Section 2 From the bullpen Timothy J. Raub Time for the real season @ Like a kid on Christmas morning, I raced over to the radio exactly a half hour early. As I moved through the AM channels hoping to catch the pre-game show, I prayed I would not miss out on anything important, anything I needed to know. And when I found what I was looking “for, I was thrilled. o | had found my beloved Yankees’ ®.. on ESPN radio 630/1240, and it was Opening Day, one of the greatest and most unique days of the year for me. There is nothing that I like to do more than to be able to sit at home during the spring and summer months and watch a game on the television, or listen to one on the radio. From the time I was a child, I can re- member Phil Rizzuto and Bill White RR the games for Channel 11, ith the Scooter’s signature birthday wish rally calls, and the “Hey so-and-so, this Bud's for you!” with every home run. Major League Baseball's Opening Day , is unique because in no other sport is the first game of the season promoted and covered by the sports media more than that of baseball. Fans begin tracking their favorite @ ans and players early on in spring trainings when line-ups are full of guys who will be working at the checkout line of the local Wegman’s in a few weeks, and pre-season injuries are cause for much media attention, even with the most minor of injuries. You don't see this in any other sport. From the NFL to the NBA and NHL, pre- season hoopla and Opening Day do not carry the same weight as that of Major League Baseball. Fans like myself eagerly anticipate pening Day days in advance, and are glued to the television or radio for con- stant updates. On this Opening Day though, my Bronx Bombers didn’t come out on top, losing 10-3 to the Baltimore Orioles. But I'm not worried or sad in the least bit. There's still 162 more games to play. ® The Dominator Dallas pitcher Ryan Gryskevicz showed mid- to late season form in his complete game one-hitter over Wyoming Valley Conference Division II preseason co-favorite Meyers. Gryskevicz looked strong throughout - THE DALLAS The Dallas Post _ Dallas, PA Thursday, April 4, 2002 9 Gryskevicz 1-hits Meyers in opener By TIMOTHY J. RAUB Post Staff WILKES-BARRE — Perfection is rare any time in the season, let alone the first game. For 5 1/3 innings, Dallas pitcher Ryan Gryskevicz was just that. Scott Mudzick ended the no-hit bid with one out in the fifth inning, connecting on an 0-2 pitch for a sin- gle to center field. That would be the only hit Meyers could muster as Gryskevicz picked up a complete game 9-1 victory against the Mohawks in Wyoming Valley Conference Division II action at Barney Farms. “We just wanted to set the tone from the beginning and be relaxed and get to (Meyers starter Pete) Mon- ka early,” Gryskevicz said. “We hit the ball good, and I can’t wait to pitch again.” Meyers got some help from the Mountaineers early, capitalizing on three consecutive fielding errors in the third that led to Kenny Kruk scoring for a 1-0. But Dallas tied the score in the fourth on Ryan Bolton's bases-loaded single to center. Dallas then jumped on Monka in the fifth with six consecutive hits, leading to eight runs and a 9-1 lead. Jeremy Harris led the Mountaineers with a two- run single, and A.J. Harris, Adam Tkaczyk and Jeff Dickson each added an RBI in the inning. Gryskevicz struck out five of the last 10 batters en route to the win. “Gryskevicz pitched an outstanding game, and did just what we talked about (coming into the game),” said Dallas coach Steve Federici. “(Meyers has) a very good hitting team, and we wanted him to get ahead of their hitters. The kids hit the ball in the clutch, and that is what you need to do.” ; : Jeremy Harris went 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs to lead Dallas. Gryskevicz and Bolton each had two hits. “You have to give their pitcher credit,” said Meyers coach Tony Modrovsky. “When you get a pitching performance like that, it is pretty hard to beat a team.” Lake-Lehman 9, Hanover Area 3 HANOVER TWP. — Charlie Besteder pitched a com- plete game with 10 strikeouts for the Black Knights. Jared Sadowski had two hits and two RBI and Brian Cornia drove in four with one hit for Lehman. 