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ALLENTOWN — Three times previously, Abington Heights reached the PIAA softball semifinals, only to have those seasons end at Patriots Park.
This time was different.
Behind a five-run second inning and the pitching of Adrianna Condrad, the Lady Comets advanced to their first state final with a 7-0 victory over Upper Dublin in the Class 5A semifinals Monday afternoon at Patriots Park.
Condrad, a junior and Syracuse commit, tossed a three-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts and wriggled out of a pair of bases-loaded jams. Avary Brister had two hits, including the 100th of her career, and Eva Kane highlighted the decisive inning with an inside-the-park grand slam as Abington Heights (24-1) won its 19th straight game. It will play Thursday in the Class 5A final against either District 7 champion Shaler or District 7 No. 4 seed Thomas Jefferson at 4 p.m. at Penn State University’s Nittany Lion Softball Park.
“We just made school history,” Kane said. “We’ve worked so hard all year. Every practice, every game, we were prepared and ready. We’re so excited to go.”
Patriots Park was the road block to the state final in the past for Abington Heights. In 2007, it lost here in the Class 3A semifinals to Springfield-Delco. In 2016, it lost here again in the Class 3A semis to Lampeter-Strasburg. In 2023, it lost to Northern York here in the Class 5A semis.
The five-run second inning, though, changed that.
“We got that early lead, our team fed off that and they really believe in AC when she’s on the mound,” Abington Heights coach John Kelly said. “When we got that grand slam from Kane, that really changed the game. They believed in their mind that many teams aren’t going to score five runs off AC. They got real confident at the point and she made it hold up.”
Abington Heights sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning against Upper Dublin pitcher and Howard University commit Kyla Garrison.
Isabella DeRiggi started it with a leadoff walk. She was sacrificed to second by Brianna Bustos and took third on a wild pitch. Riley McColligan walked and moved to second of defensive indifference. Evelyn Henkels followed with a slow chopper to shortstop for an infield single that scored DiRiggi and made it 1-0.
Henkels went to second on defensive indifference. With two outs, Avery Venesky walked to load the bases for Kane, who hit a flare into shallow right field. The Upper Dublin right fielder tried to make a diving catch, but missed. The ball skipped past her and down the right-field line and Kane never stopped running and circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a 5-0 Abington Heights lead.
“There were two outs, bases loaded, so I knew I had to do something. We had one run but we needed more,” Kane said. “I was looking for something to drive, something to smash and it worked out. I blooped it in there in a good spot and it ended up getting past her. I was just running as hard as I could to get around the bases.”
Condrad took it from there.
“My team really came out for me today,” Condrad said. “They scored seven runs and kept us ahead the whole game. I really have to give it to them today.
“It completely was a confidence booster as a pitcher and motivated everyone in the dugout to be more loud and stay on it a little more. Also, it helped us play a little more confident in the field and a little more loose. Overall, it helped us a lot.”
There were a few nervous moments, however.
Upper Dublin threatened to get back in the contest in the bottom of the third. Sarah O’Brien led off with a bunt single, the Flying Cardinals’ first hit. One out later, Maddie Small hit a fielder’s choice comebacker, but O’Brien beat Condrad’s throw to second. Dooley Hennessey walked to load the bases.
But Condrad got Ava Renye to pop to third base for the second out, then struck out Garrison to leave the bases loaded.
Buoyed by Condrad’s escape act, the Lady Comets tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth. Ella Long was hit by a pitch and Venesky beat out a bunt for single. Kane sacrificed the runners to third and second, respectively. Condrad scored Long with a groundout to short. Brister’s infield single plated Venesky and gave Abington Heights a 7-0 lead.
Again, in the bottom of the fourth, Upper Dublin loaded the bases with one out. Paige McKenna and O’Brien sandwiched singles around a walk to Kate Brannigan. But again, Condrad was up to the task, striking out the next two batters to squelch the threat.
“I just knew I had to get the outs and help my team in any way I could,” Condrad said. “I knew my team was behind me the whole time and we were going to get the outs regardless.”
Kelly said Condrad thrives in those situations.
“I’ve been telling everybody that’s when she’s at her absolute best,” Kelly said. “The first game against Emmaus, they had the bases loaded, nobody out in the bottom of the seventh and she struck out the side in a tie game. Right then and there we knew, when the going gets tough, she really steps up. She’s at her best, she hits her spots, she concentrates a lot harder. Her pitch is as hard in the seventh inning as it is in the first. She just doesn’t tire. She’s a special kid.”
After walking Garrison with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Condrad retired the final seven batters — four by strikeout. When first baseman Henkels fielded Hennessey’s ground ball and stepped on first for the final out, the Lady Comets were on their way to Penn State.
“It feels awesome, I’m so happy for them,” Kelly said. “They never talked about this all through the season. Even when we got to the state quarterfinals, it was all about the next game. Not once did I hear someone say about getting to the state championship game. It was always let’s win the next game. That’s been their mentality all year. Next person up. They’re a true team, they love each other and play hard for each other. It’s a coach’s dream. They’ve brought me along for the ride.”
