HUGHESTOWN — Greater Pittston picked up an edge going into the Region 5 Senior American Legion Baseball tournament and went right to work making the most of it.
Greater Pittston set up its championship in bracket play by first going 3-0 in Group A of the tournament, which was played on the team’s home field at the Pittston Area Primary Center.
“It’s a huge advantage,” Greater Pittston manager Steve Homza said. “We’re used to the hops. We’re used to the outfield. We’re used to the way the ball travels here.”
The tournament was originally scheduled to be played at Misericordia University, but was moved less than 24 hours before it started.
“I would say most definitely when you get the call that the games have been moved to your home field, you feel good about it and so do your players,” Homza said.
Greater Pittston 8, Green Ridge 7
Greater Pittston had already clinched first place in Group A before finishing perfect in the four-team group with the eight-inning victory July 17.
The host team recovered after letting a six-run lead get away in the sixth and seventh innings.
Devin Markert’s double drove in Zach Paczewski with the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth.
With two out and nobody on, Green Ridge had a batter ejected.
Without a replacement available, the game ended there.
Sean Connors drove in three runs and Kyle Skutack drove in two.
Greater Pittston 9, Plains/Wilkes-Barre 0
Adam Felinski limited Plains/Wilkes-Barre to three hits in five scoreless innings of the July 16 game that clinched Greater Pittston’s spot in the tournament semifinals.
Hunter Lawall, Ethan Elmes and Sean Connors drove in two runs each.
