GPT’s Wyatt Nielsen is safe at home as he slides ahead of Mountain Top’s Garrett Chalker’s tag.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
GPT’s Cody Karboski (11) is safe at 2nd base before Mountain Top’s Jacob Nealon’s tag at Jenkins Twp. Field.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Braxton Wenzel (13) is safe for Mountain Top as the GPT throw was late at home.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
Greater Pittston Twp. defeated Mountain Top in the bottom of the 6th inning to take the District 16 Championships at Jenkins Twp. on Monday Night.
Tony Callaio | For Sunday Dispatch
JENKINS TWP. — Greater Pittston Township was down three runs entering the bottom of the sixth inning. Then, it was down to one final strike.
Yet, GPT was still able to pull off an improbable comeback Monday night to win the District 16 Little League Baseball Major championship.
Wyatt Nielsen hit a grounder on a 3-2 pitch with two outs and an ensuing error allowed two runs to score as GPT defeated Mountain Top 6-5.
With the title, GPT advanced to the Section 5 Tournament at Lakeland in Scott Township, Lackawanna County where it was scheduled to play Abington in Saturday afternoon’s opener.
“We just tell them one run at a time,” GPT manager Shawn Slusser said. “You get on base and anything can happen. You put the ball on the bat and good things happen.
“They were fired up when they came in. The momentum swung when we got that first run. We just kept going from there.”
GPT had just one hit in the sixth — an infield single by Mason Slusser. But Mountain Top errors led to four unearned runs in the inning.
Plus, GPT No.12 hitter Nicholas Sanguedolce, lead-off hitter Jordan Tonte and clean-up hitter Jadan Vazquez worked walks and all scored. Vazquez crossed the plate with the winning run.
Errors were also costly to Mountain Top in the first as it committed three, leading to a pair of unearned runs.
Until the sixth, GPT had just two hits — a single by Vazquez in the first and a single by Tonte in the third.
Mountain Top starter Garrett Chalker was strong through hit five innings of work, striking out 11. Slusser, the GPT starter, was similarly impressive with 10 strikeouts in four innings.
“He’s been phenomenal the last four games he’s pitched in the district tournament,” Slusser said. “He’s been lights out. I know he’s my son, but he did great tonight.”
Mountain Top scored a run in the first after Eli Metz reached on an error and later scored on a wild pitch. A three-base error on a fly Calvin Schappert led to an RBI single by Anthony D’Arco and a 2-2 tie in the second.
Mountain Top appeared to take control in the fifth as Maksim Malay brought home a run on a fielder’s choice and Nathan Stravinski plated two more with a double for a 5-2 lead.
Reliever Vazquez closed the door on additional damage and quelled another threat in the sixth. He gave up one walk and one hit while striking out three in two scoreless innings.
