By Tom Robinson

For Dallas Post

Back Mountain score keeper Donna Spaciano hugs Lauren Mackey and Madison Fleuschut after the 4-2 win over Greater Wyoming Area for the District 31 9-10 year old title.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_bkm3.jpg.optimal.jpgBack Mountain score keeper Donna Spaciano hugs Lauren Mackey and Madison Fleuschut after the 4-2 win over Greater Wyoming Area for the District 31 9-10 year old title.

Back Mountain catcher Brenne Hunt tags out Greater Wyoming Area base runner Halle Kranson at home plate in the third inning.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/web1_bkm1.jpg.optimal.jpgBack Mountain catcher Brenne Hunt tags out Greater Wyoming Area base runner Halle Kranson at home plate in the third inning.

With its success year after year, the Back Mountain Little League routinely enters all-star play in baseball and softball with players who already have past tournament experience.

The 9-10-year-old softball team is showing that experience is not a requirement for success.

The Back Mountain team, made up entirely of newcomers to the all-star tournament process which advances teams toward possible Little League World Series berths in various divisions, made its debut by taking the District 31 tournament title.

The latest Back Mountain championship team has years of Little League play ahead of them.

“We have zero returning players,” manager Brian Thomas said. “Right now, we have four nine-year-olds and three of them are starters.

“That makes it pretty sweet.”

Back Mountain took the title by beating Greater Wyoming Area in two out of three meetings.

The first win helped Back Mountain emerge from the winners’ bracket as the last unbeaten team. That allowed two more shots at GWA in order to lock up the title.

They were needed when GWA rolled, 8-1, in the second meeting July 16.

Back Mountain came back with a 4-2 victory the next night in the deciding game.

“The third time was just a total team effort, offense and defense,” Thomas said. “We had everything clicking for us.”

Winning pitcher Victoria Spaciano had as many hits as she allowed in the title game.

Spaciano went 3-for-3 with two RBI and struck out nine while throwing a three-hitter.

GWA broke out in front with a run in the top of the first, but Back Mountain answered with three in the bottom of the inning.

Jordy Thomas singled to score lead-off hitter Gianna Dickson, who had reached on an error.

Spaciano singled to drive in Thomas and scored on a bunt single by Maddie Kerdesky.

With the lead, Spaciano got stronger, holding GWA without a hit over the final three innings and striking out five straight in the fourth and fifth innings.

Thomas had her second hit in the third inning and came home on a Spaciano triple.

GWA had received the big pitching performance the day before.

Anna Wisnewski struck out 11 in a three-hitter and had two hits while Toni Manichello was 3-for-3 with a triple for GWA.

Spaciano had nine strikeouts in the loss. She joined Dickson and Kerdesky to produce the team’s hits.

Back Mountain proceeded into Section 5 play at the Nanticoke Newport Little League field where it won two of its first three games.

After beating North Pocono, 4-2, in the Monday opener, Back Mountain was shut out by Archbald, 7-0, in the winners’ bracket final of the four-team, double-elimination event Tuesday. It earned another shot at Archbald by defeating Nanticoke, 2-1, Wednesday on two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Spaciano struck out 11 against North Pocono.

Kerdesky had two hits and drove in two runs.

Jordyn Dutko doubled for the only hit against Archbald and then had the only hit in the first five innings against Nanticoke before the team struck for two more in the winning rally.

Spaciano struck out 14 in a two-hitter against Nanticoke.

Section 5 Junior Baseball

Back Mountain opened play in the tournament Wednesday against Green Ridge.

The four-team, double-elimination event, which was scheduled to run through Saturday at Schautz Stadium in Dunmore, also included South Wilkes-Barre and Abington.

Section 5 10-11 Baseball

Back Mountain National was part of the tournament, which was scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at Archbald.

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