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HUGHESTOWN — It is easy to underestimate the importance of having home field in the playoffs.

Beyond obviously missing out on an uncomfortable school bus ride, knowing the nuances of a field — particularly against an out-of-conference opponent — can give a team a significant advantage.

Pittston Area capitalized on three triples en route to a 10-0 victory over North Pocono Friday in the District 2 Class 5A semifinals. With the five-inning win, the Patriots advance to face top-seeded Abington Heights on Wednesday.

“Well, we had a great week of practice,” Pittston Area coach Vito Quaglia said. “We used the good weather and the time off with the bye. We worked on the fundamentals and basics. Defensively, we played very well.

“We played a complete game. We didn’t make mistakes, and we took advantage when the other team made mistakes.”

The Patriots benefited from typical Hughestown winds carrying the ball and their 225-foot ballpark in the first inning. Lexi Felinski and Alexa McHugh hit back-to-back triples for a two-run first inning. North Pocono outfielders had difficulties gauging the ball, as it sailed over the center and right fielders’ heads, respectively. Madisyn Antal drove in the second run with a sacrifice fly.

“Our field is really big – it acts to our advantage,” Quaglia said. “We know how to play this field. A lot of time, it’s hard to judge balls. You don’t know how to judge the winds. If you get something up in the wind, it carries.”

McHugh posed problems for the Trojans both on the mound and at the plate. She held North Pocono to just two hits. McHugh threw a five-inning complete game with six strikeouts.

She escaped the only jam of the afternoon in the top of the first. With a runner on in a scoreless game, McHugh struck out Dayle Smith to end the threat.

“She’s the catalyst; as she goes, we go,” Quaglia said. “The team really feeds off her energy. A lot of times, she hits well, we hit well. It goes back and forth.”

Playing her last game at home, McHugh geared the Patriots offensively with a 2 for 2 performance with two runs and three RBI. Felinski and Antal both finished with a pair of hits in both at-bats.

Pittston Area is looking to repeat as district champions in a rematch of last year’s final. The Patriots walloped Abington Heights 13-2 before reaching the state quarterfinals.

“It feels great,” McHugh said. “That’s what we’ve been working on all season-long. At this point, we should be at our peak performance, and we were.”

Pittston Area played an all-around effort in just four innings of offense. The Patriots sported a spotless defense and their runners were especially alert on the base paths.

“If we execute, we’ll be successful,” Quaglia said. “We are a very good offensive team. We are a very good defensive team. And we have one of the best pitchers around. We just have to be us.”

District 2 Class 5A semifinals

Pittston Area 10, North Pocono 0 (5 inn.)

North Pocono`AB`R`H`BI

Blaine 2b`2`0`0`0

Stevens ss`2`0`0`0

Giordano cf`2`0`1`0

Smith 3b`1`0`0`0

Destefano c`2`0`0`0

Slater 1b`2`0`0`0

Connor dp`2`0`0`0

Zaic p`2`0`1`0

McLafferty pr`0`0`0`0

Brooks lf`0`0`0`0

Davis ph`1`0`0`0

Leuthe rf`0`0`0`0

Totals`16`0`2`0

Pittston Area`AB`R`H`BI

G. Para 3b`2`0`0`1

Felinski 2b`2`2`1`0

McHugh p`2`2`2`3

Antal 3b`2`2`2`2

T. Para ss`3`2`2`1

Mesaris dp`3`0`1`1

Liebach 1b`0`0`0`0

Williams lf`1`1`1`2

Kivler rf`2`0`1`0

Weidlich rf`1`0`0`0

Loyack c`3`1`0`0

Totals`21`10`11`10

North Pocono` `000`00 — 0

Pittston Area` `212`5x — 10

2B — Williams, Mesaris; 3B — Felinski, McHugh, Antal

North Pocono`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

Zaic (L)`4`11`10`9`3`2

Pittston Area`IP`H`R`ER`BB`SO

McHugh (W)`5`2`0`0`1`6

Pittston Area’s Madisyn Antal heads to the dugout after scoring against North Pocono in a District 2 Class 5A softball semifinal Friday in Hughestown.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052519HSSB-PA-NP_3.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Madisyn Antal heads to the dugout after scoring against North Pocono in a District 2 Class 5A softball semifinal Friday in Hughestown. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Pittston Area starter Alexa McHugh delivers a pitch against North Pocono in a District 2 Class 5A softball semifinal Friday in Hughestown.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052519HSSB-PA-NP_2.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area starter Alexa McHugh delivers a pitch against North Pocono in a District 2 Class 5A softball semifinal Friday in Hughestown. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Pittston Area’s Morgan Mesaris hits a shot to the right-center field fence against North Pocono in a District 2 Class 5A softball semiginal Friday in Hughestown.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052519HSSB-PA-NP_1.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area’s Morgan Mesaris hits a shot to the right-center field fence against North Pocono in a District 2 Class 5A softball semiginal Friday in Hughestown. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Pittston Area pitcher Alexa McHugh, left, gets congratulated by Lexi Felinski and Bernadette Lieback after defeating North Pocono 10-0 in a District 2 Class 5A softball semifinal Friday in Hughestown.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/web1_TTL052519HSSB-PA-NP_4.jpg.optimal.jpgPittston Area pitcher Alexa McHugh, left, gets congratulated by Lexi Felinski and Bernadette Lieback after defeating North Pocono 10-0 in a District 2 Class 5A softball semifinal Friday in Hughestown. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

By Jay Monahan

For Times Leader