Abington Heights’ Luke Dougherty high fives his teammate Nick Bradley after scoring against North Pocono in the District 2 Class 5A first round game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Cody Brown flips the ball to Harshal Patel for an out against North Pocono in the District 2 Class 5A first round game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Abington Heights’ Harshal Patel bats against North Pocono in the District 2 Class 5A first round game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Dylan Hunter pitches against Abington Heights in the District 2 Class 5A first round game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Henry Wolff bats during the District 2 Class 5A first round game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Abington Heights’ Luke Dougherty high fives his teammate Nick Bradley after scoring against North Pocono in the District 2 Class 5A first round game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — When you have a chance to score against a pitcher like Nick Bradley, you need to capitalize.
North Pocono missed its opportunity.
In the top of the first inning, the Trojans had runners on second and third with one out. But Bradley got out of the jam and silenced North Pocono the rest of the way to help the Comets earn a 7-0 victory in the District 2 Class 5A first round Tuesday at the Abington Heights High School Sports Complex.
Bradley, the Auburn University commit, did not allow another hit in his six-plus innings. He walked four and struck out nine. He also had a double and a sacrifice fly to help No. 4 seed Abington Heights (14-6) advance to Friday’s semifinals against No. 1 seed Pittston Area.
“I felt good in warmups and felt good throughout the game,” Bradley said. “I was just in attack mode, throwing my best fastball, best stuff at them as hard as I could and see what they could do with it.”
With one out in the top of the first, Dylan Hunter singled and went to third on a single by Jake Reese, who then stole second to give No. 5 North Pocono (10-11) runners at second and third. But Bradley escaped unscathed by striking out the next two batters.
“Nick is tough to score on. He just kind of has that second gear,” Abington Heights coach Bill Zalewski said. “There’s guys in the past who jump into my mind like (Gavin) Chillot and Max Kranick and those guys. Nick’s kind of in that same line where, if you’ve got a guy in scoring position, you’ve got to do a little extra to try to figure out how to get it. I was pretty confident in Nick there. Just as he always does, he got us out of that jam and then put up some zeroes for us.”
Trojans coach Brian Jardine knew his team missed the chance to seize the momentum early.
“We had the opportunity with (hitters) 4 and 5 up,” Jardine said. “He’s probably the best player in the area for a reason. He dug a little deep and was able to get both guys there. We don’t convert and they turn around and put up three and can kind of run with it from there.
“It flipped. With Nick on the mound, you go down three early, you’ve got quite a hill to climb.”
Indeed, buoyed by Bradley’s escape act, Abington Heights scored three runs in the bottom of the first of Hunter, North Pocono’s starter. Cody Brown led off with a single and stole second. Reese Zalewski’s ground ball to first moved Brown to third and Bradley lofted a sacrifice fly to right to score Brown. Gonzalez then walked, stole second and scored on a fielding error on a ball hit by Finn Goldberg. Noah Kayal followed with a single and Cooper Cottell plated Goldberg with a single that made it 3-0.
“Punching out the two kids to get out of the inning was great,” Bradley said. “I knew if they scored, they were going to get the momentum early. So, I really wanted to keep that runner on third base from scoring. When we got in the dugout after they didn’t score, we knew we had to immediately get runs. We didn’t want to go back out with no runs on the board. We did a great job with that. Everybody contributed. It was a great team win.”
North Pocono fouled off numerous pitches and hit some balls hard against Bradley the rest of the way, but couldn’t put anything together offensively.
“We had a great approach and squared some balls up,” Jardine said. “We thought if we could get him over 20 pitches an inning multiple innings, that could help us and we did it early. Then, he kind of settled in. We were getting good swings and making solid contact. But sometimes that’s baseball. The ball doesn’t always find grass. When it doesn’t, they become outs and he started to roll a little bit.”
It stayed 3-0 until the bottom of the fourth. Liam Dougherty was hit by a pitch. He stole second and came around to score, one out later, on a throwing error on a ball hit by Zalewski.
Abington Heights threatened for more. Walks to Bradley and Gonzalez loaded the bases. But Hunter got a fielder’s choice with first baseman Josh Kalinowski throwing home to catcher Jameson Gassert to get the forceout at home, then a strikeout to keep it 4-0.
Hunter allowed four runs (one earned) on three hits with six walks (one intentional) and two strikeouts.
Dougherty’s RBI single in the bottom of the fifth off reliever Brayden Von Ahnen extended the Comets’ lead to 5-0. In the bottom of the sixth, Goldberg had an RBI single and Noah Kayal a sacrifice fly to close out the scoring for the Comets.
“I’ve got to be honest, I was really happy when we got the one (run) because I was like they have to score off him (Bradley),” Zalewski said. “Then we added a couple more and I was like, OK, let’s just keep trying to figure out how to get a run here, a run there. The guys did a great job running the bases, putting ourselves in scoring position today. Very happy with how the guys prepped and executed.”
To open the seventh, Bradley walked the first two batters. He was relieved by Gonzalez, who got a double play and a line out to end the game.
