web1_bkmt_t4_faa.jpg

Little League: Back Mountain National gets perfect game from pitching duo in sectionals

web1_123191980-9e4b5ec6ceb74646ba4d33cb7ffebde7.jpg

Amazon, seeking more skilled workers, will do the training

<p>MOSCOW &#8212; That five-run cushion after one inning had a dual purpose for Greater Pittston Area on Saturday afternoon.</p><p>First, any nervousness of playing in a Section 5 Little League Major Baseball game was eased. Secondly, it allowed a group effort on the mound to keep plenty of arms eligible for the next day.</p><p>Elijah Mead got GPA off to a quick start with a three-run homer and four pitchers shut down North Pocono&#8217;s bats in the 9-2 win at North Pocono Little League.</p><p>District 16 champion GPA advanced to the winner bracket final and will play D31 champion Back Mountain National at 3 p.m. Sunday at North Pocono Little League. D17 champ North Pocono plays D32 champ Throop in an elimination game at 1 p.m.</p><p>&#8220;Some of these kids played on the 9-10s a couple years ago and we got our first sectional win today,&#8221; GPA manager Ted Montigney said. &#8220;We were 0-2 last year, so it was nice to get our first win in sectionals and get off to a good start.&#8221;</p><p>Silvio Giardina started things off with a single to left in the bottom of the first. An out later, Matt Walter laced a double into the left-center gap to score Giardina. Chase Montigney followed by chopping a single to left to score Walter.</p><p>Paul Rusincovitch made it three consecutive hits with an infield single and Mead followed with a three-run blast to left.</p><p>Just like that, it was GPA 5-0 after one inning and the groundwork for the pitching strategy was in place.</p><p>TJ Johnson started and struck out four of the seven batters he faced over two innings. Giardina then took over for 1.2 innings and recorded four strikeouts. Chase Montigney followed and had GPA within two outs of a piecemeal no-hitter when North Pocono&#8217;s Memphis Shotto singled to center.</p><p>&#8220;The first (pitcher) isn&#8217;t eligible until Monday,&#8221; Montigney said, &#8220;but I have everyone else available for tomorrow.&#8221;</p><p>GPA&#8217;s Richard Tonte hit an RBI single in the third to boost the lead to 6-0. Walter capped the GPA scoring with a three-run homer to left in the fourth.</p><p>North Pocono finally got on the board in the sixth with two more hits, including an RBI single by Lou Antidormi. The game ended when Antidormi was tagged out after sliding past second on a fielder&#8217;s choice and it was determined North Pocono scored another run before the out.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Section 5 Major Baseball</strong></p><p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Greater Pittston Area 9, North Pocono 2</strong></p><p><strong>North Pocono`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>J.Reese 2b`3`1`0`0</p><p>McAndrew ss`2`1`0`0</p><p>N.Reese 1b`3`0`1`0</p><p>Antidormi p`3`0`1`1</p><p>West 2b`2`0`0`0</p><p>Croom lf`2`0`0`0</p><p>Gregoire 3b`2`0`0`0</p><p>Jennings c`2`0`0`0</p><p>Shotto rf`2`0`1`0</p><p><strong>Totals`21`2`3`1</strong></p><p><strong>GPA`AB`R`H`BI</strong></p><p>Giardina ss`3`2`1`0</p><p>Innamorati cf`3`1`1`0</p><p>Walter c`3`2`2`4</p><p>Montigney 3b`3`1`2`1</p><p>Rusincovitch 1b`3`1`1`0</p><p>Mead rf`3`2`1`3</p><p>Wardecki lf`1`0`0`0</p><p>Tonte ph`1`0`1`1</p><p>O&#8217;Malley ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Johnson p`2`0`0`0</p><p>Lentowski 2b`1`0`0`0</p><p>Cerasearo ph`1`0`0`0</p><p>Cielo p`1`0`0`0</p><p><strong>Totals`26`9`9`9</strong></p><p><strong>North Pocono`000`002 &#8212; 2</strong></p><p><strong>Greater Pittston Area`501`30x &#8212; 0</strong></p><p>LOB &#8212; NP 3, GPA 3. 2B &#8212; Walter. HR &#8212; Walter, Mead. SB &#8212; N.Reese.</p><p><strong>North Pocono`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Antidormi (L)`1.0`5`5`5`0`0</p><p>West`2.1`1`1`0`0`1</p><p>Gregoire`0.0`3`3`2`0`0</p><p>N.Reese`1.2`0`0`0`0`3</p><p><strong>GPA`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO</strong></p><p>Johnson (W)`2.0`0`0`0`1`5</p><p>Giardina`1.2`0`0`0`0`4</p><p>Montigney`1.2`1`0`0`0`1</p><p>Cielo`0.2`2`2`2`1`0</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np1_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Greater Pittston Area&#8217;s Elijah Mead loses the ball as he tries to tag North Pocono&#8217;s Lou Antidormi for the final out Saturday afternoon. Mead was able to pick up the ball and tag out Antidormi after he slid past second base. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Greater Pittston Area&#8217;s Elijah Mead loses the ball as he tries to tag North Pocono&#8217;s Lou Antidormi for the final out Saturday afternoon. Mead was able to pick up the ball and tag out Antidormi after he slid past second base. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Greater Pittston Area second baseman Josh Lentowski makes a throw to first for an out against North Pocono in the fourth inning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np2_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Greater Pittston Area second baseman Josh Lentowski makes a throw to first for an out against North Pocono in the fourth inning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Greater Pittston Area shortstop Silvio Giardina catches a line drive off the bat of North Pocono&#8217;s Matthew Jennings for the first out of the sixth inning Saturday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np4_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Greater Pittston Area shortstop Silvio Giardina catches a line drive off the bat of North Pocono&#8217;s Matthew Jennings for the first out of the sixth inning Saturday afternoon. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np5_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Greater Pittston Area&#8217;s Silvio Giardina races to third base in the fourth inning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np5_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>Greater Pittston Area&#8217;s Silvio Giardina races to third base in the fourth inning. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Greater Pittston Area&#8217;s Matt Walter (3) is greeted at home plate after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/web1_gpa_np3_faa.jpg</photo4><caption4>Greater Pittston Area&#8217;s Matt Walter (3) is greeted at home plate after hitting a three-run home run in the fourth inning. </caption4><photoCredit4>Fred Adams | for Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By John Erzar</p><p>jerzar@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

web1_gpa_np3_faa.jpg

web1_gpa_np1_faa.jpg

web1_gpa_np2_faa.jpg

web1_gpa_np4_faa.jpg

web1_gpa_np5_faa.jpg

Little League: Greater Pittston Area rolls past North Pocono in sectional opener