WEST WYOMING — Greater Pittston Youth team manager Tom Spurlin says his team likes to run “when the time is right.”
The time has been right often during a 10-0 start to the Wyoming Valley American Legion Baseball League season.
Greater Pittston stole a dozen bases Wednesday to get through one of its toughest tests of the season in a 7-3 victory over Plains.
“We have a lot of quick kids,” Spurlin said of a team that produced 10 first-inning steals in a 9-3 win over Valley early in the season.
That speed came in handy in a game that saw Plains score three times in the top of the sixth to close to within, 4-3.
Mike Bonita and Matt Wright stole three bases each, Dylan Melberger stole two and four teammates stole one each.
Wright and Melberger each stole both second and third before scoring in the bottom of the sixth when Greater Pittston answered the Plains comeback by stealing five bases to turn two hits and two hit batters into three runs.
Greater Pittston stole three bases in the two-run third inning and also had stolen bases figure prominently into the first- and fifth-inning runs that contributed to a 4-0 lead.
Leadoff hitter Bonita stole three bases in the first three innings to score twice. He started the first with a double, stole third and scored from there on an Anthony Nardell sacrifice fly.
Steven Yordy was the only runner to reach in the fifth but, after his double, he eventually was able to score by stealing home on a throw from the catcher back to the mound.
Melberger, the winning pitcher, had a two-run single and Alex Gonzalez added an RBI double in the sixth inning.
After retiring eight straight and taking a three-hit shutout into the sixth Melberger rarn into some trouble before settling in to retire the last four.
Plains put on its own show of speed when George Oko raced in from second on what turned out to be a two-run, infield single by Darryn Marek.
Joe Carey had a single and double for Plains in the loss.
Youth
Greater Pittston had two other wins during the week.
Alex McAndrew struck out five in three scoreless innings of relief to wrap up Thursday’s 6-2 win at Nanticoke.
Hunter Ralston, who allowed just one run while working the first four innings, also drove in a run.
Aaron Zezza had a two-run single while Dylan Spurlin, C.J. Rome and Alex Gonzalez also had RBI.
Greater Pittston also beat Swoyersville, 6-3, June 13.
Matt Wright struck out eight while giving up three hits and two earned runs in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five straight, fanning the side in the fifth and the first two in the sixth before needing relief help from Steve Yordy for the final four outs.
Plains split a doubleheader in its previous outing June 13 at Tunkhannock, losing 9-2 before bouncing back with a 10-2 win.
Joe Carey had three hits in the win. Tucker Ell had a double, single and two runs scored. Darryn Marek had two hits.
Valley 6, Greater Pittston Senior 0
Greater Pittston struggled offensively in Wyoming Valley Senior League play, suffering shut out losses twice in three days.
Joe Baran threw a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts Friday to lead Valley past Greater Pittston, 6-0.
Steve Homza had two of the four Greater Pittston hits.
Zach Lopatka struck out eight in the loss.
Greater Pittston Senior 6, Mountain Post 0
Jeremy Zezza struck out five and allowed just seven singles while shutting out Mountain Post Thursday to lead Greater Pittston to a 6-0 victory.
Zezza also contributed a hit, run and RBI.
Steve Homza had two hits.
Swoyersville 5, Greater Pittston Senior 0
Logan Zavada threw a four-hit shutout and did not walk a batter Wednesday when defending state champion Swoyersville shut out Greater Pittston, 5-0.
Greater Pittston had won its first five games.
Plains Senior 13, Mountain Post 2
After a tough week in which it had scored just four runs while losing three straight, Plains broke out offensively Friday in a 13-2 win over Mountain Post.
Tim Cavanaugh led the way, going 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI.
Kyle O’Fier was also 3-for-5 with a double while driving in one run. Brandon Butry and Albert Zuba drove in two runs each.
Justin Glasgow pitched a five-hitter with five strikeouts.
Plains improved to 3-5 with the win.
Swoyersville 2, Plains Senior 1
Tyler Yankosky threw a one-hitter and Swoyersville rallied with two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 2-1 victory over Plains.
Kyle O’Fier had the only hit for Plains, which took the lead with a run in the top of the sixth.
John Fagotti struck out six while pitching a complete game for Plains.
Tunkhannock 5, Plains Senior 3
Tunkhannock defeated Plains, 5-3, Monday.
Nanticoke 11, Plains Senior 0
Unbeaten Nanticoke shut out Plains, 11-0, June 13.