Now, the Comets face Pittston Area in a rematch of last year’s Class 5A district final that the Patriots won, 3-1.
“We just have to play our game that we’ve been playing all year,” Bradley said. “Hit well, make plays in the field. If we do the things we know we’re capable of, we can be happy with that at the end of the day.”
Dallas 5, West Scranton 2: At Dallas, Dominick Zangardi had three hits, including two home runs, and drove in three to lead the No. 3 seed Mountaineers.
Dallas will visit No. 2 Wallenpaupack in the semifinals Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Zangardi also pitched the first five innings to get the win, allowing five hits and one run. He walked one and struck out three.
Brady Youngblood had a double and an RBI for Dallas, while Connor Healey had a double and one run. Michael Viglone had a single and an RBI.
Tyler Scotch had two hits for No. 6 West Scranton (5-16). Brayden Rodney had two doubles and one run.
Class 6A
No. 4 Wilkes-Barre Area pushed across the game-winning run in the bottom of the 11th inning to defeat No. 5 Scranton, 4-3, and advance to Friday’s District 2-4 subregional semifinals.
The Wolfpack (12-9) will play at top-seeded Williamsport in the semifinals Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Nathan Fritz pitched three innings of one-hit relief to get the win. He allowed one hit, walked two and struck out three. Alex Hufford pitched the first eight innings, allowing eight hits and three runs.
Fritz also had two hits and two runs. Jack Kapelan had two hits and one RBI. Koleton Davies and Tyler Daugherty each had a double.
Adrian Hernandez had three hits, including a double, for Scranton (8-12). Connor Thomas had two hits and one RBI, while Drew Leonori singled twice. Scranton trailed, 3-1, going to the top of the fourth when it scored two runs to tie the game.
Wyoming Valley West 4, Delaware Valley 3: At Wyoming Valley West, Connor Lehman’s sharp infield grounder with the infield in scored the game-winning run with one out in the bottom of the seventh.
The No. 3 Spartans (14-7) will visit No. 2 Hazleton Area in the subregional semifinals Friday at 4:30 p.m.
Kenneth Craig added a hit and two RBIs, D’Vonte Rivers had a double and two runs and Max Mylet added a hit and an RBI for Wyoming Valley West.
Andrew Wallace had three hits and two RBIs for No. 6 Delaware Valley (4-17), which tied the game with two runs in the top of the seventh.
Class 4A
Jake Bondy homered and scored two runs, and Nick Hricenak had two singles and two runs to lead No. 2 Mid Valley to a 10-4 victory over No. 7 Berwick in the Class 4A quarterfinals.
Mid Valley (16-5) will host No. 6 Crestwood, a 13-3 winner over No. 3 Scranton Prep, on Friday at 6 p.m.
Jeremy Cali had a double and three RBIs for Mid Valley. Spencer Kalinoski had two singles, one RBI and two runs, while Brett Yanoski had a double and two RBIs. Cooper Lukasavage pitched the first five innings to get the win. He allowed three hits and three runs, one of them earned. He struck out three.
Frankie Yosh had two hits, including a double, and one run for Berwick (4-17). Brett Knorr had two singles and drove in one run. Grant Evenson and Emmett Scheirer each had a double. Jake Lisnock and Aiden Walsh each drove in a run.
Crestwood 13, Scranton Prep 3: At Connell Park, Jaxson Fedak pitched five innings of five-hit ball with seven strikeouts as the No. 6 Comets (6-15-1) picked up the win.
Avery Brace had three hits, two of them home runs, and finished with six RBIs. Jack Rodgers had three hits, including a double and a triple, and three runs. Zach Stavish had two hits, including a double, two runs and one RBI. Carter Wanyo singled twice and drove in two. Chase Galella had two hits, including a double, and two RBIs.
Eli Zapotoski had two hits, including a double, for No. 3 Scranton Prep (11-9). Zach Charneski had a double, while Luc Williams had a single and two RBIs.
Wyoming Area 7, Valley View 3: At The Atlas Complex, trailing, 2-0, going to the bottom of the second, the top-seeded Warriors scored two runs to tie the game, then added five more in the third to advance to the semifinals.
Wyoming Area (18-3) will host No. 4 Hanover Area, a 5-3 winner over Honesdale, on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the semifinals.
Mitchel Rusinchak had three hits and one RBI. Zach Smith had a single and two runs. Max Langdon had two hits, including a triple, and drove in one.
Jake Snyder pitched 2.1 innings of relief to get the win. He allowed one hit, walked five and struck out four. Alex Vacula pitched the seventh and struck out two.
Maddox Corey had two hits and an RBI for No. 8 Valley View (5-16). Brody Call had a double and two RBIs, while Marco Ruby had a single and one run.
Hanover Area 5, Honesdale 3: At Hanover Area, Ben Kolbicka had two hits and two RBIs, and Jeff Peck scattered six hits over six innings to get the win to lead the Hawks.
Hanover Area (14-7), the No. 4 seed, will play at top seed Wyoming Area on Friday afternoon.
