Abington Heights, led by Nick Bradley, showed off its pitching and defense in a strong start to the baseball season.
The Comets shut out their first two opponents and allowed only two runs total in their four wins while dropping one game to unbeaten Pittston Area during March. All five games were played on the road.
Heading into April and the start of Lackawanna League Division 1 play, Bradley had both the team’s best batting average and its best earned run average.
Bradley went 10-for-17 (.588) with eight RBI in the 4-1 start. He was the starting pitcher in three wins, posting an ERA of 0.40.
The right-hander, who made a verbal commitment to Auburn University back in his freshman year, was clearly ready for the start of his junior season.
Bradley threw 6 1/3 innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts and only one walk while also going 4-for-4 with two triples, a home run, two runs and three RBI March 14 in a 6-0 win at Wilkes-Barre Area.
In each of his other two starts, Bradley gave up just two hits and one walk. He worked five scoreless innings in an 8-1 win at Riverside and gave up his first run while throwing six innings in a 6-1 victory over Mid Valley.
Opponents managed just five hits while striking out 18 times in Bradley’s 17 1/3 innings.
Bradley had at least a hit and an RBI in every game. He had two hits during a 6-5 loss to Pittston Area and again in the Mid Valley game.
The Comets made a run in the top of the first inning stand up in a 1-0 win over Bethlehem Freedom March 15.
Bradley drove in leadoff hitter Tate Pentasuglio with the winner.
Pentasuglio went 3-for-3 with a double.
J.P. Kehoe and Reese Zalewski combined on a five-hit shutout.
Kehoe did not walk a batter and struck out three in five innings.
Zalewski gave up just one hit and walked one while striking out three in the final two innings for the save.
Scranton Prep
The Cavaliers split a season-opening doubleheader with Greater Latrobe March 15, then split their other two games to end March at 2-2.
Michael DeRichie went 3-for-3 and Joe Connolly drove in three runs March 31 in a 13-2, five-inning romp over Honesdale.
Johnny Petrosky singled, doubled, scored and drove in a run in a 2-1 victory over Greater Latrobe in the second game. Connolly was the winning pitcher with two scoreless innings in relief.
Lackawanna Trail
The Lions did not play any games prior to April 1.
