By John Erzar

jerzar@timesleader.com

Tunkhannock pitcher Hope Jones reaches out for a ground ball that was hit past her in Wednesday’s WVC softball game at Dallas.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_dallastunk01.jpg.optimal.jpgTunkhannock pitcher Hope Jones reaches out for a ground ball that was hit past her in Wednesday’s WVC softball game at Dallas.

Dallas pitcher Maddie Kelley bobbles the ball but recovers to make the throw to first base to get an out in Wednesday’s WVC softball game against Tunkhannock.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_dallastunk02.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas pitcher Maddie Kelley bobbles the ball but recovers to make the throw to first base to get an out in Wednesday’s WVC softball game against Tunkhannock.

Dallas outfielders Mia Dixon, left, and Samantha Kern run into one another as Kern catches a flyball for an out in the sixth inning during Wednesday’s WVC softball game against Tunkhannock.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_dallastunk03.jpg.optimal.jpgDallas outfielders Mia Dixon, left, and Samantha Kern run into one another as Kern catches a flyball for an out in the sixth inning during Wednesday’s WVC softball game against Tunkhannock.

Tunkhannock’s Jenna Simmons, left, makes a catch in the outfield in front of teammate Jenn Bulford in the second inning during Wednesday’s WVC softball game at Dallas.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/web1_dallastunk04.jpg.optimal.jpgTunkhannock’s Jenna Simmons, left, makes a catch in the outfield in front of teammate Jenn Bulford in the second inning during Wednesday’s WVC softball game at Dallas.

DALLAS — Tunkhannock left the Back Mountain Little League field not knowing whether it had won the Wyoming Valley Conference Division 2 softball championship. Pitcher Hope Jones left without a no-hitter.

No matter. The Tigers did what they had to do — defeat Dallas — to ease not getting either Wednesday.

Jones lost her no-hitter with two outs in the seventh, but her pitching was a big part in a 4-0 victory over Dallas that set up a game for the title Friday with Nanticoke.

Nanticoke defeated Wyoming Area 3-2 Wednesday to finish tied atop the standings with Tunkhannock. Both teams finished 11-3. They will play at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Wyoming Area’s Atlas Complex in West Pittston to decide the championship. Nanticoke won both regular-season games 5-4 and 5-0.

“We’re anticipating playing Friday,” said Tunkhannock coach Bob Hegedty, who left Dallas knowing Nanticoke and Wyoming Area were tied 2-2 in the sixth. “If we’re not playing Nanticoke Friday, then we’re going to Troy (for an exhibition game).”

Jones entered the Dallas game off a rough outing Monday in a 5-0 loss to Nanticoke. She gave up four earned runs and six hits in four innings in that game. Wednesday was quite different.

Jones retired 19 of the first 20 batters she faced, with a third-inning walk to Peyton Ross interrupting the streak. She also got an outstanding defensive play in the fourth from second baseman Jenn Bulford, who fielded a choppy grounder behind second base and threw to first to nip Dallas’ Samantha Kern.

But with two outs in the seventh, Dallas finally got a hit and Kern got a little revenge. Kern hit a grounder that Tunkhannock third baseman Kailey Reposa appeared to have a good chance at fielding. The last bounce, though, launched the ball over Reposa and into left field. Olivia Johnson followed and lifted a single to left for the Mountaineers’ only other hit.

“It really doesn’t matter,” said Jones, a freshman who has done the majority of the pitching this season. “It’s the teamwork in general that I really care about. It would have been nice, but it’s OK.”

Tunkhannock took a 1-0 lead in the first as Reposa singled and later scored on a fielding error. The Tigers bumped the lead to 2-0 in the fourth when Sydney Faux poked a two-out single to right to score Jenna Simmons from second. Simmons had singled and moved to second on a groundout.

Jones added an RBI single in the seventh and Tunkhannock plated another run in the inning on a throwing error.

Maddie Kelley pitched a strong game for Dallas (3-11). She finished with seven strikeouts and three of the seven hits she allowed were infield singles.

“We’re just really young and not making the plays we should be making,” said Dallas coach Joyce Tinner, whose team has no seniors and started four freshmen and three sophomores. “Tunkhannock came to play today and they have a tough ball club. They’re going to be tough to beat.”

Nanticoke 3,

Wyoming Area 2

Jenna Lipowski drove in all three Nanticoke runs, breaking a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the sixth when Brinley Sobeck scored on a fielder’s choice, as Nanticoke finished tied with Tunkhannock atop Division 2.

Nanticoke and Tunkhannock will play at 4:30 p.m. Friday at Wyoming Area’s Atlas Complex in West Pittston to decide the title.

