McManus propels Crestwood to road win at Nanticoke

 

After being shutout at Honesdale on Tuesday, it didn't take long as on the second pitch, junior Caleb McManus hit a home run as Crestwood took a 4-2 victory over the Nanticoke Trojans. "I didn't really expect it to go out. Just flew off the bat" McManus said of his home run. 

Nanticoke went with Brandon Wozniak on the mound. The Comets sent Robert Duffy for the start. McManus led off a home run to make it 1-0 Crestwood but Wozniak retired the next three to keep it to 1-0. Ethan Ball drew a one out walk and advanced to second but a strikeout an a popup ended the first.

Wozniak threw a 1-2-3 second inning. Skordensky and Wahlbrecht drew two out walks but a fielder's choice to third ended the inning. Wozniak threw a 1-2-3 inning in the third. Wozniak led off the bottom of the third with a hit by pitch the steals second. After a strikeout, Shemanski walked but an infield fly and a fielder's choice kept the game 1-0.

Dylan Domzalski led off the inning with a single to center. After a fielder's choice by Chaz Wright, Braiden Wanchisen singled to move Wright to second. Trevor Miller reached on an error to load the bases. Mason Czapla hit a single to left to score Wright and Wanchisen to make it 3-0 Crestwood. A fielder's choice and a strikeout ended the top of the fourth. Wahlbrecht was hit by a pitch with two outs but a groundout ended the inning. 

Nathan Stortz singled to left, then McManus reaches on an error that moves Stortz to third. Domzalski singles home Stortz to make it 4-0. A double play and a flyout ended the top of the fifth. Wozniak singled to left than Ball singled to left to move Wozniak to second. Connor Wagamen came in to pitch for the Comets. A groundout made the runners move to second and third. Wozniak got the Trojans on the board with a passed ball to make it 4-1 and moved Ball to third. Miller singled to left to score Ball and make it 4-2. Stout reached on an error then Skordensky hit an infield single to load the bases. A strikeout ended the inning. 

Miller coming in to pitch for Nanticoke. Trevor Miller hit a single to left then Czapla sacrificed him to second. However, groundouts ended the inning. Jaxon Fedak came in to pitch for Crestwood and threw a 1-2-3 sixth inning. Miller threw a 1-2-3 top of the seventh, Fedak threw a 1-2-3 seventh for his first save of the season. "I tried my best and did what I can." Fedak said of his pitching.

Crestwood's second half surge propels them to win over Pittston Area

 

At halftime trailing by five, Crestwood head coach Mark Atherton challenged his guys to step up. The Comets answered the challenge with a 14-1 run to start the third quarter to take a 46-38 victory over Pittston Area. "I think we came out with more intensity. We did a better job trapping their guys." said Atherton. Matt Sklarosky had a team high 12 points and Ayden Agopito added 10 points.

Crestwood started off with a 4-0 lead with baskets by Derek Johnson and Mason Czapla. However, Pittston Area went on a 7-1 run to end the first quarter to lead 7-5. Ryan Sechleer tied the game up with a basket. Chris Scavo hit a three pointer to take back the lead. Back-to-Back baskets by Matt Sklarosky made it 11-10 Comets. After a back and forth with Crestwood leading 14-12, the Patriots went on a 7-2 run to end the quarter and lead 21-16 at halftime. 

Crestwood started off the third quarter on a 14-1 run to make it 30-22 and led 32-26 at the end of the third quarter. A free throw by Chaz Wright and a basket by Aydan Agopito made it a nine point lead. Baskets by Matt Walter and Cieran Bilbow helped the Patriots cut the lead down to five. After a Sklarosky basket, Paul Jordan McGarry hit a pair of free throws and Walter hit a basket to cut the lead down to three. Sklarosky got another basket to increase the lead to five. Bilbow got the lead down to three but that was all Pittston Area could muster as Wright hit a free throw, Sechleer hit a basket and Sklarosky hit a pair of free throws with 2.1 seconds left as Crestwood took a 46-38 victory on the road at Pittston Area. Chris Scavo had 11 points for Pittston Area and Matt Walter added eight.  