7-0. The weather finally broke enough for the spring high school sports season to begin. The sun was shining, but it wasn’t otherwise a where they were swept. SPORTS ROUNDUP Frank’s nets two goals in Lehman win; Elstons record 100th victory BERWICK — Stephanie Frank scored two goals and the coaching staff reached a milestone in Lake-Lehman’s 5-1 victory over Berwick in Wyoming Valley Confer- ence girls soccer April 2. The victory was the 100th for the staff of Jan and Dave Elston and Larry Ritten- house. Jenna Elston added a goal and an assist. Dallas 6, Pittston Area 1 YATESVILLE — Jackie Hardwick scored three goals as Dallas opened with a victory. Caitlin Dukas added a goal and an assist. BOYS TENNIS Wyoming Seminary 7, Dallas 0 KINGSTON — swept the singles matches in straight sets, then battled for three-set victories in dou- bles. GIRLS TRACK Lake-Lehman 104, Northwest 45 LEHMAN TWP. — Jasmine Watson swept the hurdles and Meredith Edwards was victorious in the 1,600 and 3,200 in Lake-Lehman’s victory. BOYS TRACK Lake-Lehman 93, Northwest 57 LEHMAN TWP. — Phil Kasper won the 110 hurdles, javelin and pole vault and Joel Mazer was first in the 300 hurdles and long jump for Lake-Lehman. great day when the Dal- BOYS VOLLEYBALL las boys tennis team Vis- Lohman 2, Crestwood 0 ited Wyoming Seminary, LEHMAN TWP. — Josh Baranowski had 21 assists, Phil Pineno served 10 points and Corey Spencer made seven kills as Wyoming Seminary In photos, clockwise from top: Ryan Love smashed a forehand; the game, finally failing in his bid for a no-hitter with one out in the sixth in- ning, but showed why the Mountaineers Basketball Shootout are considered by many to be the fa- yorite to repeat as WVC champions. The offensive attack mounted by Dal- las was not a power, slam-the-ball-into- the-seats style of play, but rather a grit- ty grind out the runs anyway you can style, which seems to suit them well. The line-up is loaded with hitters, and although it is only one game into the regular season, pre-season worries about youth and inexperience in key po- sitions may not be a worry much longer. Butcofski Update Former Dallas High School standout Rich Butcofski will be with the Wilkes- Barre /Scranton Pioneers for the team’s season opener at 7 p.m. April 6 at the First Union Arena against the Greens- boro Prowlers, but won't see any playing time. The Times Leader reported the Pio- neers placed the linebacker/fullback on injury reserve to start the season as he habilitates an ankle injury he sus- tained in the team’s training camp. Butcofski took part in the team’s scrimmage at Rochester last week, but according to the article, his ankle is only 75 percent healed. “We need him to be 100 percent,” Pio- neer coach Terry Karg told the Times Leader. “This will bide him time. He needs to get where he needs to be. He'll or this team this year.” Timothy J. Raub, a Post staff writer can be reached at traub@leader.net or 674-4658. the baseline. Jeff Rothstein returned a backhand; John Be- berus tried to muscle a backhand from behind POST PHOTOS/JIM PHILLIPS set for April 7 in Dallas The Kingston Township Recreation Commission has announced the 7th An- nual Back Mountain Basketball Shootout Competition will take place at 12:30 p.m., Sunday, April 7, at the Dallas Elementary School Gym. The Shootout is a Free Throw and Three-Point Shooting Competi- tion for boys and girls between the ages of 7 and 16. Each event will have multiple age flights with shooting distances modi- fied accordingly. Prizes will be presented to the top three finishers in each flight and overall champs. There will also be a Parent-Child Team Shooting Competition. Registration and warm-up time will be noon on April 7. A donation will be collect- ed for participants not residing in Kingston Township. For more information contact Bob Zaruta at 675-0066. Back Mountain Youth Soccer set registration Saturday Back Mountain Youth Soccer Associa- tion will be holding registration for the Fall 2002 Intramural Soccer Season from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 6 in POST PHOTO/MONICA MARZANI Jill Youngblood (left photo) took advantage of an Abington Heights player's stumble to advance the ball during a game last week in Clarks Summit. Results were not available. In right photo, Rosalyn Wentko, left, and Ashleigh King sandwiched an Abington Heights player in last week's game, played under cold, dark skies in Clarks Summit. Game results were not available. the Dallas Senior High School Cafeteria. Age groups U-8 through U-18 will be ac- cepted. Eligible players must be at least 6 years of age before August 1, 2002. A spe- cial introductory program will be available for children who will be 5 before August 1, 2002. Social Security numbers and proof of age required. | | the Black Knights won 15-2, 15-1. | |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers