Category Archives: October 2016

RailRiders win Governors’ Cup, first Triple-A national title

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By Steve Svetovich

The Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders captured the Governors’ Cup and its first ever Triple-A national title in convincing fashion last month.

The RailRiders, behind strong performances by four pitchers and a three-run first inning homer by veteran first baseman Chris Parmelee, beat the El Paso Chihuahuas, the Pacific Coast League Triple-A farm club of the San Diego Padres, 3-1, Tuesday, September 20, at AutoZone Park in Memphis, Tennessee to earn the Gilden Triple-A National Title.

It was the RailRiders first ever Triple-A National Crown.

Mark Payton and Clint Frazier both singled in the first inning before Parmelee delivered with his three-run shot off Walter Lockett to give the RailRiders a 3-0 first inning lead. Parmelee hit two homers in one game during a brief call up with the New York Yankees this season before an injury curtailed his time with the parent club.

Jordan Montgomery pitched five innings, giving up one run, to earn the win for the RailRiders.

Montgomery was lifted by manager Al Pedrique in the sixth inning after giving up three straight singles resulting in a run for El Paso.

However, Johnny Barbato came in for Montgomery and got the first three of 12 consecutive outs by Scranton Wilkes-Barre relievers.

Crafty veteran lefty Phil Coke, a member of the 2009 world champion New York Yankees, pitched a perfect seventh and eighth inning for the RailRiders. Coke has since been traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Giovanny Gallegos pitched a perfect ninth to gain the save and clinch the Triple-A National Title for the RailRiders.

The RailRiders won the Governors’ Cup by taking three of four games in a best of five series against the Gwinnett Braves.

The clincher came Friday, September 17, at Coolray Field in Lawrenceville, Georgia, a 3-0 win for the franchise’s second Governors’ Cup championship.

It was the team’s second straight 3-0 win, fourth shutout in seven post-season games and 28th overall this season.

Jake Cave, the MVP of the series, hit a single, stole a key base and Cito Culver drew a two-out walk that led to RBI singles by Mark Payton and Clint Frazier to give the RailRiders a 2-0 lead in the top of the fifth.

Culver walked with two outs in the top of the seventh. Payton followed up with an RBI triple to give Scranton Wilkes-Barre a 3-0 lead.

Don Camarena, in his first Triple-A start, earned the win with five and one-third shutout innings. He struck out four, gave up five hits and one walk while inducing three double plays in the first four innings.

Three RailRider relievers then took over retiring the final 11 batters in succession.

Johnny Barbato got out of a sixth inning jam when Gwinnett had runners on second and third with one out. A strikeout and groundout kept Gwinnett from scoring.

Tyler Webb pitched a perfect seventh and eighth striking out two. Gallegos pitched a perfect ninth, striking out two, to earn the save and clinch the Governors’ Cup for the RailRiders.

Payton had three hits and two RBIs in the win. Frazier had two hits and an RBI.

Scranton Wilkes-Barre won its first Governors’ Cup in 2008.

The RailRiders swept the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs in three games to advance to the Governors’ Cup series. Coke pitched a fabulous game in the 7-0 game two win. He hurled a season-high seven shutout innings, striking out seven and retiring the last 13 batters he faced. He gave up no walks.

Crestwood graduate Matt Wotherspoon pitched a perfect eighth before Barbato finished off the win with a scoreless ninth for the RailRiders.

A total of 63 players, the most notable being catcher Gary Sanchez, suited up for the RailRiders this season. Sanchez, who hit 10 homers for Scranton Wilkes-Barre, became the quickest MLB player in the history of baseball to hit 19 homers since being called up to the parent Yankees in early August. He is a strong American League Rookie of the Year candidate.

Only three players – Parmelee, Donovan Solano and Peter Kozma – were in the RailRiders’ starting lineup on both opening day and for the Governors’ Cup title clincher. Solano has since been called up to the parent club after an injury to Yankees starting second baseman Starling Castro.

