First Posted: 4/14/2015
WEST PITTSTON – Wyoming Area piled up 12 hits in just 4 1/3 innings Thursday.
Sophomore pitcher Josh Kopcza was in complete command during a three-hit shutout in which he did not issue a walk.
It was all the little things in a 10-0, five-inning romp over visiting Coughlin, however, that had Ron Musto raving about his team’s play during his first season back as Wyoming Area coach.
“It’s exactly what we talked about before season started, the intangibles,” Musto said.
The romp was part of a week in which the Warriors won four times in five days. They completed their first pass through the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 schedule and added the crossover win over Division 1 Coughlin to reach 5-0, outscoring opponents, 42-6.
Thursday’s win was the most dominant of those efforts.
The Warriors only allowed three base runners and wiped out two of them. They turned two double plays and never committed an error.
Wyoming Area created constant pressure with its base-running. It stole three bases and induced a balk that forced in a run, all during an eight-run fourth inning to break open what had been a scoreless game.
“We’re (unbeaten) for a reason,” Musto said. “We’re making routine plays in the field. Our pitchers are probably averaging one walk per game.
“ … We do things on the bases that other teams don’t do and you can see how we rattle teams real quickly.”
Every starter had at least one hit and eight of the nine batting order spots produced runs.
When the Warriors turned to pinch runners and courtesy runners, they got another form of production.
Each run still seemed important with two out in the fourth inning when courtesy runner Brandon Charney hustled around from second base on a throw that pulled the first baseman off the bag, making it a 4-0 lead. The next run scored when another courtesy runner, Anthony Nardell, broke from first base in a first-and-third situation and drew the balk that allowed Nick Gushka to score the fifth run.
“We play 15 kids a game, not because I’m trying to keep people happy,” Musto said. “We have 15 moves we can make.
“If I don’t think a kid can run better than who I have on base, I’m not putting him out there.”
The Warriors had plenty of base runners over the last two innings, getting 11 of their 12 hits and giving Musto plenty of moves to make on a day when he used 17 players and had more ready to join in as the 10-run rule was imposed to end the game early.
Zach Lopatka’s game-ending hit officially went down as a one-run single, but the bases-loaded shot to the right-field fence would have scored three runs as a double or triple if the Warriors needed any more.
Lopatka, who scored twice, and Joe Gavenonis, who drove in two runs, joined Evan Musto in producing two hits each.
Kopcza had a two-run, two-out single that made it 4-0.
“I’m going right after hitters,” said Kopcza, who retired eight straight at one point, struck out four and threw 29 of his 42 pitches for strikes. “I try to work fast and try to get into a good rhythm.”
Wyoming Area 10, Berwick 2
Wyoming Area opened its Division 2 lead to a full two games Friday with a 10-2 romp over Berwick, which had entered the day in second place.
The Warriors are in front of Tunkhannock (3-2) and Berwick (2-2).
Eight different players were part of the team total of 14 hits and Joe Gavenonis picked up the win with five innings of relief.
Cory Lescavage started and threw two scoreless innings. He also had three hits.
Evan Musto had two hits and drove in three runs. Tyler Mitchell and Jeremy Zezza each had a double and single while Zach Lopatka had two hits and scored twice.
The Warriors used a six-run fourth inning to open a 7-0 lead.
Wyoming Area 6, Lake-Lehman 2
Winning pitcher Zach Lopatka went 3-for-4 and drove in two runs Wednesday when Wyoming Area won at Lake-Lehman, 6-2.
Lopatka struck out nine in 6 1/3 innings before Josh Kopcza came on to get the last two outs.
Nick Gushka doubled twice while Evan Musto also added two hits for the Warriors.
Wyoming Area 8, Dallas 2
Wyoming Area got its impressive week started with an 8-2 win over defending division champion Dallas when Cory Lescavage went 3-for-4 with a double, triple and three runs batted in.
The Warriors got to Monmouth University recruit Jordan McCrum for six runs on seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.
The game was a chance for the Warriors to establish themselves as the division favorite, one season after finishing a game behind the Mountaineers in second place.
Joe Gavenonis got the win with 4 2/3 innings of scoreless relief while contributing a double.
Zach Lopatka and Evan Musto each scored twice and had a hit. Lopatka’s hit was a double.
Pittston Area 5, Coughlin 5
John Fagotti pitched a shutout Wednesday when Pittston Area defeated host Coughlin, 5-0, in a WVC Division 1 game.
Fagotti allowed seven singles and walked two while striking out five.
Kyle Turonis and Kyle O’Fier each went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.
Tunkhannock 11, Pittston Area 4
An early lead got away from Pittston Area Thursday in an 11-4 loss to visiting Tunkhannock.
The Patriots, who led 3-1 after three innings, were hurt by eight errors.
Cody Brown had three hits while Brian Muckin drove in three runs and scored twice to lead the Tigers.
Michael Delaney had a single, double, two runs and three stolen bases for the Patriots. Joe Delucca drove in two runs.
