Dime Bank split two games in recent American Legion baseball action, securing no worse than a #3 seed in the upcoming District 15 play-offs.

On Saturday afternoon at Keith Sutton Memorial Field, the Pythons leapt out to an early lead, but then had to hold off a fierce Hawley rally for an eventual 7-4 victory. The loss was just the third of the season for Post 311, which has already clinched the top seed in this year’s play-offs.

On Tuesday night, Honesdale hosted FMS and suffered a 4-2 setback. The defeat left Dime Bank with an 8-6 overall record. The Pythons will be back on the field for their regular season finale this evening versus Elk Lake.

First pitch is slated for 5:30 p.m. at Tunnel Hill.

Fast Start
Honesdale carved out an early lead against Hawley starter DJ O’Heren. The Pythons tallied a pair of runs in both the first and second innings.

Joel Watson ignited the opening rally by reaching on an infield error. Anthony Matacchiera broke the scoring ice with an RBI double. Moments later, Matacchiera also scampered home courtesy of a Wade Rickard basehit.

Dime Bank made it 4-0 in the second thanks to the clutch hitting of Mike Callahan. A versatile ballplayer who hails from Western Wayne, Callahan ripped a two-bagger that plated both Wilson Davis and Scotty Shaffer.

Trevor Taylor was the beneficiary of these scoring outbursts. The wily righthander would go on to earn the pitching decision with a solid complete game effort. Trev worked seven innings, allowed only five hits and two earned runs. He struck out five and walked three.

First baseman Christian Capone and third sacker Corey Linden chimed in with big hits for Hawley. Capone crushed a solo homer to lead off the third. Linden chipped in with an RBI double. Corey also walked and scored a run on the day.

Bobby Kinsman and Jake Schilling put the Pythons ahead to stay in the home half of the fifth inning.

Kinsman smoked an RBI double that plated Callahan, who’d reached on an error. Schilling added a run-scoring two-bagger of his own later in the frame. Jake’s double chased home Watson, who was issued a free pass.

Score by Innings...
HAW  0  1  3  0  0  0  0 - 4
HON   2  2  0  0  3  0  x - 7

Slow Finish
Unfortunately for Honesdale hardball fans, Dime Bank’s offense went into hibernation Tuesday evening. The result was a tough-to-swallow 4-2 loss to visiting FMS.

The Generals look to have a solid hold on the #3 spot for this year’s play-off tournament. FMS has four losses with just one regular season game left to play.

Anthony Matacchiera took the hill as Honesdale’s starter and struggled in the early going. The fireballing righty, who already has a no-hitter to his credit this summer, lasted just three innings before yielding to reliever Mead Sandercock.

Matacchiera surrendered an RBI double to Western Wayne’s Cody Moyle. He then allowed a sacrifice fly to FMS catcher Dan Downton. CJ Felter added a solo homer in the top of the third.

Bobby Kinsman and Wilson Davis powered Dime Bank’s offensive assault.

Kinsman clubbed a two-out homer in the bottom of the sixth to keep Honesdale’s flickering hopes alive. Davis smoked a double in three at-bats.

Joe Harvey was the starter and winner for FMS. The Generals’ ace went seven innings and allowed only two earned runs on five hits. Felter walked a pair and fanned three.

Score by Innings...
FMS   2  0  1  0  1  0  0 - 4
HON  0  0  0  0  0  1  0 - 2