Holy Redeemer gets past Lake-Lehman

 

The Lady Royals were without three starters in tonight's matchup with Lake-Lehman. However, Holy Redeemer used their depth to make a statement and defeated Lake-Lehman 53-35. "It's a testament to the girls, they work hard in practice and they all know what their role is. When they play the right roles, we're going to be difficult to beat." said Lady Royals head coach John Jezorwski about his team's performance.  Brooke Kroptavich had a team high 16 points and Angelina Corridoni scored all 12 of her points in the second half.

The beginning of the first quarter started off back and forth then the Lady Royals went on an 8-0 run to take a 10-4 lead and took a 13-9 lead at the end of the first quarter. Ella Wilson hit a three pointer to start the second quarter then Olivia Oliver hit a basket to make it 14-13 in favor of Lake-Lehman. Gillan Parsons then got back-to-back baskets to make it 17-16 Lady Royals. It was a back and forth until Brooke Kroptavich hit a basket and Kayla Pekarovsky hit a free throw as the Lady Royals take a 24-20 lead at halftime. 

After an Ella Wilson basket got the Lady Knights down to a two point lead, Holy Redeemer went on a 12-2 run and only allowed six points in the quarter to take a 38-26 lead after three quarters of play. The Royals cruised through the fourth quarter to a 53-35 victory over Lake-Lehman. Ella Wilson scored a game high 18 points and Olivia Oliver added eight points.

Crestwood cruises past Nanticoke

 Nanticoke vs Crestwood Highlights

With Crestwood having their home opener, the Comets came out with energy. They gave the home crowd a show in all factions as the Comets started off with a 9-0 run en route to a 56-28 victory over Nanticoke. Chaz Wright scored a game high 19 points and Derek Johnson added eight. "Our kids had a lot of energy with it being our home opener. I was happy with our energy. Thought we played tough. Rebounded well, took some charges. I'm very happy with our effort." said Crestwood head coach Mark Atherton. "Team was clicking on all cylinders. Played great defense, moving the ball great." Comets senior Chaz Wright talking about the Crestwood victory. 

Crestwood started off the game with a 9-0 run with seven points from Chaz Wright and a basket by Ayden Agapito. The Trojans got on the board with a basket by Jaidyn Johnson. The Comets raced out to an 18-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Crestwood defense held Nanticoke to one field goal in the quarter and three points total as the Comets lead 29-11 at halftime.

Crestwood's defense held strong during the second half as they outscored Nanticoke 13-3 and led 42-14 at the end of the third quarter. They cruised in the fourth quarter to take a 56-28 victory in their home opener against Nanticoke. Jaidyn Johnson led the Trojans with 10 points while Liam Mullery added five.  

Valley West gets past Nanticoke

 Nanticoke at Valley West Highlights

In a big game atmosphere, the Valley West Spartans started off with a bang. They started off the game with a 10-0 lead and led as much as 22 during the second half. The Spartans held off a Nanticoke comeback as they got a big 42-36 victory at home. Nathan Woods had a team high 12 points and Will Wojeiechowski and Maki Wells each added seven points. "We found a way to pull the game out. I thought we played really well for three quarters. Got a little sloppy in the fourth quarter but we will correct that but a W is a W and I think it's a big win for the kids after our first two games." Valley West head coach Chris Parker said. 

Valley West started the game on a 10-0 run with baskets by Navion Terry, Nathan Woods, and five points from Will Wojeiechowski. The Trojans went on a quick 6-0 to bring the lead to four but a three pointer by Woods brought the lead back to seven. After a pair of free throws by Jaidyn Johnson. The Spartans went on an 8-0 run to end the quarter, highlighted by a buzzer beating three pointer by Wojeiechowski to lead 21-8 at the end of the first quarter.

After some back and forth in the second quarter, Valley West went on a 6-0 run to make it 31-12. The run ended just before halftime as Liam Mullery hit a three pointer as the buzzer sounded to make it 31-15 in favor of the Spartans. 

