North Pocono locked up a Lackawanna League baseball division title Wednesday and helped Abington Heights do the same.
The Trojans jumped out to a four-run lead in the top of the first on the way to a 7-4 victory at Valley View to secure the Division 2 championship.
North Pocono, which finished 10-1 in the league and improved to 14-4 overall, had already clinched at least a first-place tie heading into the game.
Abington Heights started the day knowing it could clinch at least a tie for first place in Division 1 simply by winning.
The Comets took care of that with a 3-2 victory over West Scranton, but also pinned down the outright Division 2 championship with help from North Pocono beating second-place Valley View in their crossover.
Abington Heights finished 9-3 in the league and is 10-6 overall. West Scranton (6-5) also began the day with hopes of keeping the Division 1 title chase a three-team battle.
Jake Millan and Alex Brinkman homered for North Pocono.
Millan’s three-run shot got the Trojans started.
Zach Walsh, who had two hits and scored twice, and Chris Walsh, who drove in two runs, each had doubles for North Pocono.
Ryan Ruddy also scored twice.
Millan also picked up the pitching win with three hitless innings in which he struck out four.
Adam Grundt drove in two runs when Valley View cut into a 7-0 deficit with four runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Winning pitcher Cole Voda worked out of a bases-loaded jam to complete a five-inning stint in which he did not allow an earned run, Noah O’Malley stranded a runner at third in a scoreless sixth inning and Gavin LaCoe overcame a Nick Forsette two-out double to post the save for Abington Heights.
The Comets led 3-0 before West Scranton scored twice and loaded the bases in the fifth.
Vida gave up just two hits while walking four and striking out four. O’Malley and LaCoe finished off the combined three-hitter.
Gabe Pietryka doubled, singled and scored to lead the Abington Heights offense.
Zach Lloyd had two hits for West Scranton.
Jake Baltrusaitis hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning allowing Tunkhannock to break an eight-game losing streak with an 11-9 win over Pittston Area in a Wyoming Valley Conference Division 1 game.
The Tigers trailed 3-0 after a half-inning and 7-4 going to the bottom of the sixth.
Marcus Danchision fired a one-hit shutout with 13 strikeouts when MMI Prep defeated Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech, 7-0, in a non-league game.
SOFTBALL
Gianna Adams threw a four-hitter with 11 strikeouts while Sage Wiedlich doubled twice and drove in two runs when second-place Pittston Area defeated third-place Berwick, 3-1, in a WVC Division 1 game.
Lackawanna Division 1 champion Abington Heights shut out Wallenpaupack, 9-0, in a crossover game.
Ava Leach struck out 13 in a one-hitter and Colleen Cole drove in five runs on a double and two singles to lead Abington Heights.
Megan Heard also had three hits, including a double.
Mid Valley edged Honesdale, 3-2, in a non-league meeting between Lackawanna division champions.
Division 2 champion Honesdale outhit Division 3 champ Mid Valley, 7-4, but Maranda Runco struck out nine and Emma Kobylanski tripled for the Spartanettes.
MORE WEDNESDAY COVERAGE
Boys volleyball: District and subregional quarterfinals roundup. https://nepasportsnation.com/roundup-wvw-holy-redeemer-tunkhannock-reach-boys-volleyball-semifinals/.
Girls lacrosse: District 2 Class 2A quarterfinals. https://nepasportsnation.com/roundup-higher-seeds-all-advance-in-girls-lacrosse/.
