First Posted: 5/4/2015
Pittston Area found another power pitcher.
Freshman Nina Cencetti has learned from tenured hurler Taylor Baloga throughout the season. She’s beginning to prove she can handle the circle just fine.
Cencetti pitched seven strong innings, scattering just four hits, and walking none in a 4-1 win over Coughlin on Thursday. Cencetti did not allow an earned run.
In five appearances this season, the first-year player has pitched 17 innings and accumulated a 3.54 ERA. She’s struck out 15 batters and walked just four in that time.
Cencetti needed to be good on Thursday. The Patriot offense scattered just six hits. Mindina Lieback was 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Julie Silinskie had a run-producing double, while Abbey Bradigan drove in another with a base hit.
While Pittston Area started to gain momentum heading into the postseason, Wyoming Area overtook Nanticoke for first place in the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2.
The Warriors (10-3) took down Dallas, 8-6 in 10 innings on Friday, while Nanticoke lost 1-0 to Berwick.
Both teams started the 10th inning with a runner on second per the international tiebreaker rule. Wyoming Area was able to get its runner, Grace Gober, across the plate on a fielder’s choice by Bree Bednarski. Jules Scappaticci followed with an RBI single to score Kristi Skok, who was hit by a pitch.
Wyoming Area pitcher Gwen Glatz did what she had to do in the bottom of the 10th, getting a strikeout to end the game with Dallas runners on the corners.
Dallas had just three hits over the final five innings. Glatz finished with six strikeouts, including three that ended innings with Dallas runners in scoring positions.
In the top of the third, Scappaticci hit a one-out triple and scored when Emily Wolfgang doubled, Glatz followed with a single, and she and Wolfgang scored on Sarah Coolbaugh’s double. Heather Nametko completed the four-run rally with an RBI bloop single to left for a 5-4 lead.
Nametko didn’t bat in a 4-1 loss to Tunkhannock on Tuesday. She finished Friday 4 for 5 with two RBI, knocking in another run with another bloop single to left in the fifth.
Hazleton 3, Pittston Area 1
Pittston Area’s Taryn Ashby went 3-for-4, while Mindina Lieback and Abbey Bradigan each had two hits in a loss to Hazleton on Friday.
Taylor Baloga threw six strong innings, scattering eight hits and allowing two earned runs. Hazleton carried a 3-0 lead into the fifth inning where Pittston Area scored its lone run when Liebac crossed the plate.
Tunkhannock 4, Wyoming Area 1
Wyoming Area was limited to just five hits in a loss to Tunkhannock on Wednesday.
Gwen Glatz pitched seven strong innings in a losing effort. She gave up just three hits, but Tunkhannock scored four unearned runs. Grace Gober had two hits for the Warriors. Glatz scored the lone run.
Wyoming Area’s four errors allowed Tunkhannock to get the win.
Berwick 14, Pittston Area 1
Pittston Area’s Taryn Ashby led the Patriots attack in a 14-1 loss to Berwick Monday.
Ashby was 2-for-3 in the loss, while Theresa Domarasky drove in Pittston Area’s lone run in the second inning. Julie Silinskie was hit by a pitch, took two bases via an error on Liz Cappelloni’s grounder to short, and scored on a sacrifice squeeze by Theresa Domarasky.
Pittston Area’s Nina Cencetti relieved starter Taylor Baloga and threw three innings, giving up just two hits.
Wyoming Area 6, Crestwood 3
Wyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz struck out nine for the Warriors while tossing a complete game to pick up the win against Crestwood on Thursday.
Emily Wolfgang went 2-for-4 with a double at the plate. Bree Bednarski and Julianna Scappaticci each went 2-for-4 in the win.
Regular season closing
Pittston Area has three games left on the schedule. The Patriots will travel to Wyoming Valley West on Monday and Holy Redeemer on Tuesday. Pittston Area wraps up the regular season by hosting Crestwood on Thursday.
Since the Warriors were one of the few teams to be playing in early April, they are left with one regular season game. On Thursday, Wyoming Area travels to Nanticoke for a showdown that could determine the WVC Division 2 title.
