Scranton Prep upsets Wyoming Area in district baseball action

WEST PITTSTON — Scranton Prep pitcher Jonathan Martens took a no-hitter into the sixth inning before being lifted without giving up a hit and led sixth-seeded Scranton Prep to a 3-1 upset victory over third-seeded Wyoming Area in Tuesday’s District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinals at Atlas Field.

“The last couple years haven’t been good to us,” Scranton Prep coach Mark Seitzinger said. “Wyoming Valley Conference teams have taken it to us. So it felt good to come down here. It feels really good to get this win.”

Martens got ahead of hitters, but had some control issues as he walked six and hit a batter, while striking out three. Despite putting runners on base, he got outs when he needed them most.

In the fourth inning, the Warriors had a pair of runners on base with walks and one out, but a groundball double-play ended the threat.

In the sixth, pitching with a 3-0 lead, Martens hit a batter and walked another to start the inning before being pulled. Two batters later, Dillon Williams singled in a run for the Warriors’ only hit. They got runners on second and third with one out, but couldn’t cross the plate again.

“When we’re able to get through that with men at second and third in the sixth inning and we can get through that … you feel a lot more at ease,” Seitzinger said.

Lefty starter Toby Hallman gave up just three hits in 4 2/3 innings for the Warriors.

For the second start in a row, it was one inning that doomed Hallman. He had a stressful fifth inning when the Cavaliers sent eight batters to the plate and scored two runs on just one hit. In the frame, the Cavaliers drew four walks, including two with the bases loaded to take a 2-0 lead. Hallman was taken out before the second walk forcing in a run. On the afternoon, Hallman struck out eight and walked six.

“I thought he was dominant again,” Warriors coach Rob Lemoncelli said. “Some things could have gone either way, but that’s baseball.”

The Warriors weren’t expected to be the No. 3 seed in the district tournament. That’s credit to the seniors on the roster, Lemoncelli said. And the future looks bright, because only four seniors played in the game on Tuesday.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the seniors. They’re going to go on and be successful outside of the baseball field. They really put the work in and left the team in good hands,” Lemoncelli said. “Our program is headed in the right direction.”

Wyoming Area’s Ethan Elmes and Cole Coolbaugh watch game action against Scranton Prep in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game Tuesday in West Pittston.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219HSBB-WA-Prep_1.jpgWyoming Area’s Ethan Elmes and Cole Coolbaugh watch game action against Scranton Prep in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game Tuesday in West Pittston. Bill Tarutis | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area’s Dillon Williams breaks up a Scranton Prep no-hitter in the sixth inning in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219HSBB-WA-Prep_2.jpgWyoming Area’s Dillon Williams breaks up a Scranton Prep no-hitter in the sixth inning in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game. Bill Tarutis | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area infielders converge on the mound in support of starting pitcher Toby Hallman, second from right, in their District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game against Scranton Prep.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219HSBB-WA-Prep_3.jpgWyoming Area infielders converge on the mound in support of starting pitcher Toby Hallman, second from right, in their District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game against Scranton Prep. Bill Tarutis | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area’s Ryan Petrucci takes a lead off first base on a pitch by Scranton Prep’s Jonathan Martens in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219HSBB-WA-Prep_4.jpgWyoming Area’s Ryan Petrucci takes a lead off first base on a pitch by Scranton Prep’s Jonathan Martens in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game. Bill Tarutis | For Sunday Dispatch

Wyoming Area shortstop Dan Wiedl fields a grounder against Scranton Prep in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game.

https://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052219HSBB-WA-Prep_5.jpgWyoming Area shortstop Dan Wiedl fields a grounder against Scranton Prep in a District 2 Class 4A baseball quarterfinal game. Bill Tarutis | For Sunday Dispatch