Doin’ Dunmore: McGinty’s Wins Third Straight Dunmore Freedom League Title

Posted on September 5, 2018 by The Dunmorean

Members of the McGinty team include, kneeling from left: Colin Maldonado, Charlie Terrery, Manager Tyler Chulvick, PJ Mandarano and Corey Sullivan. Standing, same order: Robert Donovan, Dan Capwell, Justin Magistro, Robert Seprish, Alex Terrery, Billy Keating, Zack Foley-McGinty, Mike Villa and Riley Sullivan.

By Steve Svetovich

McGinty’s won its third consecutive Dunmore Freedom League title with two wins over the Dunmore entry last month at West Scranton’s Battaglia Field.

Managed by Tyler Chulvick, McGinty’s played Honesdale in the semi finals, taking two of three games at Dunmore’s Sherwood Park last month.

McGinty’s finished the regular season with a 6-4 record as the number two playoff seed to first place Dunmore.

All regular season games were played at Dunmore’s Sherwood Park.

Members of the title team include the player-manager Tyler Chulvick, Charlie Terrery, P.J. Mandarano, Corey Sullivan, Robert Donovan, Dan Capwell, Justin Magistro, Robert Seprish, Alex Terrery, Billy Keating, Zack Foley-McGinty, Mike Villa, Riley Sullivan, Corey Rinaldi, and Colin Maldonato.

McGinty’s lost its first best-of-three playoff game, 8-4, at Dunmore’s Sherwood Park.

The team came back strong in game two with a 16-0 win over Honesdale at Sherwood Park.

Riley Sullivan hurled a five-inning shutout in the 16-0 win. He struck out three while allowing only one hit and one walk.

“It was a very efficient effort by Riley,” said manager Chulvick.

baseball Zack Foley-McGinty had three hits, including a triple, in the win. Billy Keating had three hits, including two doubles. P.J. Mandarano and Dan Capwell both had two hits and three RBIs each.

“The team was fired up after that win,” said Chulvick.

McGinty’s then beat Honesdale, 8-5, at Sherwood Park to advance to the best-of-three championship against Dunmore.

Colin Maldonato had a seven-inning complete game win in the semi final contest. He struck out six while allowing only four hits and two earned runs.

Foley-McGinty continued his hot hitting with a 4-for-4 game and three RBIs. Keating hit in the go-ahead runs in the eighth inning.

P.J. Mandarano pitched a masterpiece shutting out Dunmore, 5-0, in the first game of the best-of-three finals at Battaglia Field. He struck out six and gave up only one hit and three walks in the seven-inning shutout.

Mike Villa and Alex Terrery had two hits each in the win. Justin Magistro drove in three runs with a double in the first inning to put the team ahead for good.

McGinty’s then came back from behind in game two to win the Dunmore Freedom League title, 13-9, over arch rival and number one seed Dunmore.

Sullivan picked up the win with excellent relief work.

“He did a really nice job,” said Chulvick.

Alex Terrery had two hits, including a double. Villa hit a double and triple. Magistro added two hits.

baseball Dylan Svetovich led Dunmore with four hits. Anthony Duchnowski had two hits for Dunmore. Matt Fisch added a double for Dunmore who had a 10-2 regular season record.

Players on the McGinty’s team ranged from age 21 for P.J. Mandarano to age 59 for Charlie Terrery, the oldest player in the league.

“Charlie is a key member of the team,” said Chulvick. “He keeps us together. He serves a big role on the team. He keeps us out of trouble and focused. He keeps us unified as a team. He also gets some big hits for us. We expect him back next year too.”

Keating and Foley-McGinty led the team in hitting. Both had batting averages over .400. Alex Terrery and Magistro both hit over .350.

“A big key to this year’s team was adding P.J. Mandarano and Colin Maldonato as pitchers. They made the difference. It was great having them on our side.

“This was our third title in a row and it was my favorite of the three. It was the most difficult of the three.

“We came into the summer with great expectations, started slow, but then picked up as the year went on. The depth of our pitching staff is what helped us most win the title. Some of our starters got us some key complete games. And that was huge. It gives other pitchers a rest.

“We had to grind out a lot of wins. That is why this is my favorite of the three.”

Dunmore Little Leaguers Take Home District Title, Second in Sectionals

Posted on August 1, 2018 by The Dunmorean

LL District 17 winners The Dunmore 11 U baseball team won the District 17 title and was runner up for Sectionals this summer with Derek Forgione, Tom Clark and John Cortazar as coaches.

In celebration of this achievement, an official banner with a photo of all team members will be hung up at the Dunmore Little League concession stand.

The team did a great job this season, winning 9 out of a total 11 games. We have some talented boys on the team and I know we will go far next year as well! The overall team batting average was .412, and the overall team on base percentage was .529.

