Cameron Krugel had a double in the four-inning game on Friday.
Zach Murphy provided Hanover with a four-hit game. Gavin Isope tallied three hits.
Nanticoke 14,
Duryea 1
Drew O’Malley doubled in a run for Duryea, while Jeremy Cawley, David Behn and Ryan Zapko all had singles in the loss to Nanticoke.
Nick Matson hit two homers, including a grand slam, and finished with eight RBI for Nanticoke.
Pittston Twp. 11,
Pittston City 5
Aidan Mehall threw a two-hitter and was 2 for 4 at the plate for Pittston Township.
Anthony Cencetti, Sean Connors, Brayden Powers and J.J. Walsh were multiple hitters for Pittston Township.
Devin Merkart and Ozzie Dobrowski hit home runs for Pittston City.
Duryea 12,
Hanover 11
David Behm hit a two-run homer and then scored the winning run in extra innings to lift Duryea in seven.
Jeremy Cawley (3 for 5) and Connor Mulhern (2 for 3) also came through at the plate. Ryan Zapko picked up the win on the mound.
Mountain Top 19,
Pittston City 0
Mountain Top cranked four home runs on the road to get the win over Pittston City in four innings.
Devin Market had two strikeouts for Pittston City, while Ethan Ghannam tabbed the team’s lone hit.
Plains 17,
NWBADP 2
Plains featured a balanced offensive attack led by Connor Kane’s three hits and three RBI in the four-inning game. Matt Martin and Joe Monahan each doubled twice. John Bush drove in a pair of runs. Robbie Watkins came through with a RBI.
Cameron Krugel was responsible for both of North Wilkes-Barre/Avoca/Dupont/Pittston City’s hits. Alex Nunoz had an RBI.
DISTRICT 31
Back Mountain Am. 6
Wyo./West Wyoming 3
Back Mountain American scored five runs in the third to take a 6-3 win over Wyoming/West Wyoming on Friday. The win put Back Mountain in the semifinals.
Hunter Lawall took the tough loss for the locals, while added a run-scoring double in the third.
Exeter 15,
Harveys Lake 5
Winning pitcher Drew Mruk (home run), John Morgan and Kyle Skutack all had three hits for Exeter in a four-inning victory.
Chris Buzacka, Hunter Woods and Peyton Shaw each homered for Harveys Lake.
Wyo./West Wyoming 11,
Northwest 1
Owen Hizynski and Jayden Rusyn each produced two hits for Wyoming/West Wyoming. Nick Elko did not allow an earned run in four innings on the mound.
Northwest’s Chase Miller had a pair of hits.
West Pittston 12,
West Side 0
Blaise Sokach was 4 for 4 with three homers for West Pittston in a win over West Side. J.J. Hood was 4 for 4 with two homers.
Nick Ross finished 3 for 4 and Jason Wiedl was 2 for 2. Max Rosen pitched the victory.
West Pittston 11,
Harveys Lake 1
J.J. Hood pitched a no-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a shortened five-inning game. He helped his cause with a 3 for 3 game at the plate.
West Pittston’s Kevin Melberger doubled as part of a three-hit outing.
Back Mountain Nat. 10,
Exeter 2
Chris Killian fanned 12 in a complete game one-hitter. Back Mountain National hit four home runs. Evan Zawadski batted 3 for 4 with a home run. Federici rounded the bases twice, and Killian added a homer.
Jared Adamski, Shane Healey and Mike Soltis had a hit for BMN.
Jack Mathis produced Exeter’s lone hit.