Abington Heights put together a late-season, nine-game winning streak, pulling out a couple one-run victories and three wins by a pair of runs during the stretch.
The streak helped the Comets secure the Lackawanna League Division 1 baseball title. They were not, however, able to duplicate that success in the postseason.
SUBREGIONAL RECAP
Abington Heights defeated Crestwood 3-1 May 21 in a District 2-4 Class 5A Subregional quarterfinal, but lost 10-0 in five innings against Pittston Area three days later in the semifinals.
Jake Lenahan struck out nine in 6 2/3 innings, keeping Crestwood scoreless after it came up with a run in the top of the first. Nick Bradley then got the last out in the combined five-hitter.
Chase Montigney ripped a grand slam in the first inning and finished with five RBI to help visiting Pittston Area advance to its second straight subregional final.
SEASON RECAP
Abington Heights finished 11-3 in Division 1 of the Lackawanna League, three games ahead of the pack.
The Comets (18-4) scored at least 10 runs in three straight games to begin their winning streak, then got past Wallenpaupack 1-0 and Delaware Valley 9-7.
A comeback from a three-run deficit produced a 10-9, eight-inning victory over North Pocono to clinch at least a first-place tie.
Abington Heights then clinched the title when Lenahan drove in two runs and held Valley View to two hits for 6 2/3 innings of a 5-2 victory.
Bradley struck out 11 in a three-hitter for a 3-1 victory over West Scranton in the regular-season finale.
The Comets were held hitless in the Wallenpaupack game, but Reese Zalewski’s bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh ended the game.
Lenahan threw a two-hit shutout with eight strikeouts while walking just one.
The one-two pitching combination of Lenahan and Bradley played a major role in the team’s success.
Lenahan was 10-0 in 11 appearances with a team-best 1.15 earned run average and a 67-17, strikeout-to-walk ratio in 54 2/3 innings. Bradley was 6-2 with 58 strikeouts, 14 walks and a 2.35 ERA in 41 2/3 innings.
Lincoln Anderson had a team-best .403 batting average.
Tate Pentasuglio provided a spark with 15 stolen bases and 32 runs scored, both team-high totals.
Zalewski drove in 24 runs while Lenahan and Mark Nazar drove in 21 each.
Lenahan had a team-high seven doubles while batting .383.