Peck had two hits and one RBI for Hanover Area. Cam Kratz had a double and one RBI and Logan Richardson had two singles. Kratz came on to pitch the seventh, allowing one hit and walking one to get the save.
Brody Patrisso had a single and an RBI for No. 5 Honesdale (9-11-1). Gino Patrisso scored two runs, and Jake Fine had a double.
Class 3A
Evan Mizenko and Luis Arias each had a home run and two RBIs as No. 3 seed Dunmore topped No. 6 Western Wayne, 5-1, in the District 2 Class 3A baseball quarterfinals at Schautz Stadium.
The Bucks (14-7) will visit No. 2 Lake-Lehman, a 7-2 winner over Carbondale Area, on Thursday at 1:30 p.m.
Mason Stets earned the win, pitching 6.2 innings with five hits, no earned runs, two walks and six strikeouts. He also added a triple and a run.
Nate Grochowski had two hits and Jamie McMynne and Anthony Yerka each had a double and a run for Dunmore.
Jameson McCullom had a hit and an RBI for the Wildcats (6-15).
Lake-Lehman 7, Carbondale Area 2: At Lake-Lehman, Chase Aten tossed a complete game, scattering seven hits and striking out five, to lead the Black Knights in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
The second-seeded Black Knights (15-6) will host Dunmore in the semifinals Thursday.
Aten walked one and allowed two runs, one of them earned. Andrew Morris had two hits, including a double, and one RBI. Scott Egbert drove in one run, while Will Jenkins and Justin Morris each had two hits and one run.
Sean Surace had a double and triple for Carbondale Area (2-18). Mitchell Masco had a double and one RBI.
Carbondale led, 2-0, going to the bottom of the third when Lake-Lehman scored all of its runs.
Lakeland 14, Montrose 4 (6 inn.): At Lakeland, Kody Miller had two hits, including a double, three RBIs and a run, as the No. 4 Chiefs defeated No. 5 Montrose in six innings in the Class 3A quarterfinals.
Lakeland (15-6) will face No. 1 Riverside on Thursday at 4 p.m. at the University of Scranton in the semifinals.
Mason Finegan had two hits and two runs, Dylan Loomis had a double, an RBI and a run and David Naniewicz had a double and two runs for the Chiefs.
Chase Harman had two hits and two RBIs for the Meteors (13-7).
Class 2A
William Evans earned the win, pitching 6.1 innings with four hits, no earned runs, three walks and five strikeouts and added a hit and two runs to lead No. 3 seed Lackawanna Trail to a 2-1 victory over No. 6 Mountain View in the District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals at Lackawanna Trail.
The Lions (12-7) will visit No. 2 Elk Lake, a 15-5 winner over Blue Ridge in five innings, on Friday in the semifinals.
Michael Palmer came on in relief, striking out two to secure the win.
Danny Jones had two hits and an RBI, William Evans had a hit and two runs and Carter Edwards had a hit and an RBI for Lackawanna Trail.
Jordan Jagger had a hit and an RBI for the Eagles (11-10).
Elk Lake 15, Blue Ridge 5 (5 inn.): At Elk Lake, Brayden Miller had two hits, including a double, and three RBIs and pitched three innings to earn the win, as the No. 2 Warriors beat the No. 7 Raiders in five innings in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
Elk Lake (14-7) will host No. 3 Lackawanna Trail, a 2-1 winner over Mountain View, in the semifinals Friday.
Connor Stephens had two hits, including a double, two RBIs and one run, Alden Felker had two hits, including a double, one RBI and two runs and Max Hollett had two hits, two RBIs and one run for the Warriors.
Mason Falkenberg had two hits and two RBIs for Blue Ridge (6-13).
Wyoming Seminary 10, Old Forge 3: At Wyoming Seminary, Ryan Finlay and John Comitz combined on a four-hitter with nine strikeouts to lead the No. 4 Blue Knights in the Class 2A quarterfinals.
Finlay pitched the first five innings — allowing four hits and three runs, while working around six walks. He finished with six strikeouts. Comitz did not allow a hit and struck out three in his two innings.
CJ Stevenson singled twice and drove in two runs for Wyoming Seminary (12-9). Nick Ravaioli had two RBIs, while Cash Hanson-Richart had a single, two RBIs and two runs.
Luke Olivieri had a single and an RBI for No. 5 Old Forge (9-11). Cam Krushnowski and Angelo DiMauro each had a single and one run.
Holy Redeemer 7, Holy Cross 0: At Gibby Field, Connor Krakosky tossed a complete-game two-hitter and struck out seven to help the No. 1 Royals advance to Friday’s semifinals where they will host Wyoming Seminary at 1 p.m.
Dom Marranca had two hits and one run for Holy Redeemer (12-9). Alex Gordon had a single and two RBIs. Sam Shovlin drove in two runs, while Reilly Hossage had a double and an RBI.
Charlie Marx and Josh Trichilo each had a single for No. 8 Holy Cross (0-20).