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Bill Jones: Leaders remind us that we are stronger – as a community and a country – when united

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Swoyersville strawberry festival brings community together

<p>WEST PITTSTON &#8211; Ethan Elmes drove in the first run and got the last out Sunday night to give West Pittston just enough to get past visiting Wallenpaupack, 2-1, in a tight Section 5 Little League Baseball first-round tournament game that took two days to complete.</p><p>The teams played one scoreless inning Saturday night before the game was suspended because of lightning and rain.</p><p>An RBI single by Elmes was the highlight of a two-run bottom of the third and West Pittston held on after Wallenpaupack&#8217;s Mabret Levant sent the first pitch of the fourth inning well over the left-field fence &#8211; and in a hurry &#8211; on a line drive.</p><p>Elmes came in to get the last five batters in succession, striking out three, including the last batter, to complete a combined four-hitter with winning pitcher J.J. Hood.</p><p>&#8220;Ethan Elmes has been huge of late, closing out games,&#8221; West Pittston coach Mickey Melberger said. &#8220;He&#8217;s a different type pitcher. He relies more on his off-speed.</p><p>&#8220;Then, he can sneak a fastball by, but his bread-and-butter is a curveball.&#8221;</p><p>Pinch hitter Connor Wrobleski walked to start the bottom of the third.</p><p>Evan Melberger singled to left field and, when the ball got away from the outfielder, runners wound up on second and third.</p><p>Elmes singled to center field to open the scoring.</p><p>After Hood was intentionally walked, Jake Kelleher brought home what proved to be the winning run with a groundout.</p><p>Those were the only runs West Pittston managed off Levant and reliever Wyatt Peifer.</p><p>&#8220;That was a good pitcher,&#8221; coach Melberger said of Levant. &#8220;Good pitchers limit good offense.&#8221;</p><p>West Pittston had its own good pitching.</p><p>Hood held Wallenpaupack to one run for 4 1/3 innings, then Melberger removed him in time to keep him eligible for a possible Wednesday game. He cannot pitch for two days because of Little League rules on pitch limits.</p><p>Hood struck out seven, including the last batter of the first, second and third innings.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve coached him during the regular season the last three years,&#8221; Melberger said. &#8220;I&#8217;m very proud of him. This year, he&#8217;s been very consistent. He doesn&#8217;t give up very many walks. He pounds the outside of the strong zone.</p><p>&#8220;He did a really good job. I expect that performance out of him.&#8221;</p><p>West Pittston advances to meet Nanticoke, a 10-6 winner over West Scranton in Saturday&#8217;s opener, in Monday&#8217;s 5:30 winners&#8217; bracket final. West Scranton plays Wallenpaupack in a 7:30 elimination game as the tournament continues at West Pittston.</p><p>Playing the bulk of Game One a day later than Nanticoke and West Scranton could put a strain on West Pittston&#8217;s pitching, but winning early in the tournament can help alleviate that by reducing games and possibly creating an off-day.</p><p>&#8220;Winning the first game is always important,&#8221; Melberger said.</p><p>West Pittston 2, Wallenpaupack 1</p><p>Wallenpaupack`AB`R`H`BI</p><p>Schmalzle 2b`3`0`0`0</p><p>Peifer ss-p`3`0`0`0</p><p>Levant p-ss`3`1`1`1</p><p>Smith 1b`3`0`0`0</p><p>Falgie 3b`2`0`1`0</p><p>Lynch ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Strong cf`1`0`0`0</p><p>McCourt ph`1`0`1`0</p><p>Tonkin c`2`0`0`0</p><p>Paolicelli lf`1`0`1`0</p><p>Stella ph`0`0`0`0</p><p>Terrones rf`1`0`0`0</p><p>Kapschull ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Totals`22`1`4`1</p><p>West Pittston`AB`R`H`BI</p><p>Melberger 2b`3`1`1`0</p><p>Elmes ss-c-p`3`0`1`1</p><p>Hood p-ss`2`0`1`0</p><p>Kelleher 1b`2`0`0`1</p><p>Wiedl c-ss`2`0`0`0</p><p>Sokach-Minnick cf`1`0`1`0</p><p>Pitcavage ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Ross 3b`1`0`1`0</p><p>HRosen ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Kashuba lf`1`0`0`0</p><p>Wrobleski ph`1`1`0`0</p><p>MRosen rf`1`0`0`0</p><p>Janosky ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Totals`20`2`5`2</p><p>Wallenpaupack`000`110 &#8212;`1</p><p>West Pittston`002`00x &#8212;`2</p><p>HR &#8212; Levant.</p><p>East`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</p><p>Levant, L`4.0`5`2`2`2`3</p><p>Peifer`1.0`0`0`0`0`1</p><p>West`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</p><p>Hood, W`4.1`4`1`1`0`7</p><p>Elmes, SV`1.2`0`0`0`0`3</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">West Pittston starter J.J. Hood follows through on a pitch against Wallenpaupack in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_2.jpg</photo0><caption0>West Pittston starter J.J. Hood follows through on a pitch against Wallenpaupack in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">West Pittston&#8217;s Evan Melberger tosses the ball back to the mound at the end of an inning against Wallenpaupack in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_3.jpg</photo1><caption1>West Pittston&#8217;s Evan Melberger tosses the ball back to the mound at the end of an inning against Wallenpaupack in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">West Pittston catcher Jason Wiedl, left, relief pitcher Ethan Elmes, and infielder Jude Janosky celebrate their 2-1 victory against Wallenpaupack in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_4.jpg</photo2><caption2>West Pittston catcher Jason Wiedl, left, relief pitcher Ethan Elmes, and infielder Jude Janosky celebrate their 2-1 victory against Wallenpaupack in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">West Pittston&#8217;s Ethan Elmes, right, hits an RBI single ahead of Wallenpaupack catcher Garrett Tonkin in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_WestPitt-PaupackLL_1.jpg</photo3><caption3>West Pittston&#8217;s Ethan Elmes, right, hits an RBI single ahead of Wallenpaupack catcher Garrett Tonkin in a Section 5 Major Little League game Sunday evening in West Pittston. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Tom Robinson</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Times Leader sports at 570-991-6392 or on Twitter @TLSports</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Elmes makes the difference in West Pittston win