Back Mountain National gave a sign of its potential a year ago, playing together as a group of 9-year-olds and reaching the District 31 8-10-year-old Little League Baseball semifinals.
With the bulk of the team back together again this season, BMN finished its title pursuit July 8 with a 5-3 victory over Kingston/Forty Fort at Swoyersville.
Along the way, it learned that the future remains bright for the most successful Little League program in District 31 when BMN had to get past Back Mountain American, this year’s top 9-year-olds from the league, in the semifinals.
“The team has been successful by playing together, knowing there’s certain roles on the team and executing those roles,” BMN manager Eric Williams said. “They’ve been practicing very hard in the weeks leading up to the district tournament.”
BMN advances to the Section 5 Tournament, beginning Monday at the District 32 champion, either Green Ridge or Throop, in a 7:30 p.m. game. Duryea and North Pocono will open the tournament in Monday’s first game of a doubleheader.
After a few days off, BMN is back practicing for sectionals.
“They’re staying focused and doing what needs to be done,” Williams said.
BMN won the all-Back Mountain semifinal, 12-2, in four innings.
Winning pitcher Jack Leandri also led the offense, going 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Carter Brunn had a triple, double and RBI while Dylan Geskey had a double, single and RBI. Chris Sholtis doubled and drove in a run.
Dominic Zangarty was 2-for-2 and Will Jenkins drove in both runs for BMA.
Chris Sholtis singled, doubled and drove in two runs in the district championship game.
Brady Zapoticky went 2-for-2 with a double and RBI. Sam Finarelli also added a double.
Kyle Chesman was the winning pitcher.
Bryce Casey, Jack Dale, Matt Ferretti, Conor Healey, Sam Steinruck and Zachary Williams make up the rest of the team.
Mike Sholtis and Tony Finarelli are coaches.
DISTRICT 31 10-11-YEAR-OLD BASEBALL
Both Back Mountain teams dominated pool play to finish in the top two spots in the standings and make it into the elimination rounds.
The semifinals were scheduled to be held Thursday and the finals were set for Saturday.
Back Mountain National went 4-0 by a combined margin of 62-3, winning every game by at least 13 runs.
Back Mountain American suffered its only loss to BMN early in the tournament and finished 3-1, posting its three wins by a total of 51-14.
BMN shut out Northwest, 15-0, July 6, then pounded West Side, 17-2, Tuesday night.
Mike Cumbo pitched three hitless innings while joining Zack Paczewski and Sam Barrouk to lead the offensive onslaught against Northwest.
Paczewski bashed two home runs. Barrouk had four hits. Cumbo, who also homered, and Jude Nocito had three hits.
Joey Peters and Alan Lisman added two hits each.
Cumbo had a three-run homer and finished with three hits and four RBI against West Side.
Barrouk, who drove in three runs, and Nocito also had three hits. Kayden Coyne had two hits and two RBI.
Paczewski was the winning pitcher.
BMA hammered West Side, 19-2, July 8 and Kingston/Forty Fort, 13-3, Tuesday.
Jacob Soderman celebrated his birthday by going 3-for-3 with a grand slam, five RBI, three runs scored and a walk in the four-inning win over West Side.
Tucker Chesman, who went 4-for-4 with a double, and Seth Barry, who went 3-for-4, each scored twice.
Nate Hefron struck out all three batters while pitching the third inning and went 1-for-2 with two walks and three RBI.
DISTRICT 31 JUNIOR BASEBALL
Ty Federici had two triples and drove in two runs Tuesday when Back Mountain shut out Greater Wyoming Area, 12-0, in the winners’ bracket final of the three-team, double-elimination tournament.
The win put Back Mountain in position where it would have two chances to win the district title and advance to Section 5 play.
Max Paczewski gave up only one hit in three innings to get the win. He drove in two runs.
Luke Spencer, Connor Morgan and Nick Finarelli had two hits each.
SECTION 5 8-10 SOFTBALL
Back Mountain, serving as tournament host, lost Monday’s opener, 9-2, to Carbino Club from Jessup.
