SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — The Abington Heights softball team started the season with a bang.

Actually, a walk, double, infield single, and then a bang — a grand slam from catcher Dominique Emmett over the fence in left-center field. The four runs jumpstarted the Lady Comets to a 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League softball crossover game on Tuesday afternoon.

“I saw the pitch come right down the middle and just focused on my timing to make sure I connected well,” Emmett said.

The Lady Comets responded with three more runs in the second inning. Second baseman Cassie Toth doubled and advanced to third base on a wild pitch with one out. The next batter, shortstop Cassidy Bartkowski, walked and stole second base before center fielder Alison Kane drove in two runs on a long fly ball that was misplayed by Honesdale center fielder Ashlyn Gregory. Pitcher Paige Harris followed with an RBI single.

Harris allowed two hits over three scoreless innings and struck out five batters, including two in the first inning.

“She was really consistent, that was the big thing,” Emmett said of Harris. “She came out firing with good speed and hit most of her spots.”

Third baseman Kaylee DeMatteo, left fielder Caroline Mattise and Bartkowski each drove in a run in the fourth inning. First baseman Marissa Lewis also scored on a wild pitch and Mattise scored on a passed ball in the inning.

Each Lady Comets starter reached base at least once in the game and six batters drove in a run.

“Even in the exhibition games, we’ll been really happy with our hitting,” Abington Heights head coach John Kelly said. “We’ve been scoring a lot of runs and we’ve also been playing really good defense. One through nine in our lineup, we really don’t have a weak spot. I’m hoping that continues and we have two or three girls off the bench who can also hit really well.”

Honesdale scored their lone run in the fifth inning. Pinch-hitter Michaela Stephens was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced to second base on a wild pitch. Stephens was driven in on a line drive double from catcher Mary Peck.

Lady Comets relieve pitcher Meghan McGinley allowed just one hit over two innings and added a single at the plate.

“The hitting was there, we played really good defense and the pitching was good today,” Kelly said. “For the first game, we couldn’t have asked for a better start.”

Abington Heights will host Scranton Prep in a Lackawanna League Division 1 game at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14.

Abington Heights third baseman Kaylee DeMatteo delivered a RBI single in the fourth inning of the Lady Comets’ 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-DeMatteo.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights third baseman Kaylee DeMatteo delivered a RBI single in the fourth inning of the Lady Comets’ 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

Abington Heights pitcher Paige Harris struck out five batters and didn’t allow a run in three innings on the mound during the Lady Comets’ 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-Harris.jpg.optimal.jpgAbington Heights pitcher Paige Harris struck out five batters and didn’t allow a run in three innings on the mound during the Lady Comets’ 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

Lady Comets center fielder Alison Kane had two doubles and drove in two runs during Abington Heights’ 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-Kane.jpg.optimal.jpgLady Comets center fielder Alison Kane had two doubles and drove in two runs during Abington Heights’ 12-1 win over Honesdale in a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

Lady Comets pitcher Meghan McGinley allowed one run in two innings and added a single at the plate during Abington Heights’ 12-1 win over Honesdale during a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12.
https://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_ABJ-AH-Softball-McGinley.jpg.optimal.jpgLady Comets pitcher Meghan McGinley allowed one run in two innings and added a single at the plate during Abington Heights’ 12-1 win over Honesdale during a Lackawanna League crossover game on Tuesday, April 12. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.