Gianna Adams
CLARKS SUMMIT — Pittston Area softball coach Frank Parente could see how the District 2 Playoff Power Ratings were playing out.
Parente knew the unbeaten record and Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 championship were not going to be enough to avoid hitting the road in the Class 5A playoffs.
Once there, the Lady Patriots handled the challenge of facing Abington Heights, one of the teams that tied for first in Lackawanna League Division 1, beating the Comets, 5-3, on their home field in Thursday’s semifinals.
“We kind of knew the way the point system was going that no matter what we did, we were going to be playing on the road in the second round,” Parente said. “I’m proud of the girls. They were ready and they rose to the occasion.”
The win puts third-seeded Pittston Area against the other Lackawanna Division 1 co-leader, West Scranton. The Lady Invaders are the top seed, the defending champion and a team loaded with veterans from last season’s PIAA state semifinal appearance.
Pittston Area threatened to put Abington Heights away early Thursday, opening a 3-0 lead in the top of the first and loading the bases before a diving stop by second baseman Lindsey Tasker kept the Lady Patriots from expanding their lead.
“I think it’s a flawed system for sure, but Abington Heights really did play a tough schedule all year,” Parente said. “Wherever they tell us to play, we’re going to show up and play our best.”
The next stop will be a neutral field for Wednesday’s 4:30 p.m. championship at Marywood University.
Pittston Area handled the trip to Abington Heights in a game that took on two different looks.
The teams combined for seven runs and 11 hits in the first 2½ innings, but just one run and four hits over the final 4½.
Gianna Adams, fresh off a quarterfinal no-hitter, recovered from allowing a home run on the first pitch of the fourth inning to retire 12 of the last 13 batters she faced.
The only exception brought the tying run to the plate with two out in the bottom of the seventh, but second baseman Bella Giardina handled a grounder toward the middle to start the game-ending force play.
“We haven’t had many close games,” said Parente, who was happy to see his team did not display nerves in its closest game of the season.
Pittston Area won a pair of three-run games against Tunkhannock and Berwick early in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 championship season, but had overwhelmed opponents by a total of 134-13 over the final dozen regular-season games.
Marina Antal, Bella Giardina and Kallie Booth had RBI singles in each of the first three innings.
Pittston Area 6, Crestwood 0
Gianna Adams struck out 14 and walked three in her no-hitter while also contributing to the offense in Tuesday’s quarterfinal victory at home.
Tori Para was 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI while Adams also had two hits, two runs and two RBI. They both had home runs and Adams added a double.
Marina Antal was 2-for-3 with one RBI.