Other key players such as Aaron Judge and Chad Green, both since injured and out for the season, Rob Refsnyder, Luis Severino, Luis Cessa and Tyler Austin were called up to the parent club and not available for the playoffs.

Another key player throughout the season, center fielder Ben Gamel, the International League MVP, was traded to the Seattle Mariners August 31.

Former New York Yankees star Nick Swisher, a fan favorite and clubhouse leader, was on the RailRiders the first half of the season before leaving the team to be with his family after his wife had a baby.

Even the Yankees retiring first baseman Mark Teixeira, one of only four switch hitters in baseball history with over 400 homers, played a couple games with the RailRiders this season during a rehab stint.

It will be a season to remember for this resilient group of players. And all 63 of them and the entire coaching staff had a hand in it.

Congratulations to the 2016 national champion Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

 

Annual Buddy Walk at Nay Aug Park

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PODS OF NEPA will sponsor the annual Buddy Walk 2016 on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 1 p.m. at Nay Aug Park (Schimelfenig Pavilion). Registration is from 11 a.m. to noon.

There will also be face painting, dancing, EJ the DJ, basket raffles, free hot dogs, snacks and drinks. The Olyphant Lions Pride Squad will be featured.

Shown seated from left are: Gaia Caporale, Olivia Reese, Kayla Morgan and Cody Calvert.

Standing, same order: Marzia Caporale, Maryclaire Kretsch, Arc Deputy Executive Director;’ Michele Reese, Bert Morgan, Carmen Morgan, and Eileen Rempe, Arc Director PR/Development.

 

Artist of the Month: Marie Mohila

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Maria Mohila is shown in her home studio that her husband built for her. Marie is holding award-winning paintings “Dogwood and Lilacs” and “Spring Bouquet.”

By Marie Mohila

Upon losing my job at Cinram, where I was Executive Assistant to the President, a dear friend of mine, Ivone Grzech,  suggested I go with her to the Dunmore Senior Center’s oil painting class.  (On a side note, I was actually the flower girl in Ivone’s wedding almost 60 years ago.)  

Never having had any formal painting experience, on a whim I decided to join Ivone and all the other great painters at the Senior Center on Chestnut Street.  A little apprehensive, canvas in tote, I was introduced to the instructor, Jill Swersie.  Jill immediately put me at ease and I began the process of deciding what I should paint.  I chose a landscape scene as my first attempt and as they say “the rest is history.”

I had participated in the class every Monday for about two years and then ventured back to a full time job and therefore had to stop painting for several years.  Upon my retirement five years ago from The Commonwealth Medical College as the Executive Assistant to the President and Dean, I was able to return to the class, which is now held at the Center on Monroe Avenue.

It’s so amazing how one begins to look at nature and life with a new perspective once you begin to paint.  You begin to realize trees aren’t just green, but are many shades of green, and  flowers have brighter and sharper colors.  One just pays more attention to the details of beauty in nature and what we are blessed with.  I truly love to paint anything and everything from flowers in my garden, scenes from vacation photos, and even my daughter (Carrie) when she was a young ballerina. Through this process I found that I most enjoy painting florals.

Jill and the oil painting class were just the beginning of what has blossomed into a love for various genres of painting.  I was a member of Pocono Painters, “Come Paint with Me” plein air painters.  In the past I have also taken several watercolor classes, and oil painting classes at the Abington Senior Center.  I have also taken several painting workshops with local artists Mary Lou Chibirka and Lisa Hannick.

Having entered many local county fairs, the most exciting came when I won a first place blue ribbon, best of section white ribbon and the best of show purple ribbon for my painting “Spring Bouquet,” shown on the right in the above photo.

I have developed a true love for painting and sign my pictures Marie B. M hila as well as placing a heart somewhere in each painting.  

I am so thankful to my friend Ivone, Jill Swersie and the Dunmore Senior Center for the opportunities they have given me to explore my talent as an artist.  I am forever grateful.