Four Abington Heights and three Lackawanna Trail student-athletes were named to 2016 all-state softball teams selected by the Pennsylvania High School Softball Association.

In Class A, Lackawanna Trail freshman outfielder Samantha Baltrusaitis was a second-team selection. Senior catcher Mackenzie Duffy and junior shortstop Madison Lee were honorable mention selections for the Lady Lions.

Baltrusaitis had a .426 average with four home runs and 21 RBIs.

“She developed confidence as the season went on,” Lackawanna Trail head coach John Richter said. “Early in the year, she was hitting the ball hard but wasn’t as productive as she would have liked. By the end of the season, she started finding gaps and hitting more home runs.”

Duffy had a .417 average with nine RBIs.

“She is a very consistent all-around player,” Richter said. “She has played so much over the years and her softball IQ is fantastic. She is a very patient hitter and anticipates things so well in the field. She’s an outstanding defensive catcher, she blocks ball well and has climbed the fence on the backstop to make plays.”

Lee had a .453 average with 17 RBIs.

“As last year went on, she got more confident,” Richter said. “She came into this year with less pressure on herself and went to the plate thinking she was going to get a hit every time. She swung the bat really well and was extremely productive for us. I was really happy to see her get the accolades she deserves.”

Lackawanna Trail claimed the District 2 Class A championship this past season.

In Class 3A, Abington Heights senior first baseman Marissa Lewis was a first-team selection. Senior pitcher Paige Harris and senior catcher Dominique Emmett were second-team selections, and junior third baseman Kaylee DeMatteo and sophomore outfielder Naudia Solan were honorable mention selections for the Lady Comets.

Harris finished the season with a 15-1 record (1.32 ERA) and 193 strikeouts. She also had a .414 average as a batter with 15 RBI’s.

Emmett had a .442 average with seven home runs and 23 RBIs.

Lewis had a .438 average with eight doubles and 18 RBIs. She didn’t commit an error in 100 attempts last season.

DeMatteo had a .397 average with eight doubles.

Solan had a .391 average with five doubles and four home runs.

Abington Heights won the District 2 Class 3A championship and advanced to the semifinals of the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) playoffs this past season.

Lackawanna Trail freshman outfielder Samantha Baltrusaitis was a second-team selection on the Pennsylvania High School Softball Association Class A All-State softball team.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_ABJ-LT-Softball-Baltrusaitis.jpg.optimal.jpgLackawanna Trail freshman outfielder Samantha Baltrusaitis was a second-team selection on the Pennsylvania High School Softball Association Class A All-State softball team.

Abington Heights senior first baseman Marissa Lewis was a first-team selection on the Pennsylvania High School Softball Association Class 3A All-State softball team.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-Lewis.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights senior first baseman Marissa Lewis was a first-team selection on the Pennsylvania High School Softball Association Class 3A All-State softball team.

Staff reports

Robert Tomkavage contributed to this report. Reach the Abington Journal newsroom at 570-587-1148 or by email at news@s24528.p831.sites.pressdns.com.