WEST PITTSTON — Wyoming Area continues to collect the rewards from a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 baseball championship season.
Cory Lescavage, Zach Lopatka and Evan Musto were first-team selections on the combined Division 1 and 2 team on the WVC Coaches All-Star team that was selected this week.
The Warriors also had additional selections to participate in the July 2 WVC Coaches All-Star Game at Crestwood’s home field, the Mountain Post American Legion field in Rice Township, and other players on the all-star team honorable mention list.
The first-team, all-star selections reflected the players largely responsible for the strong defense that combined with a deep pitching staff as Wyoming Area allowed three runs just once and never gave up more during its conference and district playoff schedule.
When Lopatka was not pitching, he was part of a strong up-the-middle defense. Musto handled the pitching staff and shut down opposing running games as catcher, Lescavage anchored the infield as the shortstop for every inning of the season and Lopatka covered ground in center field while each were also prominent in the offense.
They were the three team leaders in runs batted in while Lopatka was also a big part of the pitching staff.
Lopatka went 5-0 in the WVC with a 1.26 earned run average and a team-high 36 strikeouts. The senior left-hander also hit .362 with 14 runs scored.
“Lopatka pitched in the majority of our big games,” Wyoming Area coach Ron Musto said. “He’s a very poised, confident and hard-working player who is going to be very difficult to replace next year.”
Lescavage batted .353 and led the team in RBI by averaging more than one per game.
“Cory Lescavage could have very easily been in our pitching rotation, however, we were fortunate enough that we had four other pitchers,” coach Musto said. “Cory’s situation at this point is where he was irreplaceable at shortstop.
“That is a huge necessity next year. We need to develop a shortstop because Lescavage is going to have to pitch.”
Musto batted .317 with 11 RBIs while only striking out four times in 23 games, including non-league play. The senior did all the things hoped for from a catcher, managing the pitching staff, serving as a verbal leader and throwing out almost 70 percent of the runners who tried to steal against him.
“He has all the qualities of being a leader and all the attributes of a good catcher,” said his coach and father.
The coaches selected the best 15 players overall between Divisions 1 and 2 as all-stars. The two divisions play each other in crossover games as part of the conference standings.
Only Division 1 champion and state Class AAAA runner-up Wyoming Valley West, with five selections, and Hazleton Area, with four, had more players on the team that Wyoming Area. The Warriors were the only team to beat Wyoming Valley West in the WVC.
Joe Gavenonis and Jeremy Zezza joined Lopatka and Musto in making the West roster for the senior all-star game and were also part of the honorable mention list.
“Zezza and Gavenonis are all-stars in my eyes,” coach Musto said. “They very easily could have been on the first team.”
Gavenonis batted .400 with four doubles and went 3-1 with a 1.22 ERA while playing right field and pitcher.
Zezza batted .333 while going 2-0 with a 1.54 ERA. He also played third base and the outfield.
In addition to Gavenonis and Zezza, the honorable mention list included Michael Delaney and John Fagotti from Pittston Area as well as Tyler Dougherty and Josh Kopcza from Wyoming Area.
Delaney and Fagotti are on the East team for the senior all-star game.
