Pa. Boys: Abington Heights pounds Lower Merion

Hard-hitting Abington Heights ended Upper Merion's baseball season with a 6-1 victory yesterday in the quarterfinals of the PIAA state Class AAA playoffs.

The Comets hit three solo home runs in the fifth inning and earned a berth in the state semifinals on Monday against Neumann-Goretti.

"We won the coin flip" to be the home team, Vikings coach Jason Darnell said, "and Jason O'Toole hit a leadoff laser [for a single] in the first inning, but that was about it."

Steve Mills scattered four hits to get the win, and Tony Castellano, Matt Badamo and Ross Fiore hit homers.

"Everyone hit the ball hard for them," said Darnell, who led Upper Merion to its first-ever District 1 title. "They are one of the best-hitting teams I've ever seen. Their three home runs were all no-joke home runs."