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This time was different.
Behind a five-run second inning and the pitching of Adrianna Condrad, the Lady Comets advanced to their first state final with a 7-0 victory over Upper Dublin in the Class 5A semifinals Monday afternoon at Patriots Park.
Condrad, a junior and Syracuse commit, tossed a three-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts and wriggled out of a pair of bases-loaded jams. Avary Brister had two hits, including the 100th of her career, and Eva Kane highlighted the decisive inning with an inside-the-park grand slam as Abington Heights (24-1) won its 19th straight game. It will play Thursday in the Class 5A final against either District 7 champion Shaler or District 7 No. 4 seed Thomas Jefferson at 4 p.m. at Penn State University’s Nittany Lion Softball Park.
“We just made school history,” Kane said. “We’ve worked so hard all year. Every practice, every game, we were prepared and ready. We’re so excited to go.”
Patriots Park was the road block to the state final in the past for Abington Heights. In 2007, it lost here in the Class 3A semifinals to Springfield-Delco. In 2016, it lost here again in the Class 3A semis to Lampeter-Strasburg. In 2023, it lost to Northern York here in the Class 5A semis.
The five-run second inning, though, changed that.
“We got that early lead, our team fed off that and they really believe in AC when she’s on the mound,” Abington Heights coach John Kelly said. “When we got that grand slam from Kane, that really changed the game. They believed in their mind that many teams aren’t going to score five runs off AC. They got real confident at the point and she made it hold up.”
Abington Heights sent 10 batters to the plate in the top of the second inning against Upper Dublin pitcher and Howard University commit Kyla Garrison.
Isabella DeRiggi started it with a leadoff walk. She was sacrificed to second by Brianna Bustos and took third on a wild pitch. Riley McColligan walked and moved to second of defensive indifference. Evelyn Henkels followed with a slow chopper to shortstop for an infield single that scored DiRiggi and made it 1-0.
Henkels went to second on defensive indifference. With two outs, Avery Venesky walked to load the bases for Kane, who hit a flare into shallow right field. The Upper Dublin right fielder tried to make a diving catch, but missed. The ball skipped past her and down the right-field line and Kane never stopped running and circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run and a 5-0 Abington Heights lead.
“There were two outs, bases loaded, so I knew I had to do something. We had one run but we needed more,” Kane said. “I was looking for something to drive, something to smash and it worked out. I blooped it in there in a good spot and it ended up getting past her. I was just running as hard as I could to get around the bases.”
Condrad took it from there.
“My team really came out for me today,” Condrad said. “They scored seven runs and kept us ahead the whole game. I really have to give it to them today.
“It completely was a confidence booster as a pitcher and motivated everyone in the dugout to be more loud and stay on it a little more. Also, it helped us play a little more confident in the field and a little more loose. Overall, it helped us a lot.”
There were a few nervous moments, however.
Upper Dublin threatened to get back in the contest in the bottom of the third. Sarah O’Brien led off with a bunt single, the Flying Cardinals’ first hit. One out later, Maddie Small hit a fielder’s choice comebacker, but O’Brien beat Condrad’s throw to second. Dooley Hennessey walked to load the bases.
But Condrad got Ava Renye to pop to third base for the second out, then struck out Garrison to leave the bases loaded.
Buoyed by Condrad’s escape act, the Lady Comets tacked on two more runs in the top of the fourth. Ella Long was hit by a pitch and Venesky beat out a bunt for single. Kane sacrificed the runners to third and second, respectively. Condrad scored Long with a groundout to short. Brister’s infield single plated Venesky and gave Abington Heights a 7-0 lead.
Again, in the bottom of the fourth, Upper Dublin loaded the bases with one out. Paige McKenna and O’Brien sandwiched singles around a walk to Kate Brannigan. But again, Condrad was up to the task, striking out the next two batters to squelch the threat.
“I just knew I had to get the outs and help my team in any way I could,” Condrad said. “I knew my team was behind me the whole time and we were going to get the outs regardless.”
Kelly said Condrad thrives in those situations.
“I’ve been telling everybody that’s when she’s at her absolute best,” Kelly said. “The first game against Emmaus, they had the bases loaded, nobody out in the bottom of the seventh and she struck out the side in a tie game. Right then and there we knew, when the going gets tough, she really steps up. She’s at her best, she hits her spots, she concentrates a lot harder. Her pitch is as hard in the seventh inning as it is in the first. She just doesn’t tire. She’s a special kid.”
After walking Garrison with two outs in the bottom of the sixth, Condrad retired the final seven batters — four by strikeout. When first baseman Henkels fielded Hennessey’s ground ball and stepped on first for the final out, the Lady Comets were on their way to Penn State.
“It feels awesome, I’m so happy for them,” Kelly said. “They never talked about this all through the season. Even when we got to the state quarterfinals, it was all about the next game. Not once did I hear someone say about getting to the state championship game. It was always let’s win the next game. That’s been their mentality all year. Next person up. They’re a true team, they love each other and play hard for each other. It’s a coach’s dream. They’ve brought me along for the ride.”
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