WEST PITTSTON — Miranda Bohn feels like a part of the Nanticoke softball team again.

The junior left-hander missed the entire Wyoming Valley Conference season last year when she broke her right wrist in an exhibition game against Holy Redeemer. She managed to come back for a few games in the District 2 playoffs, but still that wasn’t enough.

Monday was.

Bohn settled in after a rough first inning, striking out nine and allowing three hits over the final six innings as the Trojanettes defeated Wyoming Area 8-1 in the Division 2 opener for both teams.

Related Video

“It feels great,” Bohn said. “It was horrible sitting out last year. I felt like I wasn’t able to do anything to help my team. It feels a lot better coming back this year healthy.”

Bohn also helped out with the bat, driving in three runs. Jenna Lipowski, one of the WVC’s premier power hitters, had a pair of doubles. One of her doubles came in unique fashion as she hit a low liner off the first-base bag and the ball ricocheted into foul territory.

And the infield with two new starters handled 10 groundballs for quick outs.

“We’re really happy with the effort today,” Nanticoke coach Ryan Stetz said. “I think we played well in all three areas — pitching, defense and I thought we hit the ball really well in tough conditions against a really good pitcher.”

Wyoming Area pitcher Gwen Glatz had a 1.64 ERA last season, but Nanticoke got to her early. Kiera Brown walked with one out and scored from first when Lipowski lashed an opposite-field double to right. Lipowski scored on a sacrifice fly by Bohn for a 2-0 lead in the first.

Wyoming Area answered with its only run as Jess Parente doubled to the left-center gap and eventually scored when Kristi Skok grounded a single up the middle. Bri Pisano followed with a single, but the Warriors couldn’t capitalize.

Nor would Wyoming Area get many more scoring chances. Bohn retired 14 of the next 15 batters, with Glatz the only Warriors reaching base on a single in the third.

“I started settling in as the game went on,” Bohn said. “I had my team helping me out, cheering me on. That definitely helped.”

Glatz and Skok had consecutive singles in the sixth, but Bohn retired the final five batters to end the game.

“We hope to get better every game,” said Wyoming Area coach John McNeil, who had five freshmen in the starting lineup. “This was a big challenge for us. We’re not making any excuses, but we have played any games. Out five exhibition games have been cancelled. What we did we did in the gym and at MVP (Sports Academy).

“The freshman got a game under their belts at playing at the varsity level.”

Northwest 11, GAR 0

5 inns.

Trista Babcock threw a no-hitter, striking out 11 in Northwest’s season-opening victory.

Brooke Harvey was 2 for 3 with a double and two runs scored while, Nicole Cragle went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored for the Rangers. Laura Muntz, Jordan Harrison, Payge Wufsus and Courtney Cragle all doubled in the win.

Wyo. Valley West 3,

Pittston Area 2

Payton Boller drove in two runs in Wyoming Valley West’s three-run third inning as the Spartans held off visiting Pittston Area.

Boller finished with a double and single. Jaden Belles, Morgan Klosko and Mandy Zawadzki all hasd singles. Morgan Shedletsky picked up the win in the circle.

Lexi Felinski, Alexa McHugh, Taryn Ashby and Madisyn Antal had hits for the Patriots.

Hazleton Area 4,

Tunkhannock 3

Hope Kinney was 3 for 4 with three RBI as Hazleton Area edged Tunkhannock.

Taylor Kaschak added two hits and scored two runs for the Cougars, who won in the bottom of the ninth.

Kandra Schultz knocked in two runs for Tunkhannock and had two of the Tigers’ four hits.

Dallas 5,

Berwick 2

Mia Dixon had two of Dallas’ four hits, including a double, and the Mountaineers took advantage of seven Berwick errors.

Sammi Starr had a triple for Berwick.

For other sports stories, click here

Nanticoke 8, Wyoming Area 1

Nanticoke`AB`R`H`BI

Sobeck lf`3`1`0`0

Brown cf`3`2`1`0

Lipowski 3b`4`2`3`1

Bohn p`3`0`1`2

Redenski cr`0`1`0`0

Novkwski 2b`4`1`0`0

Briggs c`2`0`1`1

O’Connor cr`0`1`0`0

Ramos 1b`4`0`1`1

Murphy rf`2`0`1`1

Rokowski ss`3`0`0`0

Totals`27`8`8`7

Wyo Area`AB`R`H`BI

Melbrger lf`3`0`0`0

Parente c`3`1`1`0

Glatz p`3`0`2`0

Skok 3b`3`0`2`1

Pisano ss`3`0`1`0

Koptchny cf`3`0`0`0

Sarnak dp`2`0`0`0

Kelly 1b`1`0`0`0

Karctskie rf`2`0`0`0

Selinskie 2b`2`0`0`0

Gober 2b`1`0`0`0

Freeman 1b`0`0`0`0

Totals`26`1`6`1

Nanticoke`210`102`2`—`8

Wyo. Area`100`000`0`—`1

Nanticoke`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Bohn (W)`7`6`1`1`0`9