Valley West held Nanticoke to one field goal and four points total in the third quarter as the Spartans took a 38-20 lead at the end of the third quarter. Valley West got a basket by Maki Wells to make the lead 20 early in the fourth quarter. The Trojans kept chipping away. Johnson reached 1,000 points in his career with a basket with 1:26 to go to cut the lead down to 12. Johnson got the lead down to eight with four free throws. Eric Reyes hit one of two free throws to get the lead up to nine. Johnson and PJ Remley got the lead down to 41-36. Lemar Weatherspoon hit one of two free throws with 11 seconds left and Valley West got the 42-36 victory over Nanticoke. Jaidyn Johnson had a game high 17 points and Liam Mullery added seven for the Trojans.  

Nanticoke gets past Pittston Area

Pittston Area at Nanticoke Boys Basketball Highlights

With several key players out with injuries for Nanticoke, the Trojans needed several players to step up. They got just that. Jaidyn Johnson scored a game-high 23 points, Liam Mullery added eight and Mathias Mitchell scored six off the bench to lead Nanticoke to a 51-47 home victory over Pittston Area. "We did enough." Nanticoke head coach Zach Pientka said. "We played hard defense and we hit some big free throws late."  

Jaidyn Johnson started off the game by scoring the game's first eight points to give Nanticoke an 8-0 lead in the first quarter. Liam Mullery hit a three pointer to make it 11-1. Pittston Area got back in it as Paul Jordan McGarry hit a pair of threes to make it 11-7. The Trojans went on a 7-2 run to end the quarter to lead 18-9 after one. The Patriots got back into the game in the second quarter as they held the Trojans to four points and trailed Nanticoke 22-20 as we hit halftime. 

The Trojans started off the second half with a 6-0 run to take an eight-point lead. After Chris Scavo hit a three pointer, RJ Brogan answered with one of his own and PJ Remley hit a jumper to increase the lead to 33-23. Back-to-back buckets by Johnson made it a 14-point lead. A basket by Scavo and a free throw by Johnson made the lead 13. Lucas LoPresto hit a three just before the buzzer to make it 38-28 Trojans at the end of the third quarter. 

After some back and forth action, Nanticoke had a nine point lead. Back-to-back threes by McGarry and Scavo made it 42-39. Remley and Brogan each hit a pair of free throws to get the lead to seven. Anthony Lynn hit a three pointer and a free throw to bring the deficit back down to three. Johnson hit two of four free throws. The Patriots made it interesting at the end of the game with Lynn hitting a three point play with 2.6 seconds to go. However, the Trojans inbounded the ball and Remley hit a free throw with 0.6 seconds left to seal the victory for Nanticoke. Paul Jordan McGarry added 12 for the Patriots and Aiden Lynn had 11. 

Red Team Baseball and White Team Softball take victories in All-Star game

 

For Jeremy Cawley, he make the tough plays look routine and he contributes it to his baseball head coach at Pittston Area, Paul Zaffuto. "He's really taught me everything I know and he's been a father figure since I was young." He made several great defensive plays and went two for four with three stolen bases and an RBIs as the White Team (Luzerne) took down the Red team (Lackawanna) 4-2. In the softball game, there were several candidates to be selected as the game's MVP. In the end, Mid Valley graduate Courtney Rebar brought home the MVP as the White team overcame deficits of 4-1 and 8-6 to take an 11-9 victory. Rebar tied the game in the third with a 2 RBI single and then hit an RBI double that pulled the lead to a three run lead in the sixth. 

