PITTSTON TWP. — Throwing the first strike of the game was a challenge for Kingston/Forty Fort’s Jake Griffin Monday.

Most of the rest were a breeze.

Griffin got 12 of his 13 outs by strikeout and created an early cushion with a second-inning grand slam while leading Kingston/Forty Fort to the District 31 Major Little League Baseball championship with an 8-4 win over Back Mountain National.

Kingston/Forty Fort manager Joe Evan came out for a mound visit after Griffin threw the first seven pitches of the game for balls.

“Coach Evan came out and told me to pretty much chill out and throw strikes,” said Griffin, who followed up two straight walks to start the game by striking out the next six. “I knew what I can do when I get into a groove.”

Griffin overcame six walks by allowing Back Mountain National to put just two balls in play before reaching the Little League pitch limit of 85 with one out in the fifth.

The groove?

Griffin threw 18 of 24 pitches for strikes while fanning six straight, then threw 13 of 15 while mowing down four more before Gavin Adamski broke up the no-hitter with one out in the fourth.

When Griffin needed help, there was plenty available.

Kingston/Forty Fort got homers in each of the first three innings with Mason Sgarlat and John McLaughlin slamming solo shots to center field before and after Griffin’s grand slam to open the first of two seven-run leads.

“They were all terrific,” Evan said. “Obviously, Griffin was fantastic on the mound and his grand slam was huge.

“But, looking up and down the lineup and out on the field, everybody contributed.”

Sgarlat went 3 for 3 and drove in two runs as the top third of the order combined for seven RBI, five hits and four runs scored. Philip Evan singled to drive in the game’s second run and load the bases for Griffin.

In all, Kingston/Forty Fort got hits from seven players while remaining undefeated in the all-star tournament season and advancing to the Section 5 tournament at Green Ridge, beginning Saturday.

“We all knew we had to work hard and we had the potential to be here,” Griffin said.

Many of the same Kingston/Forty Fort players won the district title on the 8-10-year-old level two years ago in a championship game meeting with Back Mountain National.

Back Mountain National won the district 10-11-year-old title last season and brought more than half of that team into this year’s Majors title pursuit.

The former champions, who lost just 2-1 to Kingston/Forty Fort in pool play for their only previous loss, fought back.

Back Mountain National manager Bob Osipower said he and his coaches did everything they could to try to prepare players for Griffin’s fastball, which from the shorter Little League mounds is similar to facing a Major League pitch approaching 100 miles per hour.

When Griffin ran out of pitches, Nick Spencer cut the deficit to 8-4 with a three-run homer.

“Once he was out of the game, we have a lot of confidence in our defense and hitting,” Osipower said. “I only wish the game could have been a little longer.”

Cole Morio followed Spencer’s homer with a single before reliever Akira Kopec recovered to get four straight outs and close out the combined three-hitter. She was charged with just one run in 1 2/3 innings.

Kingston/Forty Fort 8,

Back Mountain National 4

Back Mountain National`AB`R`H`BI

Kaiser cf`1`0`0`0

Shiskowski ss`1`1`0`0

Finarelli 3b`3`0`0`0

Spencer p-rf`3`1`1`3

Morio rf-lf`2`0`1`0

Bolesta ph`1`0`0`0

Adamski c`3`1`1`1

Kwak 1b`2`0`0`0

Shultz 1b`1`0`0`0

Leone lf`1`0`0`0

Weaver p`2`0`0`0

Osipower 2b`1`0`0`0

Steinruck ph`0`1`0`0

Totals`21`4`3`4

Kingston/Forty Fort`AB`R`H`BI

Evan rf`4`1`1`1

Griffin p-cf`2`2`1`4

Sgarlat ss`3`1`3`2

AKopec 2b-p`3`0`0`0

McLaughlin c`3`1`1`1

Lopuhovsky lf`2`1`1`0

Matello ph`1`0`1`0

Buss 1b`1`1`0`0

Matlowski ph`1`0`0`0

LKopec 3b`1`1`1`0

Zekus ph`1`0`0`0

Motyka cf-2b`2`0`0`0

Bowen ph`1`0`0`0

Totals`25`8`9`8

Back Mountain National`000`130`—`4

Kingston/Forty Fort`151`10x`—`8

E – BMN 1. LOB – BMN 5, KFF 3. HR – Spencer, Sgarlat, Griffin, McLaughlin SB – Griffin.

Back Mountain National`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Spencer (L)`1.2`4`6`6`2`5

Weaver`3.1`5`2`2`1`2

Kingston/Forty Fort`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Griffin (W)`4.1`1`3`3`6`12

AKopec`1.2`2`1`1`0`1

WP – KFF 3. PB – KFF 2.

Kingston/Forty Fort players celebrate their District 31 Championship win against Back Mountain National at the Pittston Twp. Little League Field on Monday.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_dist31_1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgKingston/Forty Fort players celebrate their District 31 Championship win against Back Mountain National at the Pittston Twp. Little League Field on Monday. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Akira Kopec and Phillip Evan celebrate their District 31 title.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_dist31_2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgAkira Kopec and Phillip Evan celebrate their District 31 title. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

Jake Griffin rounds third after hitting a home run in the second inning.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/web1_dist31_3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgJake Griffin rounds third after hitting a home run in the second inning. Fred Adams | For Times Leader
Young pitcher strikes out 12 in 8-4 win

By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader

DISTRICT 31 CHAMPIONS

2017`Kingston/Forty Fort

2016`West Pittston

2015`Back Mtn. National

2014`Back Mtn. American

2013`Back Mtn. American

2012`Back Mtn. American

2011`Kingston/Forty Fort

2010`Kingston

2009`Wyo./West Wyoming

2008`Back Mtn. American

NOTE: District 16 split into two districts in 2008

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