) ) 3 Sunday, July 24, 2005 Tae POST Sports Week Back Mountain Baseball wins three district championships BMT boys Jit the D16 title trifect Post Staff DALLAS TWP. — The flagpole in cen- ter field of the WW. Kubis Memorial Field is going to be a very crowded place next year. Three Back Mountain Baseball, Inc. baseball teams — Senior League, Junior League and Little League — each cap- tured a District 16 championship in a span of 24 hours earlier this week. All three teams advanced to their respective Section 4 playoffs, hoping to earn a berth in the Pennsylvania State Champion- ships. The Senior League (16-year-olds) team won the district title with a 19-0 pounding of Wyoming/ West Wyoming/ Exeter in the title game. The Junior League (13-14-year-olds) squad won its championship by defeating Fort-Swoyer, 11-2, and Back Mountain National (11-12- year-olds) captured the title with a 6-1 win against Newport Township. “I think it’s a great thing for the com- munity,” Senior League manager Rob Seeley said. “It shows there’s a lot of tal- ent in this area. I also think it shows that kids really must be enjoying their base- ball experience. We have kids who keep playing in Junior and Senior League, while in other areas kids are quitting when they get older.” The Senior League team outscored its opponents 36-2 and allowed just seven hits during the district tournament. Dy- lan Seeley tossed a complete-game one- hitter in the district championship game. He helped his own cause with three hits and three RBI. Tom Parrish and John Giampietro added two hits apiece. “Our pitching has been good and our defense has been exceptional,” said Rob Seeley, whose team was scheduled to play the District 17 champion Saturday in Scranton. “Those are good things to rely on at this time of the year.” In Junior League, winning pitcher Bobby Peron tossed a three-hitter in the title game against Fort-Swoyer. Peron and Tommy Youells led the offense with three hits apiece, while Josh Shaver and Steve Olshemski added two hits each. National captured its third consecu- tive district championship with the win against Newport Township. The team is playing in the Section 4 playoffs at Valley West Little League in Conyngham Valley near Hazleton. “We were the team no one expected to win,” said manager Scott Jenkins, whose son Hayden was the winning pitcher in the title game. “Even in the Back Moun- tain, I think most people though Amer- ican would win (the district champion- ship).” National dominated the District 16 tournament, allowing only two runs and Back Mountain's Tom Parrish slides safely into second base ahead of the tag by Nate Tibus of Wyoming/West Wyoming/Exeter. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Back Mountain's Ryan Urzen is hit by a pitch during his team’s victory against Fort-Swoyer in the District 16 Junior League baseball championship game. “I think it's a great thing for the community. It shows there's a lot of talent in this area.” Rob Seeley Senior League manager 15 hits in six games. “Our pitching has been phenomenal,” said Jenkins, who was expected to throw his ace, Marc Noyalis, on eight days rest in the sectional opener. “We scored a lot of runs, but we didn’t have a lot of hits. We bunched them together and got the timely hit.” The Senior League team features high school-age players from five different schools. The players attend Dallas, Lake- Lehman, Wyoming Seminary, Bishop O’Reilly and Scranton Prep. Despite the difference in schools, Seeley has been impressed with his team’s chemistry. “I'm really pleased with how we get along with each other,” he said. “We're a very loose team. The kids have a great time and they enjoy playing together. My impression going (into the sectional tournament) is that we’re confident, but not cocky. It’s a very good group of kids.” Back Mountain might not be done winning district championships this sea- son. At press time, American and Na- tional were scheduled to play in the fi- nals of their division in the District 16 10- year-old tournament at Forty Fort. Jenkins says the success by the orga- nization during the postseason tourna- ments speaks volumes. “I think it says a lot for the coaches and the players in the Back Mountain,” he said. “I also think it speaks well for (league president) Jack Snyder and the other (board members). Not everyone agrees with how everything is done, but they do care. They want to put the best product out there.” WR, Wy (ARIE VR Back Mountain first baseman Tommy Youells tags out Erik Oshinski of Fort- Swoyer during the District 16 Junior League baseball championship game. STATE AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP Lakoca, Corbett more than up to par heading into tourney For The Post Back Mountain residents Santo LaFo- ca and Brian Corbett will compete at the Pennsylvania Golf Association State Amateur Championship this week. After surviving the northeast quali- fier at the Country Club of Scranton, La- Foca and Corbett will be among 132 players vying for top honors at the Hun- tingdon Valley Country Club near Phila- delphia. The tournament begins tomor- row and concludes Wednesday. Actually, both players did more than simply survive the qualifier as LaFoca copped medalist honors with a four-un- der par 68 and Corbett finished tied for fourth at 74. LaFoca is playing the best golf of his life and has high hopes for the three-day state tournament. “I'm very excited about this year’s tournament,” said LaFoca, who is an impressive seven under par in his last five rounds. “I'm going there with my sights set on winning the tournament.” In addition to his recent hot streak, LaFoca is excited about playing at Hun- tingdon Valley. “The course is phenom- enal and is one of my favorites,” he ex- plained. “It’s a par 70 and is very long. The longer the course the better as far as I'm concerned.” LaFoca credits hard work and a solid short game for his recent success. “I'm practicing every day and it is pay- ing off,” said LaFoca, whose best finish at that state tournament was a top 20. “My short game has been very sharp and I'm playing as well as ever.” And he’s playing with a great deal of confidence. “I've spent a great deal of time with my instructor — Ted Sheftic of York — and it has been extremely beneficial,” said LaFoca. “My confidence level is at an all-time high and that is such an im- portant part of the game.” Corbett was pleased with his per- formance at the qualifying tournament and looking forward to this week’s event. . “I played pretty well at Scranton,” he explained. “It’s getting tougher just to get through qualifying. There were a lot of good players there who didn’t ad- vance.” A local insurance agent, Corbett ex- pects some very tough competition at Huntingdon Valley. “It will be tough to go up against so many good players from the Philadel- phia area that play the course on a regu- lar basis,” he said. “Fortunately, I've played this course a few times. I hope to make the cut and maybe crack the top 20.” TIMES LEADER FILE PHOTO/PETE G. WILCOX Back Mountain resi- dents Santo LaFoca, left, and Brian Cor- bett, facing away, will compete in this week's Pennsylvania Golf Association State Amateur Championship at the Huntingdon Valley Country Club.
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