Wyo Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Glatz (L)`7`8`8`7`3`3

Hazleton Area 4, Tunkhannock 3

Tunkhannock`111`000`0`—`3

Hazleton Area`200`010`1`—`4

Pitching — TUN, Kendra Schultz (L) 6.1 IP, 7 H, 4 R 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 SO; HA, Erika Book (W) 7 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 1 SO.

Top hitters — TUN, Faith Jones 1-3; Schultz 3-2, 2 RBI, triple; Danielle Krispin 1-3, double, RBI. HA, Taylor Kaschak 2-3, 2 runs; Hope Kinney 3-4, 3 RBI.

Wyo. Valley West 3, Pittston Area 2

Pittston Area`010`100`0`—`2

Wyo. Val. West`003`000`x`—`3

Pitching — PA, Nina Cencetti (L) 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 4 SO; WVW, Morgan Shedletsky (W) 7 IP., 4 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 SO.

Top Hitters — PA, Lexi Felinski, single; Alexa McHugh, single; Taryn Ashby, single; Madisyn Antal, single. WVW, Payton Boller double, single, 2 RBI; Jaded Belles, single; Mandi Zawadzki, single; Morgan Klosko, single.

Dallas 5, Berwick 2

Dallas`000`120`2`—`5

Berwick`000`002`0`—`2

Pitching — DAL, Maddie Kelley (W); BER, Peyton Ross (L).

Top Hitters — DAL, Mia Dixon 2-3, double; Olivia Johnson 1-4; BER, Lydia Hess 1-3; Sammi Starr 1-3, triple; Kylie Levan 1-3, double, RBI; Brooke Stout 1-3, double, RBI; Makenzy Bowes 1-3, double

Northwest 11, GAR 0, 5 inns.

GAR`000`00`—`0

Northwest`342`20`—`11

Pitching — GAR, Mackenzie Malys (L) 4 IP, 11R, 9 ER, 12H, 7SO, 3BB; NW, Trista Babcock (W) 5 IP., 0 R, 0 H, 11SO, 3BB.

2B — NW, Brooke Harvey; Laura Muntz; Jordan Harrison; Payge Wufsus; Courtney Cragle.

Top hitters — NW, Harvey 2-3, double, 2 runs scored; Nicole Cragle 2-3, 2 runs; 2 RBI.

Wyoming Area’s Jess Parente scores under the tag of Nanticoke catcher Morgan Briggs in the first inning of a Wyoming Valley Conference softball game Monday afternoon.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_WyoArea-NanSB_1.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area’s Jess Parente scores under the tag of Nanticoke catcher Morgan Briggs in the first inning of a Wyoming Valley Conference softball game Monday afternoon. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Nanticoke’s Cassie Novakowski, right, drives a pitch by Wyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz to left field ahead of catcher Jess Parente in WVC Division 2 softball action Monday afternoon in West Pittston. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_WyoArea-NanSB_2.jpg.optimal.jpgNanticoke’s Cassie Novakowski, right, drives a pitch by Wyoming Area’s Gwen Glatz to left field ahead of catcher Jess Parente in WVC Division 2 softball action Monday afternoon in West Pittston. Bill Tarutis | For Times LeaderBill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Nanticoke first baseman Leandra Ramos tosses the ball to first base on a groundout by Wyoming Area’s Tinsley Sarnak.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_WyoArea-NanSB_3.jpg.optimal.jpgNanticoke first baseman Leandra Ramos tosses the ball to first base on a groundout by Wyoming Area’s Tinsley Sarnak. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Wyoming Area starter Gwen Glatz delivers a pitch against Nanticoke.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_WyoArea-NanSB_4.jpg.optimal.jpgWyoming Area starter Gwen Glatz delivers a pitch against Nanticoke. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Nanticoke starter Miranda Bohn delivers a pitch against Wyoming Area.
http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/web1_WyoArea-NanSB_5.jpg.optimal.jpgNanticoke starter Miranda Bohn delivers a pitch against Wyoming Area. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
Trojanettes top Wyoming Area 8-1 in Division 2 opener

By John Erzar

jerzar@timesleader.com

Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar