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Bernie’s Run set for July 4 in Wilkes-Barre

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WVC gets outpitched in Big School game

<p class="x_MsoNormal">MOOSIC &#8211; The Lackawanna League batted around to open a big lead, then turned to a future NCAA Division I pitcher to close out a doubleheader sweep.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Lackawanna Trail&#8217;s Nate Rolka struck out the final six batters and the Lackawanna League used an eight-run second inning to post a 12-4 victory in the second game of the seventh annual Field of Dreams baseball doubleheader at PNC Field.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">After the WVC took its only lead of a doubleheader that included an 8-3 loss in the Big School game, the Lackawanna answered in the bottom of the third.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">The tying and go-ahead runs circled the bases after a pair of wild throws that followed a chopper to the left of the mound after a leadoff walk.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Two more walks, another throwing error and four hits later, the Lackawanna had an 8-1 lead.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;It was a little sloppy, but that&#8217;s expected at some point,&#8221; said Holy Redeemer coach Chris Ritsick, who guided the WVC team. &#8220;They were a little bit rusty.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;Some have played; some haven&#8217;t been playing. In this setting, all it takes is one bad inning and it costs you the game.&#8221;</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Elk Lake&#8217;s Joe McAleer and Montrose&#8217;s Andrew Rapisardi each had two-run singles while Mid Valley&#8217;s Craig Mercanti had a one-run single in the big inning.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">The WVC scored three runs in the top of the fifth to get within, 8-4, but the Lackawanna answered with two runs each in the sixth and seventh innings.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Six Lackawanna pitchers combined to limit the WVC to four singles.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Rolka was the most dominant of those pitchers.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">The University of Delaware-bound right-hander entered the game in the top of the sixth and walked the first batter he faced on four pitches. Rolka then struck out the remaining six batters he faced.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;After that (walk), I went to a more compact, slide-step motion and I was able to locate my fastball better,&#8221; Rolka said.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Northwest&#8217;s David Piestrak led off the third with a single to center field and scored for the 1-0 WVC lead.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">GAR&#8217;s Jared O&#8217;Day, who shut out the Lackawanna for the first two innings, singled up the middle to score Piestrak, who had taken second base on a wild pitch.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Three infield errors by the Lackawanna contributed to the WVC&#8217;s other runs in the fifth.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Anthony Macko from Meyers and Zane Nardone from Wyoming Seminary had the other WVC hits.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;They all had a good time,&#8221; Ritsick said. &#8220;They enjoyed the competition.&#8221;</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">The doubleheader drew a paid crowd of 367.</p><style>
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<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p class="x_MsoNormal">By Tom Robinson</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Small School win completes sweep for Lackawanna League