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By CONNOR ENNIS; Times Leader Sports Correspondent
Wednesday, July 08, 1998     Page:

WEST PITTSTON- After being swept by Tunkhannock in a doubleheader on
Sunday, the Hazleton American Legion baseball team came into this week looking
to regroup.
   
Hazleton showed improvement with a victory over Wilkes-Barre on Monday and
then showed it had shaken off the sweep by defeating Greater Pittston, 10-6,
Tuesday at Atlas Field.
    The victory improves Hazleton’s record to 9-4, while Greater Pittston drops
to 10-5.
   
“The two losses on Sunday were disheartening,” said Hazleton coach Mike
Baran. “We knew we needed to build some character this week and this win was
very important for us, in that respect.”
   
One of the main reasons for Hazleton’s success was its ability to jump out
early on Pittston.
   
After Pittston scored an unearned run in the first inning to take a 1-0
lead, Hazleton count ered with seven runs in the top of the second inning.
   
Hazleton started its scoring barrage with two out and two on against
Pittston starter A.J. Oliveri.
   
Bobby Matrishion drove in the first run with a single and, two batters
later, Steve Demko singled in two more. Sam Sabolchick followed with a two-run
double, making the score 5-1. Ed Stish followed two batters later with an RBI
single that chased starter Oliveri. Scott Hoppy walked with the bases loaded
to round out the scoring for the inning.
   
“Scoring seven runs with two outs was huge for them,” said Greater Pittston
coach Ron Musto. “And we didn’t boot the ball. Hazleton just came out and hit
the ball well.”
   
After Pittston scored one run in its half of the second, Hazleton added to
its lead courtesy of a second two-run double off the bat of Sabolchick.
   
Pittston, however, was not ready to go away.
   
With the score 10-3 in the fourth inning, Pittston mounted a rally. With
the bases loaded and none out, Joe Sobeski hit an RBI single and the next
batter, George LoPresto, had an RBI groundout, making the score 10-5. A wild
pitch scored Rob Sauers to pull Pittston within four.
   
Hazleton pitcher Sean Lindemuth then uncorked another pitch that went to
the backstop, and it looked as if it would score pinch runner John Giorgio.
Giorgio, however, was called out on a close play that ended the inning and
resulted in Musto’s ejection.
   
“I was shocked and the kids were shocked,” Musto said after his first
ejection from a game in more than 25 combined seasons of coaching high school
and legion baseball. “That was a huge play, but that shouldn’t take away from
Hazleton’s performance in winning the game.”
   
Baran was very happy with the way his team performed overall.
   
“We’ve been scoring some runs and hitting all throughout our lineup,” said
Baran. “Plus, our pitching is in good shape.”
   
“We’re where we want to be right now, but we still have a lot to do before
the end of the season.”
   
Hanover 5, Wilkes-Barre 1
   
WILKES-BARRE- Mike Zapotoski tripled and Tony Gill went 2-for-3 to lead
Hanover past Wilkes-Barre.
   
Jerry Long pitched a complete game to lead Hanover.
   
Jared Mudzik doubled for Wilkes-Barre, while Neil McCann and Scott Evans
each had two hits.
   
Plains 7, NW-Benton 0
   
PLAINS- Matt Vinciarelli pitched a one-h