Holy Redeemer first baseman Chase Binker sets to throw to first covered by pitcher Drew Cisney after fielding a bunt in the second inning.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Holy Redeemer starter Drew Cisney threw five innings against Pittston Area.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Holy Redeemer third baseman Nick Mazzarella holds up the ball as Pittston Area’s Dom Innamorati was called out in the first inning on a force play. Mazzarella had knocked down a line drive and beat Innamorati to the bag.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Pittston Area’s Beau Widdick is safe ahead of the throw to Holy Redeemer third baseman Nick Mazzarella in the third inning.
Fred Adams | For Times Leader
After seven straight victories by double-figures margins, the unbeaten Pittston Area baseball team was put to the test on the first of three consecutive days that it played this week.
The Patriots rallied from a two-run deficit to defeat visiting Wyoming Valley West 7-5 in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 game Tuesday.
Wyoming Valley West led 2-0 after 3½ innings before Pittston Area scored all of its runs in the bottom of the fourth.
The first six Patriots reached base in the inning.
Mixed in with two hit batters, a walk and a triple steal, Pittston Area got an RBI triple from Chase Montigney for its first run, a game-tying RBI single from Nick Innamorati and a two-run triple by Dominic Innamorati.
Jake Aftewicz tripled with two outs and Widdick followed with a double to drive in the last run.
The Innamorati brothers led the offense.
Nick, batting in the ninth spot, was 3-for-3 with two doubles, a run and an RBI. Dominic, in the leadoff spot, was 2-for-3 and scored a run to go along with his two-run triple.
T.J. Johnson got the win and Logan Laskowski worked the seventh inning for the save.
Pittston Area 6, Holy Redeemer 1
Silvio Giardina and Elijah Barr combined to strike out 10 in a two-hitter Wednesday as Pittston Area picked up a non-league victory at home.
The game matched teams that are unbeaten in the WVC while leading each of its two divisions.
Pittston Area coach Paul Zaffuto viewed the meeting, which had been postponed twice earlier, as good preparation for a tough week ahead.
“I’m happy we’re playing it at this time because we have three tough games coming up,” Zaffuto said. “We see Hazleton, Dallas and (Wilkes-Barre Area ace James) Bottger.
“We’re going to see all good pitching and that was the start of it right there.”
Pittston Area managed three unearned runs to help offset six strikeouts by former Patriot Drew Cisney in five innings.
The Patriots got their own quality pitching.
Giardina gave up only an unearned run and a hit while walking four and striking out four in three innings. Barr worked four scoreless innings, yielding only one hit and one walk while fanning six.
Jake Aftewicz got the offense started with a two-run double in the three-run first inning.
Richie Tonte went 2-for-3 and doubled for the team’s only other extra-base hit.
Pittston Area 9, Berwick 2
Elijah Mead went 3-for-3 with a double and scored a run Thursday when Pittston Area won at Berwick.
Beau Widdick tripled, scored twice and drove in a run.
Dominic Innamorati had two hits while Chase Montigney and Richie Tonte each drove in two runs as part of a balanced attack that got hits from all but the ninth spot in the order.
Alex Rosencrance got the win with 2 2/3 innings of scoreless relief from Ashton Lepore.
The Patriots are 11-0 to lead the division by two games with three to play. They are 17-0 overall and leading the race for the top seed in the District 2 Class 5A playoffs.