Joe Curreri started on the mound for the Red team. Justin Spencer got the start for the White Team. Pittston Area grad Jeremy Cawley led off the game with a single then moved to second on a groundout and stole third. After a strikeout, Patriots graduate Tyler Davis singled to bring home his teammate to make it 1-0. A fielder's choice ended the top of the first. Nico Ruggiero led off by reaching on an error but Spencer retired the next three batters to keep it 1-0. Logan McConnell came in to pitch for the Red team and struck out the side in the top of the second. Trevor Balcerzak hit a one out single but Weaver got a flyout and a strikeout to keep the game scoreless. McConnell threw a 1-2-3 third inning for the red team. Gary Weaver came in to pitch for the White team and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Noah Martin reached on an error with one out but back to back strikeouts ended the threat. Elias Owens came in to pitch for the Red team. Crestwood grad Nick Miscavage led off with a double then stole third. Cawley then brought home Miscavage on a single to make it 2-0 White team. Cawley then stole second and third. After a groundout, Dallas graduate doubled to score Cawley to make it 3-0. Back-to-back flyouts ended the inning. Paduck came in to pitch for the White team. Paduck hit a leadoff single then Lake-Lehman's Corey Bean hit a single to move Paduck to third. The White team attempted a double steal that scored Paduck to make it 4-0. Owens retired the next three batters to end the fifth. Joe Moratori came in to pitch the fifth for the White team.  Balcerzak hit a one out single then advanced to second and third on wild pitches then Angelo Fumanti hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Balcerzak to cut the lead to 4-1. A strikeout ended the fifth. Carter Bain came in to pitch for the Red team. Miscavage hit a one out single but a popout and a lineout ended the top of the sixth. Nick Cerasaro came in to pitch for the White team and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Fumanti came in to pitch for the Red team. Peters hit a leadoff double in the top of the seventh but Fumanti struck out the next three batters to end the threat. John Guerrero came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Tim Higgins hit a two out single but a strikeout ended the seventh. Vinny DePalma came in to pitch the eighth for the Red team and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Caleb Butczynski came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and threw a 1-2-3 inning. Balcerzak came in to pitch the ninth. Chris Maciejczyk hit a one out single but a strikeout and a popup ended the top half of the ninth inning. Ryan Novakowski came in to pitch the ninth and get the save. Dalton Rutter hit a two out single and reached second on a balk then Connor Rasimovich hit a single to bring hom Rutter to cut the lead to 4-2. A groundout to short ended the game as the White team took the victory 4-2 over the red team. Pittston Area's Jeremy Cawley was named the game's MVP. 

Mia Butko got the start on the mound for the Red team. Amanda Voll got the start for the White team. Renee McDonald led off with a single. After back to back popups, Julia Gorel hit a home run to right center to make it 2-0 Red team. A popup ended the first. Isabella Summa led off with a single then Butka reached on an error to move the runners to second and third. Summa scored on a wild pitch to cut the lead to 2-1. A strikeout and a groundout ended the inning. Haylee Shotwell hit a two out single but a strikeout ended the top of the second. K Davis reached on an error with one out but a 6-3 double play ended the bottom of the second. Kendra Santuk reached on an error to start the top of the third then McDonald hit a single then Morgan McVirar got a bunt single. After a flyout, Gorel brought home Santuk and McDonald on a single to make it 4-1 Red team. A double play ended the top of the third. Marley Sarafinko hit a single to lead off the bottom of the third. A groundout moved Sarafinko to second. Summa drew a walk. After a flyout, Maranda Runco hit a single to score Sarafinko to cut the lead to 4-2 then Rebar doubled to bring home Summa and Runco to tie the game at 4. A groundout ended the bottom of the third. Vanessa Hodges lead off with a walk then Voll hit a single to move Hodges to third. Shotwell brought home Hodges on a fielder's choice to make it 5-4. A double play ended the top half of the inning. Madison Kizer hit a leadoff home run to tie the game at 5. Kat Davis drew a walk then Alexa Mulroney singled to make it first and second. After a groundout, Katie Wywoda hit a lineout and tried to get the double play but the throw hit the runner and scored Davis to make it 6-5 White team. A strikeout ended the bottom of the fourth. Santuk and McDonald hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the fifth to make it 7-6 Red. McVirar hit a double then Amanda Burch hit an RBI single to score McVirar to make it 8-6. Gorel hits a single. Butko got a fielder's choice, a flyout and a groundout to end the top half of the fifth. Runco hit a one out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. After a popout, Ava Stafursky hit a single to score Runco to make it 8-7 Red. Voll came into pitch, she switched over to the White team after an injury. Voll threw a 1-2-3 sixth for the White team. Sarafinko hit a one out single then Wywoda drew a walk. They advanced to second and third on a wild pitch. Summa hit an infield single to bring home Sarafinko to tie the game at eight and moved Wywoda to third. Butka hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Wywoda to give the Red team a 9-8 lead. Runco then hit a double to score Summa to make it 10-8. Rebar then hit a single to score Runco for an 11-8 lead. A groundout ended the bottom of the sixth inning. McDonald led off with a single then McVirar hit a single. After a fielder's choice to third, Gorel hit a single to score McVirar to cut the lead to 11-9. A flyout and a strikeout ended the game as the White team took an 11-9 victory over the Red team. Rebar was named the game's MVP. 

