SWOYERSVILLE – Dom Cavuto’s grand slam keyed a seven-run second inning by the potent Swoyersville offense Wednesday night in a 10-0, five-inning semifinal victory that eliminated Greater Wyoming Area from the District 31 Major Little League Baseball tournament.
Swoyersville will play Back Mountain National Monday at 5:45 at the Duryea Little League field for the district championship.
“We’ve been hitting the ball,” Swoyersville manager Corey Zambito said. “Give these guys credit. They’ve been together a long time.”
After Cavuto’s grand slam, Ray Chimock added a two-run homer for a 9-0 lead.
David Fath took over on the mound for GWA and held Swoyersville scoreless in the third and fourth innings. Fath struck out five in 2 2/3 innings before Swoyersville managed to score again and end the game on the 10-run rule.
“We just couldn’t get onto the break of his off-speed pitch,” Zambito said.
Chimock pitched a three-hitter with two walks for the win.
GWA had gone 1-1 in Pool B, losing to Back Mountain National, 10-0, in four innings June 28 to decide first play in the pool.
SECTION 5 SENIOR BASEBALL
Hanover scored five times in the fourth inning to defeat Greater Wyoming Area, 8-3, Thursday in the winners bracket final at the East Scranton Little League.
GWA was scheduled to play East Scranton Friday in an elimination game. The winner would have then needed two straight wins over Hanover to win the Section and advance to state play.
Hanover used the big inning to turn a one-run advantage into a 7-2 lead.
GWA opened the scoring with two runs in the first inning. Rich Kashuba led off with a double and scored on Jude Janosky’s two-out single. Janosky then scored on a Charlie Alfano single.
Jeremy Lavelle’s single with two out in the third and Janosky’s homer to lead off the fourth were the only hits GWA managed after the first inning.
DISTRICT 16 JUNIOR BASEBALL
Nick Cerasaro and Jack Long combined on a five-hitter with eight strikeouts Tuesday when Pittston Area opened the best-of-three championship series with a 4-3 win over Hanover Area.
Cerasaro doubled and scored. Long, who picked up the win in relief, had a single and run scored.
The teams were scheduled to meet again Friday with a third game, if necessary, set for Sunday.
DISTRICT 31 JUNIOR BASEBALL
Greater Wyoming Area routed Kingston/Forty Fort, 17-1, in four innings Tuesday.
Nate Novakowski was the winning pitcher with relief help from Matt Rusinchik and Brady Noone.
DISTRICT 16 8-10-YEAR-OLD BASEBALL
Township and Greater Pittston Area posted shutouts Tuesday to reach the championship game that was scheduled to be played Saturday night at Pittston City Little League.
Ethan Aftewicz went 4-for-4 to lead Township past Plains, 16-0k in four innings.
Jacob Harnen had a solo homer and Joey Bradley had two hits to help back winning pitcher Dominic Marranca.
GPA shut out Mountain Top, 10-0.
Both teams had gone unbeaten in pool play with Township winning three games and Greater Pittston winning two.
Township defeated Mountain Top, 9-6, and GPA routed Nanticoke, 15-0, in three innings June 29 to complete pool play.
DISTRICT 31 8-10-YEAR-OLD BASEBALL
Winning pitcher Cole Ricko struck out five in 3 2/3 innings to lead Greater Wyoming Area into the championship game with a 4-3 victory over Kingston/Forty Fort.
Jack Gravine, Aiden August, David Favata and Zach Smith all had hits for GWA, which reached Saturday’s final against Back Mountain National at West Pittston.
GWA defeated Swoyersville, 24-12, in five innings June 29 to finish 2-0 and win Pool A.
DISTRICT 16 9-11-YEAR-OLD BASEBALL
Township edged Plains, 1-0, Monday to reach the championship game against Mountain Top, which was scheduled for Saturday.
DISTRICT 31 9-11-YEAR-OLD BASEBALL
GWA edged Forty Fort, 1-0, Monday to make it to the championship game against Back Mountain National. They were scheduled to meet Saturday.
SECTION 5 JUNIOR SOFTBALL
Pittston Area defeated Harveys Lake, 5-1, Wednesday to win the title.
Pittston Area advances to the state tournament July 11-16 in Berwick.
DISTRICT 16 8-10-YEAR-OLD SOFTBALL
Liliana Hintz threw a no-hitter with six strikeouts June 30 to lead Pittston Area to a 12-1 victory over Mountain Top for the district championship.
Julianna Cocco, Lola Serino and Julianna Mendenez all had two hits.
