Pittston Area pitcher Tori Para got the win in a 5-2 victory over Tunkhannock Area on Friday afternoon at Hughestown allowing only 4-hits.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Ava Callahan smashed a deep ball to the outfield driving in three Patriot runs in the victory over Tunkhannock Area.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Flex player Maura Mihalka, center, catches a pop fly at 2nd base as she checks the Tunkhannock runner at 1st base.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Pittston Area third base coach Mike Callahan gives a low-five to starting pitcher Tori Para as she drilled a solo home run in helping her cause.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Patriot first baseman, Taylor Baiera, stretches low after a toss from Pittston Area shortstop Bella Giardina for the out.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
HUGHESTOWN — Under normal circumstances, Pittston Area’s Tori Para would have been playing shortstop Friday and not pitching.
But neither were the circumstances normal nor was the opponent — Class 4A state runner-up Tunkhannock.
Yet Para endured in the circle and the offense came up with timely hitting as Pittston Area defeated Tunkhannock, 5-2, in a showdown of Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 softball first-place teams.
The victory gave the Patriots (4-0 in the division, 6-0 overall) sole possession of first place in a crowded top of the standings. Idle Dallas (3-0, 3-1) is second followed by Tunkhannock (3-1, 4-2) and Hazleton Area (3-1, 3-1).
Para has pitched before and was slated to be the No. 1 pitcher in 2020 until the COVID-19 pandemic canceled the season. Gianna Adams joined the team in 2021 and took over the majority of the pitching, but she was injured two games ago against Berwick.
So Para went back into the circle and delivered a strong outing against one of the WVC’s best hitting teams. She didn’t allow a hit until an infield single in the fourth. She surrendered four hits in all, including an RBI double by Paige Marabell in the fifth and an RBI double by MacKenzie Hannon in the sixth.
“I spoke to my catcher (Ava Callahan) beforehand, and she had so much faith in me,” said Para, who had just one strikeout. “It was so good to have that going onto the mound with our starting pitcher out. And Bella Giardina had to come in from left to play shortstop to take over my position.
“It felt so good. Our defense is always so strong behind me. I know even if they hit the ball, they’ll be there to get the out. And that’s what they did tonight.”
At the plate, Para homered, had two RBI and scored twice.
“I told her I’ve been coaching a long time at this level, travel ball, school ball,” Pittston Area coach Frank Parente said. “That was the best performance I’ve ever seen from a player. She hasn’t had a lot reps at pitcher. She’s our shortstop.
“When we need her to pitch and take her off the field, it’s tough.”
Giardina came up big at shortstop after Tunkhannock had its first two batters reach in the fourth inning. Giardina ranged far behind third baseman Skylar Borthwick to nab a soft liner for the first out. Right fielder Kallie Booth ended the inning with a running catch near the foul line.
Those two defensive plays were typical of Tunkhannock’s afternoon. The Tigers stranded six runners in scoring position. Aside from Booth’s catch, the other eight flyouts were rather routine.
“That’s been the problem this year,” Tunkhannock coach Bob Hegedty said. “We’re getting kids on and we’re not getting timely hits when we need to be. Last year, we got a lot of timely hit. This year, we’re struggling with that.”
Pittston Area got off to a good start by scoring three runs in the first inning. Sage Weidlich reached on an infield single with one out when a full swing resulted in the ball plopping down in no-man’s land about five feet in front of home plate. Para was then hit by a pitch and Giardina walked to load the bases. Callahan sent them all home with a double that one-hopped the left field fence.
“Ava with a huge hit, a huge hit in the first inning,” Parente said. “She’s been huge all year bringing it at the plate. I’m so proud of her.”
Pittston Area again loaded the bases in the second as Borthwick, Booth and Weidlich were all hit by pitches. Para then walked to make it 4-0. Her homer in the fourth was a liner to left-center.
Wyoming Area 23, Hanover Area 4
Wyoming Area posted its first win of the season Friday on the road in the WVC Division 2 game.
The Lady Warriors overcame a 4-0 deficit to win in four innings. They scored nine runs each in the second and fourth innings and scored five in between.
Jocelyn Williams went 3-for-5 with a grand slam and five RBI.
Marisa Giordano also drove in five runs and scored three times.
Winning pitcher Kayla Leo had two hits and scored three times.
Pittston Area 16, Wilkes-Barre Area 0
Pittston Area scored 10 times in the top of the first and six more times in the fourth to end Thursday’s WVC Division 1 game on the Mercy Rule in four innings.
Sage Weidlich and Marina Antal each had a homer, single and three RBI.
Tori Para tossed a one-hitter and had three hits.
Taylor Baiera and Jiana Moran each scored twice and had two of the team’s 15 hits.
Dunmore 6, Wyoming Area 2
Dunmore beat visiting Wyoming Area in Thursday’s non-league game.
Pittston Area 4, Berwick 1
Gianna Adams struck out 16 in a one-hitter to lead Monday’s home victory in the WVC Division 1 game.
Bella Giardina doubled and scored twice. Marina Antal drove in two runs.
Elk Lake 7, Wyoming Area 5
Elk Lake won the April 9 non-league game.
Marissa Giordano went 2-for-2 while Kayla Leo doubled and drove in two runs in the loss.
