By Nate Johns, NEPA Sports Nation Student Journalist
LEHMAN TWP. – Dallas made the move from District 2 playoffs into the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 4A state tournament Monday.
The move up in levels did nothing to slow down the Mountaineers.
Dylan Geskey’s hitting and Dominick Zangardi’s running led a potent offense as Dallas rolled over District 12 runner-up Esperanza Academy, 12-1, in five innings in a first-round game at Lake-Lehman.
The victory advances Dallas (16-7) into the state quarterfinals Thursday night at 6:30 against District 3 runner-up Hanover (17-7) at Muhlenberg High School in Reading.
Dallas has won three of its four playoff games by at least 10 runs, outscoring opponents, 37-4, in the process. The Mountaineers had scored 11 runs twice in the district tournament, but for their state opener, they not only got to 12, but they achieved their second five-inning victory without even needing to bat in the bottom of the fifth.
The Mountaineers have their pitching working as well.
Gary Weaver dominated, throwing four innings, allowing only one run on two hits while striking out five. Dusty Shaver gave up one hit in a scoreless fifth, getting a strikeout to end the game.
The offense produced 12 runs on 10 hits, including Geskey going 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and a walk. The Mountaineers made the most of six walks and five stolen bases, three of them by Zangardi.
Weaver moved quickly through the first inning, striking out two, and the offense got right to work.
The first three batters reached on back-to-back singles and a walk. A wild pitch brought home the first run, then Geskey delivered a two-run single to right.
After a three-up, three-down top of the second, the Dallas offense kept operating like a well-oiled machine. The Mountaineers added to the lead with a Gavin Adamski RBI single to right and a wild pitch to score their fifth run.
Weaver made it through three innings without allowing a runner and the Dallas offense that heated up with nine runs in the regular-season finale, scored three more times.
Following a lead-off, ground-rule double for Geskey that was initially called a home run, then reversed, Jude Nocito brought him home with a double to left. Mikey Timinski hammered a third double of the inning down the left-field line and Dallas had an 8-0 lead after three.
Esperanza’s offense got its first hits of the game in the fourth, consecutively by Wanderson Severino and Keurys Montero. Juan Romero got an RBI on a fielder’s choice to score the only run of the game for the Toros.
The bottom of the fourth saw Dallas capitalize on a combination of balks, walks, and wild pitches to build the margin into double figures and set up the 10-run rule in the fifth inning. The Mountaineers drew three walks, advanced on two balks, and scored three runs on wild pitches. Kaden Coyne added an RBI hit to center as well.
Shaver came in for the final inning and closed the door on the game. After a quick first out, Rich Vicioso doubled to left, but a relay throw from J.J. Rischawy and Zach Paczewski to Geskey cut him down at third. The game ended on a strikeout.
The Mountaineers advance to the state quarterfinals for the first time since the 2017 state championship season.
After a first round in which the other four District 2 champions lost, Dallas is the last district team pursuing a state baseball title this season.
