Belle Vernon Legion falls to Greater Pittston
Greater Pittston took advantage of four hit batters and four errors in defeating Belle Vernon, 10-3, in the Pennsylvania American Legion Baseball playoffs in Williamsport on Sunday.
Belle Vernon (21-3-1), which defeated host Williamsport, 10-6, on Saturday, fell into the loser’s bracket and was slated to play Philipsburg in an elimination game on Monday.
Greater Pittston had 10 hits from nine different batters, including a double and single from Beau Widdick, who scored three runs and had one RBI.
Greater Pittston starting pitcher Caleb Pavinski wasn’t dominating, allowing three runs on five hits and a walk with no strikeouts in 4.1 innings, but got enough run support to earn the win.
“He was a curveball pitcher and I think we were a bit impatient at the plate and that hurt us,” BV manager Tom Jackson said. “We had I think eight first-pitch outs.”
All of Belle Vernon’s scoring came on the long ball.
Cole Matusik hit a solo home run to left field that tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning. Down 7-1 in the bottom of the fourth, Jacob Peterson followed a walk from Vincenzo Francia with a two-run homer to left to make it 7-3.
Ian Porter took the loss, surrendering five runs on six hits with one walk, two hit batters and two strikeouts in three innings.
“Ian pitched better than his numbers said,” Jackson said. “It’s not like they hit him hard but they found openings. I think they’re one of the better teams here but when you give the other team four errors and six walks and hit batters and a balk, that certainly doesn’t help.”
Nate Grimm followed Porter with 2.1 innings and gave up three runs (two earned) on three hits, a walk and a hit batter.
Maddox Ceccarelli pitched the final 1.2 innings for Belle Vernon and allowed two runs on two hits and a hit batter.
Gavin Wardecki followed Pavinski for Greater Pittston and pitched 1.2 scoreless innings. David Fath finished up with a perfect seventh inning.
Jackson was hoping for a better overall performance against Philipsburg.
“We just have to play our game,” he said. “JB (Crovak) is going to go against Philipsburg and we always feel confident with him on the mound.”