Lipowski hit a two-run homer in the first before the Warriors’ Bree Bednarski answered with a two-run shot of her own in the second.

Leandra Ramos struck out six for the win to keep pace with Tunkhannock atop Division 2.

Pittston Area 13,

Crestwood 0

Taylor Baloga pitched a no-hitter for the Patriots, who ended the game in the sixth inning. Baloga struck out nine and walked just two. She had a perfect game against Coughlin last Thursday.

Nina Cencetti finished 3 for 4 with a double, a triple and five RBI. Julie Silinskie also added three hits for Pittston Area.

Holy Redeemer 14,

MMI Prep 6

Tiana Wren was 3 for 4 with four RBI and Brittany Hebda and Abbey Shorts had two RBI each as the Royals finished undefeated in Division 3 for a fourth consecutive season.

Senior Olivia Mennig pitched the victory on Senior Day, striking out four.

Alyssa Famalette was 3 for 4 with two RBI for MMI.

Wyo Valley West 11,

Coughlin 1, 6 inn.

Audi Welles had three hits, including a double, and three RBI to pace the Spartans past Coughlin.

Chloe Ruckle struck out five in the complete-game victory.

Amie Boboucarr had two singles and Coughlin’s only RBI.

Hazleton Area 10, Berwick 0

Celine Podlesney threw a two-hitter for Hazleton Area, which finishes up its season at Pittston Area on Thursday.

Tunkhannock 4, Dallas 0

Tunkhannock`AB`R`H`BI

HJones p`4`1`1`1

Reposa 2b-3b`3`1`1`0

Schultz cf`4`0`1`0

Simmons lf`3`1`1`0

Mokychic dp`3`0`1`0

Straley pr`0`0`0`0

Traver rf`2`0`0`0

Dunn ph`0`0`0`0

Faux 1b`3`0`1`1

Krispin 3b`1`0`0`0

FJones ss`2`1`1`0

Bulford ss-2b`3`0`0`0

Farr c`0`0`0`0

Totals`28`4`7`2

Dallas`AB`R`H`BI

Schappert ss`3`0`0`0

Saba c`3`0`0`0

Dixon lf`3`0`0`0

Kern cf`3`0`1`0

Johnson 3b`3`0`1`0

Slacktish rf`3`0`0`0

Kelley p`2`0`0`0

R0ss 2b`1`0`0`0

Coolbaugh 1b`1`0`0`0

Totals`22`0`2`0

Tunkhannock`101`100`2`—`4

Dallas`000`000`0`—`0

Tunk`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

HJones (W)`7.0`2`0`0`1`5

Dallas`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Kelley (L)`7.0`7`4`2`1`7

Pittston Area 13, Crestwood 0

Pittston Area` `202`045`—`13

Crestwood` `000`000`—`0

Pitching — PA, Taylor Baloga (W) 6 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 9 K. CRE, Kate Thomas (L) 6 IP, 17 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 2 BB, 0 K.

2B — PA, Nina Cencetti; 3B — PA, Cencetti

Top hitters — PA, Cencetti 3-4, 5 RBI; Julie Silinskie 3-5, 2 runs; Alexa McHugh 2-4, 3 runs

Nanticoke 3, Wyoming Area 2

Wyoming Area`020`000`0`—`2

Nanticoke`200`001`x`—`3

Pitching — NAN, Leandra Ramos (W) 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K. WA, Gwen Glatz (L) 6 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 2 K.

2B — WA, Glatz; NAN, Kiera Brown. HR — WA, Bree Bednarski; NAN, Jenna Lipowski

Top hitters — WA, Bednarski 2-4; Glatz 2-3. NAN, Lipowski 3 RBI

Holy Redeemer 14, MMI Prep 6

MMI Prep`003`030`0`—`6

Holy Redeemer`635`000`x`—`14

Pitching — MMI, Desiree Dinko (L) 6 IP, 16 H, 14 R, 12 ER, 5 BB, 4 K; HR, Olivia Mennig (W) 7 IP, 12 H, 6 R, 5 ER, 0 BB, 4 K.

2B — MMI, Gabriella Kupsho; HR, Abbey Shorts 2, Taylor Josefowicz. 3B — HR, Meghan Armstrong. HR — HR, Britney Hebda, Tiana Wren.

Top hitters — MMI, Maddie Perchak 2-4, 2 runs; Alyssa Famalette 3-4, 2 RBI, 2 runs; Kupsho 1-3, RBI, run; Dinko 1-4, RBI; Dana Caratto 2-4. HR, Morgan Bienkowski 1-2, 2 runs; Bailey Janowski 1-5, run; Mennig 2-4, 2 runs; Wren 3-4, 4 RBI, 3 runs; Hebda 2-2, 2 RBI, 3 runs; Shorts 2-4, 2 RBI, run; Armstrong 1-2, RBI, run; Samantha Rajza 1-2, RBI.