The full team roster included Tommy Clark, Kyle Cortazar, Cory Domiano, Max Forgione, Bobby Hoban, Matthew Iezzi, Jaedyn Kura, Jack McNeff, Connor Mullaney, Keegan Oprisko, and Joseph Roughgarden.

According to head coach Forgione, “The boys learned to believe fully in themselves and their teammates. Not one of their regular season teams had a winning record, so they had to learn to believe in themselves and gain a new level of confidence. They figured out the right mindset needed to compete at a higher level.”

Among the many lessons the young players learned, according to their coach, were to never give up.

LL Sectional 5 runner ups “They were down early 9-0 against Abington American in our second game, and they kept fighting back,” Forgione recalls. “Eventually they came back to win 10-9. They never had a look of doubt on their faces.”

They also learned to play and think as a team, not as a group of individuals.

“They did not care about individual stats,” their coach points out. “They just wanted to win as a team and have fun doing it.”

The boys were very coachable, being able to listen and take critiques. They all showed up at practice ready to work and get better each day.

“They are a unique group of boys,” Forgione explains. “They are very tough and gritty kids, and they brought the energy level needed to get a team to the Sectional Finals.”

He feels that all the players have a better appreciation for each other as teammates and friends through this experience, and that they learned valuable lessons that will help get them through some difficult times that come up in their lives, and that will also allow them to create more opportunities in life.

Forgione gives credit to his coaching staff and the parents who helped out each day.

“They devoted themselves fully to the team and gave 100 percent of their energy wherever needed. Everyone was all-in, and the kids felt that and did not want to let each other down.

“I think the boys now have higher expectations for where this team can go next year – and they all realize they will need to keep working hard and not feel satisfied – and they understand that more positives will come our way. I believe in them that they will deliver on this,” Forgione concludes.

Doin’ Dunmore: Rinaldi Sets Dunmore Freedom League Record

Posted on August 1, 2018 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Dunmore High School graduate Corey Rinaldi, 22, has played baseball his whole life from t-ball through Little League, Teener League, Legion, high school and college.

But he never hit a home run. Until last month.

Son of Mike and Michele Rinaldi, Corey hit three homers in one game playing for the Dunmore entry in the summer Dunmore Freedom League at Sherwood Park last month.

He hit the homers in three consecutive at bats. All were hard blasts, one over the right field fence and two to deep center over the fence.

The three homer game set a Dunmore Freedom League record.

Playing with and against mostly collegiate players, Corey performs at a highly competitive level in the league.

Congratulated after his three homer performance, he remained humble. “Oh, you are way too kind,” he said. “But thank you, sir.”

Corey, who added some muscle to his frame this season, graduated from Dunmore in 2015. He is a biology major at Penn State University. He played on the baseball team at Penn State Scranton last season.

Corey played four years of baseball at Dunmore and was a first team all-star first baseman in his senior year. He also played in the Dream Game at PNC Field in Moosic in his senior year.

He earned distinguished honors throughout high school and was a member of the Dunmore golf team.

He was the captain of his Dunmore High School baseball team and member of the Senior League championship team in 2013.

Corey not only hit three homers for Dunmore in its win over Honesdale, but he was the winning pitcher striking out eight in the Dunmore Freedom League contest at Sherwood Park.

Corey’s brother Chris Rinaldi is a power hitting catcher and was his teammate on the Dunmore entry team in the Dunmore Freedom League. Corey since his three homer game has switched to the McGinty’s team in the Dunmore Freedom League.

“I just love playing baseball,” he said.

Not one to shine a light or talk about himself, he let his mom, who attends all of his games, do the talking.

“Corey is one of the most genuine people you would ever want to meet,” she said. “He is a true friend and someone you can count on for anything.

“Watching him play is a pleasure. He never gives up, fights hard and just when you think he can’t throw another pitch he actually gets stronger.

“Watching him hit those three home runs was one of the greatest moments of our lives. He had never hit one before.

“He loves the game and works hard at it. But most of all he is a team player always full of praise for the rest of the team.”

Corey made the Dean’s List at Penn State. He was the winning pitcher and gave up only two hits in the only game Penn State Scranton won last season.

He played three years of American Legion baseball under his favorite coach, the legendary Gino Tempesta.

Corey was also very close to Dunmore coaches Mark Finan and Vito Ruggerio.

“They gave me many opportunities to play and learn,” he said.

Corey said he plans on becoming a paramedic or physical therapist after graduating from Penn State. He will continue his education.

“His compassion and caring for other people put me in awe sometimes,” his mom said.

“Every parent thinks their child is the greatest, but I know Corey will do great things with his life. Our love and admiration for him are beyond words.”

And it’s not often you will see three homers in three consecutive at bats at Dunmore’s very spacious Sherwood Park. An out of park home run there is a well earned one. Three shots.