AJ Abington Heights

By Adam Roberts aroberts@theabingtonjournal.com

It seems like the baseball season never ends for several members of the State Champion Abington Heights baseball team.

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Cory Spangenberg slides into second during the first round of the Region 5 tournament.

Abington Journal Photos/Stephanie Walkowski

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Joel Rosencrance awaits the signal from his catcher.

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A group of Comets and head coach Bill Zalewski joined another group of Abington area baseball players to play for the Abington VFW in the American Legion season. The team has carried on the winning ways of its Abington Heights High School counterpart with a record of 16-6.

The team is in the middle of the Region 5 tournament which began on Saturday July 18 and ends Wednesday, July 22, with the title game against the winner of a July 21 Plymouth versus Dunmore match.

On Tuesday, July 21, the team took on Delaware Valley at 1:30 p.m. at Connell Park, Scranton. Abington VFW came away with a 12-1 win.

Monday night, July 20, the team suffered its first loss in the double elimination tournament, 7-2 at the hands of Plymouth.

Zalweski expected a battle with the squad which is made primarily of Wyoming Valley West High School players.

“We knew they had a great team,” said Zalewski who explained that the Comets played WVW during the high school preseason. “Unfortunately, we just came out on the losing end.”

The only Abington runs came in the fourth inning when catcher Pete Doggett and third baseman Justin Klingman each knocked in an RBI.

Their runs came when Plymouth was up 4-0. Plymouth continued to build its lead, adding three more runs against pitcher, Michael Burke before he was relieved in the eighth by Derek Kraack-Bird.

Burke struck out eight batters in the game.

Aside from holding Abington to only two runs, Plymouth was able to capitalize on offense, scoring on each of its seven hits.

“They made the big plays when they had to,” Zalewski said.

Abington VFW was the team making big plays on Sunday, July 19 at Battaglia Field in Scranton when the team shut down Milton 22-5.

Cory Spangenberg, Matt Mortell and Tony Castellano all hit home runs. Mike Umerich lead the team in RBIs, finishing with five after hitting a pair of doubles.

Abington VFW faced four Milton hurlers, giving up three strikeouts as a team. As a unit, Abington registered 20 hits in 40 at bats.

“All year it seems like once we get a couple hits they feed off each other,” said Zalewski.

In the first round of the tournament, Abington VFW beat Mountain Top 14-2.

Follow the rest of the Abington VFW’s post-season in print and online at theabingtonjournal.com.