Wyo Valley West 11, Coughlin 1 (6 inn.)

Coughlin`000`100`—`1

Wyo. Val. West`500`303`—`11

Pitching – COU, Brittany Nastawa (L) 6 IP, 13 H, 11 R, 8 ER, 3 BB, 3 K; WVW, Chloe Ruckle (W) 6 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 5 K.

2B – WVW, Audi Welles; 3B – WVW, Erin Gibbons.

Top hitters – COU, Amie Baboucarr 2 hits, RBI; WVW, Morgan Klosko 2 hits, RBI; Mandy Zawadzki 2 hits, RBI; Welles 3 hits, 3 RBI; Katie Rincavage 2 hits, RBI; Gibbons, 2 hits, RBI.

DISTRICT 2 SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT

(District champions advance to states)

All games 4:30 p.m. unless noted

CLASS 4A

(DISTRICT 2-4 REGIONAL)

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, May 24

• No. 5 Scranton (8-5) at No. 4 Delaware Valley (8-5)

• No. 6 Wyo. Valley West (9-6) at No. 3 Wallenpaupack (9-4)

Semifinals

Thursday, May 26

• Scranton-DelVal winner at No. 1 Hazleton Area (14-0)

• Paupack-Wyo. Val. West winner at No. 2 Williamsport (11-8)

Championship

Tuesday, May 31

• Semifinal winners at site & time TBA

__________

CLASS 3A

First round

Monday, May 23

• No. 9 Scranton Prep (5-8) at No. 8 Berwick (6-9)

• No. 12 Dallas (3-11) at No. 5 Pittston Area (9-5)

• No. 13 Lake-Lehman (3-11) at No. 4 Nanticoke (11-3) or Tunkhannock (11-3)

• No. 14 Honesdale (2-11) at No. 3 North Pocono (10-3)

• No. 11 West Scranton (3-10) at No. 6 Valley View (8-5)

• No. 10 Crestwood (5-10) at No. 7 Wyoming Area (8-6)

• No. 15 Coughlin (0-15) at No. 2 Nanticoke (11-3) or Tunkhannock (11-3)

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, May 25

• Scranton Prep-Berwick winner at No. 1 Abington Heights (12-1)

• Pittston Area-Dallas winner vs. Lehman-Nanticoke/Tunkhannock winner at higher seed

• North Pocono-Honesdale winner vs. West Scranton-Valley View winner at higher seed

• Wyoming Area-Crestwood winner vs. Coughlin-Nanticoke/Tunkhannock winner at higher seed

Semifinals

Friday, May 27

• Quarterfinal winners at higher seeds

Championship

Wednesday, June 1

• Semifinal winners at site & time TBA

__________

CLASS 2A

First round

Monday, May 23

• No. 9 Northwest (7-5) at No. 8 Holy Cross (7-5)

• No. 12 Meyers (4-8) at No. 5 Mid Valley (9-3), 7 p.m.

• No. 13 GAR (0-12) at No. 4 Hanover Area (10-2)

• No. 14 Carbondale (0-12) at No. 3 Riverside (10-2)

• No. 11 Dunmore (5-7) at No. 6 Lakeland (9-3)

• No. 10 Wyoming Seminary (7-5) at No. 7 Elk Lake (9-3)

Quarterfinals

Wednesday, May 25

• Northwest-Holy Cross winner at No. 1 Montrose (12-0)

• Meyers-Mid Valley winner vs. GAR-Hanover Area winner at higher seed

• Riverside-Carbondale winner vs. Dunmore-Lakeland winner at higher seed

• Elk Lake-Seminary winner at No. 2 Holy Redeemer (12-0)

Semifinals

Friday, May 27

• Quarterfinal winners at higher seeds

Championship

Wednesday, June 1

• Semifinal winners at sie & time TBA

__________

CLASS A

Quarterfinals

Tuesday, May 24

• No. 5 MMI Prep (2-10) at No. 4 Blue Ridge (4-8)

• No. 6 Old Forge (2-10) at No. 3 Susquehanna (5-7)

• No. 7 Forest City (0-12) at No. 2 Mt. View (5-7)

Semifinals

Thursday, May 26

• MMI-Blue Ridge winner at No. 1 Lackawanna Trail (7-5)

• Susquehanna-Old Forge winner vs. Forest City-Mt. View winnner at higher seed

Championship

Tuesday, May 31

• Semifinal winners at site & time TBA

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar