Chase Yochem went 3-for-4 and drove in three runs Thursday when Greater Pittston defeated host Nanticoke, 5-3, in a Wyoming Valley Youth American Legion baseball game.
Caleb Graham went the distance on the mound as Greater Pittston improved to 7-1.
Greater Pittston had scored in double figures in its previous two games, posting wins June 12 and 16.
After beating Nanticoke, 12-2, in five innings, Greater Pittston came back to beat Stripes & Strikes from Hazleton, 10-4.
Cole Cherkas went 3-for-3 with a triple and three RBI against Nanticoke. Yochek threw a five-hitter while joining Toby Hallman and Danny Weidl with two hits.
Greater Pittston has won three straight since Swoyersville scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to pull out a 5-4 win June 10.
John Angelella had singled in one run and scored the other in the top of the seventh to put Greater Pittston ahead, 5-4.
Plains Youth
Plains dropped a pair of home games on consecutive nights, falling 9-0 to Nanticoke Wednesday, then 4-2 to Swoyersville Thursday.
Plains has lost four straight since winning a pitchers’ duel from Tunkhannock, 2-1, June 10. It gave up 11 runs each in consecutive losses to Back Mountain.
Greater Pittston Senior
Greater Pittston will return from a 10-day layoff for Senior Week when it plays Monday night at rival Plains in a game at Hilldale.
Greater Pittston is second in the nine-team league with a 5-2 record, ranking behind only unbeaten Swoyersville.
The teams met June 15 in a game matching Pittston Area High School teammates against each other.
Cory Lescavage had three hits and drove in two runs, including the game-winner in the seventh inning to lift Greater Pittston to a 3-2 victory.
Steve Homza had two hits and an RBI to back the complete game effort of Tyler Jackson.
Joe DeLucca and Steve Dressler had hits for Plains.
Mikey Bonita’s three hits and Josh Kopcza’s complete game were not enough June 14 when Greater Pittston suffered its first loss since opening day, 3-2, to defending state champion Swoyersville.
Earlier, Greater Pittston pulled out consecutive one-run wins, 1-0 over Nanticoke and 5-4 over Mountain Post.
Kopcza threw a two-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts in the June 9 win over Nanticoke.
All the scoring came in the fifth and sixth innings in the June 11 comeback against Mountain Post.
Plains Senior
Plains, which is 4-3 and in fourth place, will be trying to break a three-game losing streak when it returns from a nine-day layoff.
The last Plains win came June 9 at home, 3-2 over Mountain Post.
Jacob Lupas, who picked up the win in relief, and DeLucca each had two hits.
Josh Wychock and Kyle O’Fier drove in runs.
Plains then fell, 8-5, to Nanticoke June 12, dropped its game against Greater Pittston and lost, 1-0, to Stripes & Strikes June 16.
O’Fier had a homer, double and three RBI against Nanticoke.
DeLucca struck out 10 in 4 2/3 innings of relief against Stripes & Strikes.
