Bradley flashes two-way talents to lead Abington Heights back to District Two 5A title game
By: Nate Johns | Sportzwire | May 25, 2025 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus Photography
The Abington Heights Comets took down their division rival in the North Pocono by a score of 11-2 on May 24. The win will send the Comets back to the District Two 5A championship game for the first time since 2021, and the key component behind that was starting pitcher Nick Bradley.
Bradley, a junior who is currently committed to Auburn, pitched six and a third innings and gave up only two runs while striking out nine Trojan batters. “I just tried to climb the zone and help my team in the best way I possibly could,” Bradley said after the game. “Last year we had a different outing, different outcome. This year, I made it count and so did our team.”
Bradley also made an impact at the plate. He went 1-3 with a sacrifice fly and hit a three run triple to center field. “Nick always shows up and does a great job. I mean, we’re lucky to have him, have him on the mound, and you know, the way he swings the bat,” Abington Heights head coach Bill Zalewski said following the win. “I mean, he’s just great every time out.”
The Comets offense got off to a slow start, as North Pocono pitcher Jason Walsh pitched three strong innings where he only allowed one run and struck out four batters. The Comets were able to break the game open in the fourth, sending 11 batters to the plate and scoring six runs on six hits and two walks. Hunter and Tate Pentasuglio combined for three RBIs in the inning. Evan Gonzalez recorded two hits in the inning, scoring a run and recording an RBI.
The Comets scored 10 total runs in the fourth and fifth innings, highlighted by Bradley’s triple to center field. “He threw one down the middle, I got a swing on it and it carried,” Bradley said of the hit. Thomas LaCoe also had a big day, going 1-2 with an RBI double. “We’ve kind of just been sitting waiting, and I think that was just kind of getting us back into the swing of things,” Coach Zalewski said, noting the Comets had not played a game since March 12, which was a 7-5 road loss to North Pocono.
The Comets will face the Pittston Area Patriots in the District Two 5A Baseball Championship on May 29 and Wilkes University, with first pitch scheduled for 6:00 PM. “Pittston is well coached.They have got a lot of great athletes, great arms,” Zalewski said, “they’re a very good baseball team. So I’m just looking forward to being able to play on the same field as them.” The two teams played earlier this season on March 24, with the Patriots winning 6-5.
