The 2025 Pittston Area Patriots put together one of the best baseball regular seasons in Wyoming Valley Conference history.
Pittston Area was perfect not just in Division 1 of the WVC, but also in a challenging non-league schedule and through the District 2 playoffs where it won a Class 5A championship.
The Patriots had their season end with a 22-1 record when they lost 7-3 to Palmyra in the first-round game that had the best combined record of any of the 90 matchups in the entire Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association tournament in any of the six classes.
Playing in a division featuring three state qualifiers, including PIAA Class 6A quarterfinalist Hazleton Area, the Patriots won their 14 conference games by a total of 150-26. Their overall season margin was 232-54.
“These guys gave everything we asked all season,” coach Paul Zaffuto told the Times Leader following the final game. “I couldn’t be more proud.”
Several Patriots were recognized for their contributions to that success.
Lehigh University commit Silvio Giardina was a first-team Class 5A all-state shortstop, who also was valuable as a pitcher. Beau Widdick, who often formed the double play combination with Giardina, was a second-team choice as a utility player for his work as a second baseman, pitcher and shortstop.
Giardina scored 30 runs, batted .421 and struck out 31 in 27 innings on the mound.
Widdick, Giardina, catcher Jake Aftewicz and pitcher/infielder Elijah Barr were all named all-WVC by the Times Leader.
Barr, a junior, went 5-0 with 37 strikeouts and a 1.72 ERA in 40 2/3 innings. He also batted .382.
The team statistical leaders were: batting average, Widdick, .438; on-base percentage, Barr, .611; slugging percentage, Widdick, .699; on-base plus slugging percentage, Widdick, 1.187; hits, Widdick and Giardina, 32; doubles, Widdick, 10; triples, Giardina, six; home runs, Aftewicz and Widdick, one; RBI, Widdick, 30; runs scored, Giardina, 29; stolen bases, Dominic Innamorati, 26; innings pitched, Barr, 40 2/3; pitching appearances, Barr, 10; pitching starts, Barr, seven; wins, Barr and Johnson, five; saves, Barr, four; strikeouts, Barr, 37; earned run average, T.J. Johnson, 1.47.
The Patriots were successful on 109 out of 116 stolen base attempts.
