Greater Pittston will take a deep and versatile roster into the start of Wyoming Valley American Legion baseball play this week.
While the team may have a standard look up the middle defensively, the number of available players and their ability to play multiple positions will give manager Jerry Ranieli plenty of options.
“Most of them can play all over – infield and outfield,” said Ranieli, who has taken on additional duties this season, moving up from vice president to president of the league. “The core middle will be set.”
With postgraduates Cory Lescavage and Tyler Dougherty back at shortstop and second base and Wyoming Area’s Mikey Bonita in center field and Aaron Lee at catcher, Ranieli is confident in the middle of his defense.
“That’s looking pretty good,” Ranieli said. “That’s where you want to be solid as a team.”
The pitching also has depth and experience.
Wyoming Area’s top two pitchers from the high school season – Josh Kopcza and Lucas Jurchak – combine with Pittston Area ace Tyler Jackson and postgraduate Aiden Joplin on a pitching staff that also includes Matt Wright, Cole Keating, Brandon Charney, Robbie Wychock and Dylan Melberger, who all threw during the high school season.
Returnee C.J. Pisack is uncertain at first base while having a shoulder injury evaluated. Wright, Keating and Kopcza can also play there.
Charney, Melberger and Anthony Nardell will see time at third base and could help in the middle infield.
“They’re going to play all over the infield, depending on who’s pitching, who’s hot and who’s not,” Ranieli said. “Whoever’s swinging the hot bat will be playing in the infield.”
Ranieli will use different combinations with Bonita as well.
“Mike Bonita is probably one of the best center fielders and leadoff hitters in the league this year, so he’ll be manning center field,” Ranieli said.
Left and right field will be a combination of Nardell, Jackson, Wright, Keating and Steve Homza.
Keating and Kopcza are among the many options for designated hitter.
Greater Pittston is part of the eight-team Senior League, which also includes Plains, which will have multiple Pittston Area players in prominent roles.
The seven-team Junior League will also include Greater Pittston.
Three Wyoming Valley teams will combine with two from Lackawanna County to play a Prep Legion schedule.
