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Patriots Handle Familiar Foe, Keep Title Defense Alive

Patriots Handle Familiar Foe, Keep Title Defense Alive

By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | May 22, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus

PITTSTON — The road back to a District 2 title is still alive for defending champion Pittston Area.

The top-seeded Patriots used timely hitting and a complete-game effort from Elijah Barr to defeat No. 4 Abington Heights, 6-2, Friday in the District 2 Class 5A semifinal and punch their ticket to the championship game.

The win sets up Pittston Area against the winner of the No. 2 Wallenpaupack and No. 3 Dallas semifinal next Thursday with a district title on the line.

Friday’s matchup also carried some extra familiarity. The Patriots and Comets met in last season’s District 2 5A title game, a game won by Pittston Area, and once again the Patriots came out on top.

Pittston Area struck first in the bottom of the second inning when Nick Innamorati lined an RBI single to put the Patriots ahead 1-0.

Abington Heights answered in the fourth and briefly swung momentum its way. A Patriot error helped bring home a run before Finn Goldberg ripped an RBI single down the right-field line to give the Comets a 2-1 advantage.

The lead didn’t last long.

Pittston tied the game in the bottom half of the inning when Zach Budzak singled to center, scoring a run and evening things at 2-2.

The Patriots took control an inning later.

Josh Barr put Pittston back in front with a run-scoring groundout before Gavin Wardecki followed with an RBI single that extended the lead to 4-2. Pittston later added insurance runs to create separation and close out the victory.

Barr handled the rest.

The right-hander tossed a complete game, allowing only two hits and two runs, one earned, across seven innings while striking out five and walking two.

Greyson Locker started for Abington Heights and worked 4⅓ innings, allowing four runs on nine hits.

Pittston piled up 11 hits offensively and had production throughout the lineup.

Gavin Wardecki led the Patriots with a three-hit afternoon, finishing 3-for-3 with an RBI. Beau Widdick collected two hits and scored a run, while Jacoby Harnen added two hits and an RBI. Nick Innamorati and Zach Budzak also drove in runs.

Abington Heights managed just two hits in the game, with Nick Bradley and Finn Goldberg collecting one apiece. Goldberg drove in a run for the Comets.

With the victory, Pittston Area remains on track in its quest to defend last year’s District 2 championship.

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