Before making sure there would be no repeat of last season’s District 2 disappointment, the Abington Heights softball team did manage to repeat its Lackawanna League Division 1 championship success.
There were several streaks produced along the way.
By going 14-0 in the division, the Lady Comets ran their league winning streak to 26 games. Abington Heights ended the regular season on a 12-game overall winning streak that had reached 14 games going into state play.
Abington Heights went eight full games and parts of two more for 48 innings total without allowing a run, holding three teams hitless during a streak that carried through late April into mid-May.
The Lady Comets finished a full three games ahead of North Pocono, the team that knocked them off in last season’s district final, and District 2 Class 4A champion Valley View, the last team to top them in a league game.
The divisional title was already secured by the time North Pocono gave Abington Heights its biggest challenge of league play in a game the Lady Comets won 3-2 in nine innings in the division finale. It was one of three wins over North Pocono on the season, to go along with two shutouts of Valley View.
Abington Heights otherwise demolished league competition, outscoring opponents 165-14 in the other 13 division games.
Along the way, Abington Heights was led by the one-two punch of juniors Adrianna Condrad and Avary Brister, two of the best in the state in their roles.
Condrad, who has verbally committed to Syracuse University, thrived in her first chance to be the primary pitcher.
“A.C. is a really good pitcher,” Lady Comets coach John Kelly said. “She had to wait her turn. She sat behind (Lauren) Stalica who was the state 5A Pitcher of the Year. She waited her turn and this year, she’s been lights out.”
While Condrad could give Abington Heights another pitcher in the state awards discussion, Brister’s outrageous offensive numbers make her a candidate for even bigger honors, according to her coach.
“Brister should be in the conversation for state Player of the Year,” Kelly said. “She’s hitting almost .700. She’s done a lot for us this season. We always knew she was a great hitter.
“We moved her from two to three to protect (Condrad) and as soon as we moved her to number three on the lineup, she just went on a tear and didn’t stop the whole season.”
Brister’s average dipped slightly to .620 going into the state tournament. She still led the team in that category as well as on-base percentage (.628), slugging percentage (1.127), doubles (14), home runs (eight), hits (49), runs (38), RBIs (41) and stolen bases (five).
In addition to her pitching, Condrad is second behind Brister offensively in batting average (.493), home runs (six), hits (36), RBIs (34) and slugging percentage (.877).
Condrad is 15-1 as a pitcher with eight complete games, six shutouts, two no-hitters, one perfect game and a 1.23 earned run average. She has struck out 144 while walking just 34 in 91 1/3 innings while taking on the toughest of the team’s assignments.
Leadoff hitter Eva Kane and No. 2 pitcher Brianna Bustos have also put up impressive numbers.
Kane leads the team with three triples, is second with 36 runs and 11 doubles and is third with a .479 batting average.
Bustos, a sophomore, is 4-0 with a save, 57 strikeouts and a 1.09 ERA in 38 2/3 innings.
Condrad no-hit Valley View for six innings and struck out eight in a five-inning perfect game against Wallenpaupack.
