DURYEA – In a game that ends early on the 10-run rule, the significance of one or two runs along the way may not seem that significant.
But Greater Pittston Area manager Ted Montigney saw the combination of the run his team prevented in the top of the first inning and the one it scored in the bottom as being vital to the outcome.
“That was a huge turning point in the game,” Montigney said after Monday night’s 11-1 victory over Township in the District 16 Major Little League Baseball championship game. “One (Township) hit there and the whole game changes.”
Silvio Giardina’s strikeout with the bases loaded in the top of the first ended Township’s hopes of scoring first.
“Silvio was able to calm the nerves at the beginning of the game and get out of that inning, which brought all the momentum back for us coming in for the bottom of the first inning,” Montigney said.
Paul Rusincovitch then ripped a line drive down the right-field line with two outs in the bottom of the first to bring home Dominic Innamorati from second base.
Innamorati had singled to center with one out and advanced to second when Matt Walter drew a walk.
Walter played a small role in the first-inning run by moving Innamorati into scoring position. He had much more to do with making sure the game ended early.
“He’s been one of my power guys,” Montigney said of Walter, who drove in four runs.
Walter singled to drive in two runs in the second inning and make it 4-0. His double off the left-field fence brought in the next two runs, starting a four-run outburst in the sixth inning for a 10-1 lead.
When it was over, Walter was 2-for-2 with his double, two walks and two runs scored to go along with the four RBI.
Walter scored the game-ending run when Elijah Mead hit a fly ball down the left-field line with the bases loaded. Township managed to get a force out at third base, but Walter scored on the fielder’s choice.
The win was the second straight for the home team with Duryea hosting the locally televised District 31/16 championship doubleheader.
Duryea/Pittston City won last year’s title. Avoca’s players were added to those from Duryea and Pittston City this year, making up the Greater Pittston Area entry in the tournament.
Rusincovitch, Giardina and Innamorati, all players from last year’s championship team, played large roles in the title game.
Rusincovitch had three hits, two RBI and a run scored.
Giardina struck out nine in 4 2/3 innings to get the pitching win and went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBI.
Innamorati had a hit, drew two walks and scored twice.
Chase Montigney, who threw a four-inning perfect game in this year’s semifinal, is the other holdover from last season’s championship team.
GPA continued to get bench production. Logan O’Malley chipped in Monday with an RBI single as a pinch hitter.
Drew Cisney singled in Beau Widdick for the Township run in the top of the fourth inning, but with runners on the corners and the tying run at the plate, Giardina again worked out of trouble with a strikeout.
GPA advanced to the Section 5 tournament, which was scheduled to begin Saturday with a game against host North Pocono.
Back Mountain National and Throop are the other entries in the four-team, double-elimination event to determine the section’s entry in the state tournament.
