Hazleton Area's freshman baseball team started its 2012 season with a doubleheader sweep of visiting Easton at Rex Antinozzi Field.

Robbie John cracked two home runs and winning pitcher Joey Baran added another as the Cougars romped 16-1 in the opener and Anthony Sterenchak hurled a perfect game and Baran went deep again in the nightcap to highlight Hazleton Area's 15-0 rout.

***  Hazleton Area 16, Easton 1 - John was the hitting star by going 3-for-3 with six RBI, including a pair of two-run homers and a two-run single.

Baran added a home run, single and three RBI, Ryan Heller doubled home two runs, Colin Searles also doubled and Chris Panzarella, Zach Zukoski, Dominic Cara, Nick Seach, Seth Porpiglia and Kyle Andrews contributed a base hit apiece.

Baran struck out four and allowed only one hit and one walk in four innings.

***  Hazleton Area 15, Easton 0 - Sterenchak fanned three and didn't allow a single baserunner in his dominating four innings on the mound.

Baran again carried a hot bat with another home run, double and two RBI, Cara had a double, single and RBI, Panzarella, Zukoski, Mitch Sefchik and Jeremy Budgeon each smacked RBI doubles and Seach and John delivered run-scoring singles.