Abington Heights has been hurt by its play outside the Lackawanna League, potentially putting the Comets in a difficult position in the District 2-4 Class 5A Subregional softball field that includes defending Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state champion Pittston Area.
The Comets went into May tied for second in Division 1 of the Lackawanna with North Pocono at 6-2, trailing unbeaten Valley View by two games. Abington Heights is 6-6 overall and fourth of seven teams in the seeding race, meaning a likely quarterfinal home game but semifinal road game.
Sophomore Lauren Stalica leads the offense in the triple crown categories of home runs, RBI and batting average while also serving as the team’s primary pitcher.
Recap
North Pocono created the second-place tie April 24 when Kylie Mastillo hit a three-run homer in the sixth inning for an 11-10 victory over Abington Heights. … Abington Heights needed just five innings to defeat Wallenpaupack, a team it trails in the Class 5A ratings race, 12-2. Lindsay Tasker went 3-for-3 with two homers and two RBI. Stalica struck out eight in a four-hitter, homered and drove in three runs. … The Comets withstood five runs by defending champion West Scranton in the bottom of the seventh inning to hang on for an 8-6 victory in a rematch of the playoff to decide last season’s division title. … Abington Heights lost twice to New York State schools April 29 at the Testa Strike Out Cancer Tournament, falling to host Maine-Endwell, 13-5, and to Webster Schroeder, 6-2. That left the team with three losses in its last four games of April.
