By Tom Robinson, NEPASportsNation.com
COVINGTON TWP. – North Pocono produced the larger comeback.
Selinsgrove came up with the one that mattered most.
After yielding a six-run lead, the 2022 state finalist Seals recovered from a three-run deficit to pull out a 10-9, eight-inning victory over host North Pocono in Wednesday’s District 2-4 Class 5A baseball semifinal.
Josh Domaracki struck out 10 in 6 1/3 desperately needed relief innings and drove in three runs to lead defending champion Selinsgrove into Sunday’s 6:30 p.m. championship game against Pittston Area at PNC Field.
Domaracki was called in from center field while North Pocono was scoring seven times in the bottom of the second to erase an early 6-0 deficit. He was still on the mound 103 pitches later, cutting off a threat by the Trojans after the Seals forced extra innings with a run in the seventh and scored the winner in the eighth.
“I was just hoping he could get through that batter at 104 and face one more batter,” said Selinsgrove coach Brent Beiler, who said he was down to a pitcher who threw one varsity inning or others who had worked strictly junior varsity games. “I wasn’t ready to put that game in the hands of someone who’s not quite ready.
“I was so happy that Josh was able to deliver there and get the job done.”
Before the final out, Beiler was on the verge of being forced into a change by the 105-pitch limit.
Gavin Chillot had kept North Pocono in front, adding to the big second inning with a two-run homer in the third.
The Trojans then turned double plays on a popped bunt in the fifth and a brilliant play by Chillot in the sixth.
Chillot, the shortstop, dove to his left and snagged what would have been an RBI hit up the middle. He caught the ball inches above the dirt and touched second to double off the runner.
Tyler Swineford was robbed by Chillot, but then came up with the game-winning single in the top of the eighth.
Caleb Hicks walked, took second on Benjamin Gearhart’s fourth hit of the day and scored the winning run on Swineford’s single.
Chris Walsh had an RBI double and scored for North Pocono.
