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Shea Petty’s home run powers Berwick to District 2 Class 3A softball playoff victory

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Lottery Numbers for Monday, May 23

KINGSTON &#8212; This time around, Wyoming Valley West didn&#8217;t have a bye into the district semifinals. So the Spartans tried to compensate by eliminating any drama as fast as possible in the quarters.That meant putting up six runs in the first inning on Monday as their quest to return to the state finals began with a 10-2 win over Scranton in the District 2-4 Class 4A opener.Seeded second in the seven-team field behind unbeaten Delaware Valley, the Spartans had to play the extra game with the Warriors claiming the lone bye. Valley West used the occasion to get the bats tuned up after an 11-day layoff from the end of the regular season.Eight players recorded at least one hit with junior Dominick Bayo leading the way with three. Designated hitter Mike Pollick added two and drove in three runs.In all, 11 different players reached base as the Spartans finished with seven walks on top of 11 hits.&#8220;They&#8217;re waking up a little bit. I&#8217;m hopeful the bats are coming alive right now,&#8221; Valley West coach John Milius said. &#8220;We&#8217;re swinging the bat. We&#8217;re being patient at the plate. We&#8217;re getting some good pitches.&#8221;It all went right in the bottom of the first as the Spartans collected six hits and stole three bases to put the seventh-seeded Knights immediately on their heels.Ryan Hogan got it started, driving in a run on a groundout. Justin Vought and Bayo added RBI singles before Pollick brought home a pair with a single of his own. Pitcher Grant Powell helped his own cause, hitting one to the fence for a run-scoring double as Valley West batted around.&#8220;That was the difference,&#8221; Milius said. &#8220;Those big six runs in the first inning sort of deflated them for the middle innings.&#8221;His counterpart agreed.&#8220;Coming out in the district playoffs, first inning they score six runs &#8212; it&#8217;s old hat to them,&#8221; Knights coach Jamie Higgins said. &#8220;I think our guys got a little spooked.&#8221;With a nice cushion to work with, Powell went the distance on the mound for Valley West as the senior southpaw struck out six.That kept the bullpen fully rested for Wednesday&#8217;s semifinal matchup with District 4 Williamsport &#8212; the Millionaires threw a 10-inning no-hitter to beat Hazleton Area. That game will be 4:30 p.m. at Spartan Stadium.Scranton&#8217;s runs came in the second inning when a leadoff walk turned into a two-run homer to right off the bat of Zach McDonald.Things got interesting in the fourth when the Knights opened the frame with three straight singles &#8212; the last coming on a well-placed bunt down the third-base line from Brian McGuigan, who beat the throw to first.But this time Powell struck out McDonald for the first out before the Spartans turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning without any damage. The relay to first pulled Tyler Yankosky off the bag, but he was able to tag the runner for the third out &#8212; a play that was initially ruled safe before the umpires conferred and reversed the call.It was the second inning-ending double play of the game for Valley West as senior standout Hogan has been asked to step in at shortstop for a chunk of the season because of an injury to Mark Popson.&#8220;He&#8217;s starting to settle in there,&#8221; Milius said. &#8220;It&#8217;s a new position to him. But we wouldn&#8217;t have two double plays if he wasn&#8217;t there. He&#8217;s a good athlete. You could throw him just about any place and he&#8217;d feel comfortable.