Wallenpaupack Area softball team falls to Abington Heights in District 2 semifinals

HAWLEY — It’s an ages-old adage in the sports world that beating the same team three times in one season is a tall order.

The truth of that axiom was put to the test Wednesday afternoon on the shores of The Big Lake when Wallenpaupack Area and Abington Heights met on the softball diamond for the third time this spring.

Hanging in the balance for this much-anticipated rubber match was a berth in the District 2 Class 5A softball finals and a date with top-seeded Pittston Area.

The Buckhorns already owned a pair of one-run wins over the Comets this spring, but the third time would prove to be less than a charm for the home team.

Abington rocketed out to a big early lead in this one, much to the chagrin of a big loud Paupack crowd. And while the Buckhorns did battle back valiantly in the late innings, they just couldn’t quite catch the Comets who held on for a 7-5 decision.

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“I am super-proud of how these kids competed today and all throughout the season,” said head coach Phil Babyak. “We played solid defense and hit the ball relatively well. Abington is strong team, and it's really tough to beat a team like that three times in one season.”

With the loss, Paupack closed out its campaign with an overall record of 16-4. The Buckhorns went 12-2 in Lackawanna League action, finishing second in the Division I standings behind Valley View (13-1).

Rivalry renewed

Paupack and Abington Heights met for the first time this season back on April 15 when the Buckhorns battled their way to a 5-3 home victory.

Gabby Hieber earned the starting assignment in this one and twirled a complete game gem. The hard-throwing sophomore pitched seven innings, allowing three runs on six hits while walking two and fanning two.

Karleigh Weist and Madison Haynes paced the offensive attack with two hits and an RBI apiece, while Hieber helped her own cause by driving in two.

The regular-season rematch was played May 7 in Clarks Summit and developed into a real slugfest as Paupack held on for a wild 8-7 win.

Led by Haynes and Hieber, the Buckhorns raced out to an 8-0 lead after three innings. Haynes banged out three hits and collected three RBIs, while Hieber went 2-for-4 and drove in a pair.

Abington rallied for seven runs in the final three frames, led by veteran slugger Lauren Stalica. The junior pitcher ripped three hits in five at-bats, scoring a pair of runs and piling up five RBIs.

These two exciting games set the stage for Wednesday’s showdown, which was played at the Wallenpaupack Area North Primary School field in hot and humid conditions.

Less than an hour before first pitch, Coach Babyak was crystal clear on what he thought the keys to defeating Abington one more time would be.

“We need to score runs,” the veteran skipper said. “Our focus these past two days in practice has been on hitting and defense. We know Gabby and Clara will keep us in the game pitching, so we need to make the routine plays behind them. If we hit and make those routine plays, I like our chances.”

Down to the wire

Unfortunately for the hometown faithful, it was Abington Heights that piled up the runs in the early innings on Wednesday.

Paupack eked out an unearned run in the bottom of the first against Abington starter Stalica who would go the distance. The fireballing southpaw worked seven innings, scattering 10 hits and fanning five.

The Comets surged into the lead for good in the top of the second, erupting for five runs at the expense of the Buckhorns’ Hieber. Abington tacked on two more in the third, chasing Hieber from the circle in favor of Clara Babyak who went the rest of the way.

Cecilia O’Malley ignited the Abington offense. A hard-hitting junior shortstop, O’Malley laced a double and two singles in four at-bats. She scored twice and added a pair of RBIs.

Trailing 7-1 after three, Paupack began slowly chipping away at the Comets’ lead. The Buckhorns tallied two in the bottom of the fourth then one each in the home half of the sixth and seventh.

Kailyn Kielbasa was the ringleader. A versatile infielder who can play both short and third, Kielbasa has been one of the team’s most consistent hitters all season long. She closed out the campaign with a .386 batting average including a pair of homers, 20 runs scored and 17 RBIs.

On Wednesday, Kielbasa went a perfect 4-for-4 and tallied twice. She dazzled defensively, making a diving stop of a sharply hit grounder that killed off an Abington uprising.

Hieber chipped in offensively with two hits in four trips, while Emily Sterner also contributed a pair of base knocks. Hunter Myers scored one run and drove in another, while Clara Babyak and Wren Frederick added a hit apiece.

“Our kids never got upset,” Babyak said. “They fought back all game long, and we even had the tying run on base in the seventh.

“All you can ask is that the kids give their best effort, play to the best of their ability and leave it all on the field. They definitely did that, and I am proud of them.”

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wallenpaupack Area eliminated from districts by Abington Heights