Noah O’Malley threw 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief Wednesday, giving Abington Heights a chance to rally for its 8-5 victory at Wallenpaupack in a District 2-4 Class 5A Subregional baseball semifinal.
Abington Heights advances to play at North Pocono Tuesday for the championship.
North Pocono used a six-run bottom of the sixth inning to turn away a Wyoming Valley West comeback in a 9-2 victory.
The championship game matchup sends Lackawanna League Division 1 champion Abington Heights (12-6) to Lackawanna Division 2 champion North Pocono (16-3).
The Trojans won the regular-season crossover meeting, also on their home field, 6-2.
That game was the last of a four-game losing streak by Abington Heights, which has won five straight since.
North Pocono has won seven of its last eight.
Abington Heights used the start of its current winning streak to come from behind in the standings late in the season and capture the division title.
The semifinal game followed the same path for the Comets, who broke on top early, gave up a three-run lead, then came back to win.
John Deibert had an RBI single and two more runs scored on a bases-loaded walk and a wild pitch for a dropped third strike during the three-run fifth inning for a 7-5 lead.
Mike Stanton, who drove in three runs, and Deibert, who had a double and scored twice, each had three hits.
Scott Gilbert also drove in two runs.
O’Malley gave up just one hit while striking out four and walking three to pick up the win in relief.
Wallenpaupack had five straight batters reach base in the bottom of the fourth when it scored twice for a 5-4 lead. Jack Smith and Wyatt Peifer had consecutive RBI singles for the tying and go-ahead runs.
O’Malley walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but got out of that jam and shut the Buckhorns out the rest of the way.
Wyoming Valley West scored twice in the top of the sixth to close within a run of North Pocono before the Trojans pulled away again.
Alex Pagotto doubled, singled, scored twice and drove in a run to lead a North Pocono offense that got hits from eight players.
Ryan Ruddy also had two hits. Jake Millan, who homered, and Zach Walsh, who doubled, drove in two runs each. Winning pitcher Damarco Maglio had a hit and scored twice.
Maglio held the Spartans scoreless into the sixth.
Gavin Chillot got the save, striking out five in two scoreless innings while giving up just one hit.
Ryan Stevens and Mason Sgarlat drove in the runs for Wyoming Valley West.