The Baseball and Softball All-Star game was sponsored by Conte Paving, Gaughan Auto and Prime Cut Lawn Service.

Photo Credit: Brad Loff

Baseball

White 4 Red 2

Red 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 4

White 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 2

Red

Cawley 4 2 2 1

DiMauro 3 0 0 0

Peters 3 0 2 1

Davis 3 0 1 0

Mathis 3 0 0 0

Paduck 3 1 1 0

Loncynski 2 0 0 0

Bean 2 0 1 0

Cerasero 2 0 0 0

Guerriero 2 0 0 0

Butcynski 1 0 0 0

Moratori 1 0 0 0

Novakoski 1 0 0 0

Spencer 1 0 0 0

Maciejczyk 2 0 1 0

Weaver 1 0 0 0

Miscavage 3 1 2 0

2B: Miscavage, Peters (2)

White

Ruggiero 3 0 0 0

Chilot 3 0 0 0

Hyams 2 0 0 0

Higgins 1 0 1 0

Kauffman 2 0 0 0

Owens 1 0 0 0

DePalma 2 0 0 0

Savage 1 0 0 0

Balcerzak 3 0 0 0

Fumanti 2 0 0 1

Curreri 3 0 0 0

Decker 2 0 0 0

Rutter 2 1 1 0

Martin 1 0 0 0

Rasimovich 2 0 1 1

Rutter 2 1 1 0

Bain 1 0 0 0

McConnell 2 0 0 0

2B: Balcerzak, Rasimovich

Pitching

Red

Spencer (W) 2 IP 0 R 1 H 2 K 0 BB 0 ER

Weaver 1 IP 0 R 1 H 2 K 0 BB 0 ER

Paduck 1 IP 0 R 0 H 0 K 0 BB 0 ER

Moratori 1 IP 1 R 1 H 1 K 0 BB 1 ER

Cerasaro 1 IP 0 R 0 H 1 K 0 BB 0 ER

Guerriero 1 IP 0 R 0 H 1 K 0 BB 0 ER

Butcynski 1 IP 0 R 1 H 1 K 0 BB 0 ER

Novakowski (Save) 1 IP 1 R 2 H 2 K 0 BB 1 ER

White

Curreri (L) 1 IP 1 R 2 H 1 K 0 BB 1 ER

McConnell 2 IP 0 R 0 H 5 K 0 BB 0 ER

Owens 2 IP 3 R 3 ER 5 H 2 K 0 BB 3 ER

Bain 1 IP 0 R 1 H 1 K 0 BB 0 ER

Fumanti 1 IP 0 R 1 H 3 K 0 BB 0 ER

DePalma 1 IP 0 R 0 H 1 K 0 BB 0 ER

Balcerzak 1 IP 0 R 1 H 1 K 0 BB 0 ER

Softball

White 11 Red 9

Red

McDonald 4 3 4 1

McVirar 4 2 3 0

Burch 4 0 1 1

Gorel 4 1 4 5

Notari 4 0 0 0

Hodges 3 1 0 0

Voll 3 0 1 0

Shotwell 3 0 1 1

Alvarez 3 0 0 0

Santuk 3 2 1 1

2B: McVirar HR: Gorel, Santuk, McDonald

White

Summa 3 3 2 1

Butka 3 0 0 1

Runco 4 3 3 2

Rebar 4 0 2 3

Stafursky 4 0 1 1

Kizer 3 1 2 1

Davis 2 1 0 0

Mulroney 3 0 1 0

Sarafinko 3 2 2 0

Wywoda 2 1 0 0

2B: Rebar, Runco HR: Kizer

Red

Voll 4 IP 6 R 6 ER 6 H 2 K 2 BB

Gorel (L) 2 IP 5 R 5 ER 7 H 0 K 1 BB

White

Butko 4 IP 7 R 6 ER 11 H 2 K 0 BB

Mulroney 1 IP 1 R 1 ER 1 H 0 K 1 BB

Voll (W) 2 IP 1 R 1 ER 3 H 3 K 0 BB