DURYEA — Matt Walter drove in four runs and got plenty of offensive help from the rest of the Greater Pittston Area lineup Monday night in an 11-1, five-inning, home-field romp over Township in the District 16 Major Little League Baseball championship game.
Walter’s two-run single capped a three-run second inning for a 4-0 lead. He doubled off the left-field fence to drive in the first two runs of a six-run fourth that expanded the lead to 10-1.
When it was time to end the game on the 10-run rule, Walter came home with the clinching run. He finished 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored.
Elijah Mead drove in the final run when his bases-loaded blooper to left-field went for an RBI fielder’s choice on a forceout at third.
The win made it a second straight district title on the home field. Duryea/Pittston City won last season before Avoca was added to that mix to make it Greater Pittston Area.
Paul Rusincovitch had three hits, twice driving in runs and the other time scoring.
Winning pitcher Silvio Giardina went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Dominic Innamorati had a hit, drew two walks and scored twice.
Logan O’Malley added an RBI single as a pinch hitter.
Giardina got all but one out before reaching his pitch limit. He struck out nine in 4 2/3 before Innamorati retired the only batter he faced.
After Giardina worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the top of the first, GPA broke on top in the bottom of the inning.
Innamorati singled to center with one out and moved to second when Walter drew a walk.
Rusincovitch ripped a single down the right-field line with two outs to score Innamorati.
Giardina got out of the bases-loaded situation on a strikeout and got another to escape runners on the corners after Township scored in the fourth.
Drew Cisney singled in Beau Widdick with the only Township run.
