MOOSIC — Senior high school baseball all-stars from the Wyoming Valley Conference and Lackawanna League combined to put on a defensive show right from the start of Sunday night’s fourth annual Field of Dreams Game.

Aaron Yurko from Dallas provided some drama with a two-run single in the eighth inning, but it wasn’t enough for the WVC, which fell to the Lackawanna, 4-2, at PNC Field.

“I guess it was kind of expected,” said Wyoming Area shortstop Cory Lescavage, who was part of the defensive show. “They claimed it was the best of the best.

“We just came out here trying to have fun. Nobody was trying to show off or anything.”

Still, they did.

The WVC got the defensive highlight reel started on back-to-back plays to end the bottom of the first inning.

With a runner in scoring position, Crestwood left fielder Tim Kindler made a diving, backhand catch near the line for the second out.

Lescavage appeared to get caught heading back to the bag at second when Jacob Thomas grounded a single toward the hole. Lescavage reversed direction, made his own diving, backhand stop and got up in time to make the throw.

“Before the play, coach told us to throw behind the runner,” Lescavage said. “On the swing, I kind of looked over toward the bag, but it was hit in the hole.”

Lescavage reacted on time and the defensive gems kept coming on both sides, a development that pleased Lackawanna manager George Roskos from West Scranton.

“Last year’s game was offensive and a little sloppy defensively,” Roskos said of the WVC’s 9-6 win in 2015. “I’m thrilled with the way we played.”

Lackawanna center fielder Matt Gaul from West Scranton made a sliding catch while charging in on a liner in the second inning.

Lake-Lehman pitcher Tyler Kolb started a double play that Lescavage turned for the WVC to end the bottom of the second.

Hazleton Area catcher Adan Reinoso threw out a base stealer to keep the game scoreless through three.

The Lackawanna League used five straight two-out walks to take a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning, then turned to its defense.

Delaware Valley’s Trevor Bertsch, who wound up getting the last four outs on the mound for the win, started double plays as shortstop to end the fifth and sixth after the WVC got two runners on base in each inning.

Hazleton Area second baseman Randy Pineda gave the WVC one more play before the offenses finally took the spotlight just as the stadium lights came on in the eighth inning. Pineda slid to his left, knocked down a grounder and finished the play in time for the out.

The WVC had just two hits through seven innings before Northwest’s Brandon Reno opened the eighth with a single and Hanover Area’s Jake Peters followed with a double.

Two outs later, Yurko sent a clean single into center field to tie the game.

The Lackawanna got the two runs right back for the win.

Gaul led off with a walk.

Delaware Valley’s Lawrence Cecilio tripled in the game-winning run, then scored on a groundout by Mid Valley’s Ethan Hasenzahl.

4th Annual Field of Dreams

Lackawanna League 4,

Wyoming Valley Conference 2

WVC AB`R`H`BI

Reinoso`3`0`1`0

Peters c`1`0`1`0

Evans cf`3`0`0`0

Lescavage ss`3`0`0`0

Yurko 1b`3`0`1`2

Brown 2b`2`0`0`0

Pineda 2b`2`0`1`1

Kindler lf`4`0`0`0

Gartley rf-pr`4`1`1`0

Rimmer dh-p`1`0`0`0

Kolb p-dh`2`0`0`0

Reno 3b`4`1`1`0

Herbener p`0`0`0`0

Williams p`0`0`0`0

Powell p`0`0`0`0

DiValerio p`0`0`0`0

Totals`32`2`6`3

LL`AB`R`H`BI

Colger p`0`0`0`0

Gilpin p`1`0`0`0

Muth p`1`0`0`0

Barrett rf`0`0`0`0

Goff rf`3`0`0`0

Gaul cf`3`1`1`0

Thomas 1b-rf`2`0`0`0

Shattin 1b`1`1`0`0

Cecilio lf`3`2`2`1

Sottile c`1`0`0`0

Flannery c`1`0`1`0

Hasenzahl ss`1`0`0`1

Peters ss`1`0`0`0

Bertsch ss-p`1`0`0`1

Lee 3b`1`0`1`0

Pfeckl 3b`1`0`0`0

Galarza 3b`1`0`0`1

Boyle 2b`2`0`0`0

Hobbs 2b`1`0`0`0

Traver 2b-ss`1`0`0`0

Totals`26`4`5`4

WVC `000`000`020`—`2

LL `000`200`02x`—`4

E – Boyle. DP – Wyoming Valley Conference 1, Lackawanna League 1. LOB – Wyoming Valley Conference 7, Lackawanna League 7. 2B – Peters. 3B – Cecilio. SAC – Barrett. SB – Evans, Pinella, Flannery.

WVC `IP`H`R`ER`BB`K

Kolb`2.0`1`0`0`1`1

Herbener`1.2`0`2`2`6`2

Williams`1.1`1`0`0`0`0

Rimmer`1.0`0`0`0`0`0

Powell`1.0`0`0`0`0`1

DiValerio (L)`1.0`2`2`2`1`0

LL`IP`H`R`ER`BB`K

Colger`3.0`1`0`0`0`2

Gilpin`3.0`1`0`0`4`0

Muth`1.2`4`2`2`0`2

Bertsch (W)`1.1`0`0`0`0`1

T: 2:13. Att.: 300 (estimated).

WVC’s Adan Reinoso of Hazleton Area, right, makes it safely back to the bag as Lackawanna League first baseman Jacob Thomas of West Scranton bobbles the ball in the fourth annual Field of Dreams game at PNC Field in Moosic on Sunday evening.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016FieldOfDreamsGame_1CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgWVC’s Adan Reinoso of Hazleton Area, right, makes it safely back to the bag as Lackawanna League first baseman Jacob Thomas of West Scranton bobbles the ball in the fourth annual Field of Dreams game at PNC Field in Moosic on Sunday evening. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

WVC starter Tyler Kolb of Lake-Lehman delivers a pitch against the Lackawanna League all-stars.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016FieldOfDreamsGame_2CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgWVC starter Tyler Kolb of Lake-Lehman delivers a pitch against the Lackawanna League all-stars. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

WVC left fielder Tim Kindler of Crestwood makes a diving catch against the Lackawanna League.
https://www.mydallaspost.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016FieldOfDreamsGame_3CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgWVC left fielder Tim Kindler of Crestwood makes a diving catch against the Lackawanna League. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader

 

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