&#8221;Hogan has played catcher, right field and shortstop this season. Popson has returned to practice and entered the game to pinch hit in the sixth.Both Hogan and Popson played in last June&#8217;s state title game along with Vought, Yankosky, Justin Montalvo and Eric Raitter.&#8220;Those kids, they have experience,&#8221; Higgins said. &#8220;My kids don&#8217;t. &#8230; These guys are perennial (contenders). They&#8217;re used to it. I think that helps them.&#8221;Williamsport 1,Hazleton Area 0Tanner Esposito and Evan Steele combined on a 10-inning no-hitter before finally pushing across a run in the bottom of the 10th to knock out the sixth-seeded Cougars in a 4A quarterfinal game at Bowman Field in Williamsport.Esposito struck out 11 over nine innings before being forced to the bench by PIAA pitching rules. Steele came on in the 10th and picked up the win for the No. 3 Millionaires when Tyler Mankey came through with a two-out RBI single.Hazleton&#8217;s Colin Stauffer also went the maximum nine innings without allowing a run.Old Forge 3, MMI Prep 2The sixth-seeded Preppers took an early lead before No. 3 Old Forge scored three times in the third and held on for the win in the Class A quarterfinals.Ace Ed Herbener kept his team in it, striking out nine in six innings of work. Kisan Patel had two hits while Ibby Bains drove in a run for MMI.District 2-4 Class 4A quarterfinalsWyoming Valley West 10, Scranton 2Scranton`AB`R`H`BIMcAndrew ss`4`0`1`0Olfano 2b`3`0`1`0Kelly p-1b`0`0`0`0Santorsa p`0`0`0`0Karp dh`3`0`0`0Mullen 3b`3`0`1`0Montoro c`3`0`1`0Shields lf`1`1`1`0McGuigan rf`3`0`1`0McDonald 1b-p`3`1`1`2Stankowski cf`2`0`0`0Totals`25`2`7`2Valley West`AB`R`H`BIMontalvo cf`3`2`1`0Sott rf`4`1`1`1Hogan ss`4`0`1`1Vought c`2`1`1`1Yankosky 1b`4`1`1`0Bayo lf`3`2`3`1Raitter ph`0`0`0`0Yuhas 2b`0`0`0`0Pollick dh`3`2`2`3Popson ph`0`0`0`0McCue 3b`2`0`0`0Hospador ph`1`0`0`0Powell p`1`1`1`1Lapidus ph`1`0`0`0Totals`28`10`11`8Scranton`020`000`0`&#8212;`2Valley West`602`020`x`&#8212;`102B &#8212; Powell; HR &#8212; McDonaldScranton`IP`H`R`ER`BB`KKelly (L)`3.0`8`8`8`3`2McDonald`2+`3`2`1`4`2Santorsa`1.0`0`0`0`0`0Valley West`IP`H`R`ER`BB`KPowell (W)`7.0`7`2`2`5`6District 2-4 Class 4A quarterfinalsWilliamsport 1, Hazleton Area 0Hazleton`AB`R`H`BIKlein cf-p`2`0`0`0Heim lf`3`0`0`0LReinoso rf-cf`5`0`0`0AReinoso c`3`0`0`0Stauffer p`0`0`0`0Yannuzzi rf`0`0`0`0DReinoso dh`4`0`0`0Arias ss`3`0`0`0Pietrzyk 1b`4`0`0`0Valerio 3b`3`0`0`0Pineda 2b`3`0`0`0Totals`30`0`0`0Williamsport`AB`R`H`BICornel 2b`4`0`0`0Walker rf`5`0`1`0Steele cf-p`4`1`1`0Striker 1b`3`0`0`0Esposito p`0`0`0`0Jackson dh`4`0`1`0Mankey 3b`4`0`1`1Jolin ph`1`0`0`0Dardoe lf`4`0`0`0Weber c`4`0`1`0Luke ss`2`0`0`0Totals`35`1`5`1Hazleton`000`000`000`0 &#8212; 0Williamsport`000`000`000 &#8212; 12B &#8212; SteeleHazleton`IP`H`R`ER`BB`KStauffer`9.0`4`0`0`4`6Klein (L)`0.2`1`1`1`3`0Williamsport`IP`H`R`ER`BB`KEsposito`9.0`0`0`0`5`11Steele (W)`1.0`0`0`0`2`2District 2 Class A quarterfinalsOld Forge 3, MMI Prep 2MMI Prep`AB`R`H`BIPatel cf`3`1`2`0Badamo c`2`0`1`0Palermo ss`3`0`0`0Bains 1b`3`0`1`1Lobitz rf`0`0`0`0Smith dh`3`0`0`0Herbener p`2`0`0`0Hoover 3b`3`0`0`0Drusda lf`3`0`0`0Young 2b`3`1`1`0Totals`25`2`5`1Old Forge`AB`R`H`BISmith c`3`1`1`1Verespey cf`0`0`0`0Donovan dh`3`0`1`0Grochowski 1b`2`1`1`1Mozeleski rf`3`0`1`1`Hobbs 2b`3`0`0`0Boettger p`3`0`0`0Febbo 3b`3`0`1`0Rios pr`0`0`0`0Pelosi ss`2`1`0`0Totals`22`3`5`3MMI Prep`100`010`0`&#8212;`2Old Forge`003`000`x`&#8212;`3MMI Prep`IP`H`R`ER`BB`KHerbnr (L)`6.0`6`3`3`2`9Old Forge`IP`H`R`ER`BB`KBoettgr (W)`6.0`5`2`1`1`4Grhwski (S)`1.0`0`0`0`0`1<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West shortstop Ryan Hogan (right) relays to first for the first of the Spartans&#8217; two double plays in Monday&#8217;s win over Scranton. