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Return to Announcement Archive Page Article Date: May 21 The Cougars wrapped up the Wyoming Valley Conference Division I East title Wednesday without even taking the field, when Crestwood defeated Coughlin. Then, on Thursday they secured the second seed for the upcoming District 2-4 Class 4A Tournament, winning their regular season finale at Nanticoke 6-1. "I'm real proud of this, real proud of the team," second-year Hazleton Area head coach Gino Cara said. "This is the first time we've won the division since 2004, so this is big. A lot of people had a hand in this." The Cougars (12-8 overall, 11-4 WVC) have earned a home game and a berth in the semifinal round, which will be played next Thursday against a team yet to be determined. Scranton is already the top seed, while Delaware Valley, Wyoming Valley West and Wallenpaupack are jockeying for playoff position along with District 4 rep Williamsport. On Thursday, the Cougars used contributions up and down the lineup to take down the Trojans. Seven different players hit safely and nine figured into the scoring. Hazleton Area pitcher Tommy Mariano and Nanticoke's Jarad Kmietowicz were locked in a scoreless battle until the top of the third, when the Cougars plated five runs to take control. Matt Parise was hit by a pitch to start the rally, Carl Cara singled and A.J. Petrone bunted his way aboard with another single to load the bases. Matt Benyo's sacrifice fly pushed across the game's first run, and Matt Manfredi and John Medvecky followed with RBI singles before Brandon Barnes delivered a ground rule double to plate another run. After Adam Davis walked, Josh Bayzick hit a sacrifice fly to bring home the fifth run of the inning. The Cougars added a sixth score in the top of the fourth when Mike Martuscelli singled and eventually scored on Manfredi's sacrifice fly. Nanticoke broke up Mariano's shutout bid with a run in the home sixth, but the senior hurler retired the side without incident in the seventh to finish up his complete game victory. He struck out five, walked four and surrendered just four hits. Manfredi doubled, singled and drove in a pair of runs to pace the Cougar offense. Barnes' double, and singles by Bayzick, Medvecky, Cara, Martuscelli and Petrone rounded out the eight-hit attack. Kmietowicz had two singles and scored the only run for Nanticoke. Zach Lycett doubled and Eric Hauer singled for the Trojans. HAHS.....005 100 0 - 6 8 1 NAHS.....000 001 0 - 1 4 1 Mariano and Barnes. Kmietowicz, Passeti (3), Vitale (4) and Yudichak. W - Mariano. L - Kmietowicz. |