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_wvw-1-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wyoming Valley West shortstop Ryan Hogan (right) relays to first for the first of the Spartans&#8217; two double plays in Monday&#8217;s win over Scranton. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_wvw-2-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West senior Grant Powell went the distance for the Spartans to beat Scranton in Monday&#8217;s District 2-4 Class 4A quarterfinals. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_wvw-2-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Wyoming Valley West senior Grant Powell went the distance for the Spartans to beat Scranton in Monday&#8217;s District 2-4 Class 4A quarterfinals. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_wvw-3-2-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Tyler Yankosky (left) holds on Scranton&#8217;s Josh Olfano at first base after a pickoff throw in Monday&#8217;s district quarterfinals. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_wvw-3-2-.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wyoming Valley West&#8217;s Tyler Yankosky (left) holds on Scranton&#8217;s Josh Olfano at first base after a pickoff throw in Monday&#8217;s district quarterfinals. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Derek Levarsedlevarse@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta>DISTRICT 2 BASEBALL TOURNAMENT(District champions advance to states)All games 4:30 p.m. unless notedCLASS 4A (DISTRICT 2-4 REGIONAL)QuarterfinalsMonday&#8217;s resultsWyoming Valley West 10, Scranton 2Williamsport 1, Hazleton Area 0West Scranton 7, Wallenpaupack 1SemifinalsWednesday, May 25&#8226; No. 4 West Scranton (9-4) at No. 1 Delaware Valley (12-0)&#8226; No. 3 Williamsport (15-5) at No. 2 Wyoming Valley West (12-2)ChampionshipMonday, May 30&#8226; Semifinal winners at PNC Field, 4 p.m.CLASS 3AFirst roundPittston Area 6, Lake-Lehman 1Berwick 1, Tunkhannock 0Crestwood 3, Coughlin 2Scranton Prep 7, Dallas 4Abington Heights 5, Honesdale 1QuarterfinalsTuesday&#8217;s games&#8226; No. 8 Pittston Area (6-8) at No. 1 Valley View (11-1)&#8226; No. 7 Abington Heights (6-7) at No. 2 Wyoming Area (10-3)&#8226; No. 11 Scranton Prep (5-8) at No. 3 North Pocono (6-6)&#8226; No. 5 Crestwood (7-7) at No. 4 Berwick (7-7)SemifinalsThursday, May 26&#8226; Valley View-Pittston winner vs. Berwick-Crestwood winner at higher seed&#8226; Wyoming Area-Abington winner vs. Pocono-Prep winner at higher seedChampionshipMonday, May 30&#8226; Semifinal winners at PNC Field, 1 p.m.CLASS 2AFirst roundMontrose 15, Carbondale 0Holy Cross 8, Wyoming Seminary 5Nanticoke 11, Lakeland 1Northwest 13, Mountain View 0Hanover Area 2, GAR 0Mid Valley 14, Dunmore 7Riverside 2, Meyers 1QuarterfinalsTuesday&#8217;s games&#8226; No. 9 Hanover Area (8-7) at No. 1 Holy Redeemer (13-1)&#8226; No. 7 Northwest (10-5) at No. 2 Montrose (12-1)&#8226; No. 6 Mid Valley (9-4) at No. 3 Holy Cross (12-2)&#8226; No. 13 Nanticoke (5-10) at No. 12 Riverside (5-8), 3:30 p.m.SemifinalsThursday, May 26&#8226; Redeemer-Hanover winner vs. Riverside-Nanticoke winner at higher seed&#8226; Montrose-Northwest winner vs. Holy Cross-Mid Valley winner at higher seedChampionshipMonday, May 30&#8226; Semifinal winners at PNC Field, 10 a.m.CLASS AQuarterfinalsMonday&#8217;s resultsOld Forge 3, MMI Prep 2Elk Lake 10, Lackawanna Trail 2SemifinalsWednesday, May 25&#8226; No. 5 Elk Lake (6-7) at No. 1 Blue Ridge (8-4)&#8226; No. 3 Old Forge (7-6) at No. 2 Forest City (8-4)ChampionshipMonday, May 30&#8226; Semifinal winners at PNC Field, 7 p.m.</factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Derek Levarse at 570-991-6396 or on Twitter @TLdlevarse</shirttailMeta></div>

A strong start to the postseason for Wyoming Valley West baseball