**** Just when the Hazleton Area baseball team thought it figured out how to win an out-of-conference game, things went up in smoke for the locals Wednesday.

Taking a one-run lead against visiting Parkland (6-4) into the top of the seventh inning at Rex Antinozzi Field, the Cougars needed three outs to stop a two-game losing streak to Lehigh Valley clubs.

Make that three, as the Trojans rallied for four runs, then shut down the Cougars in the home seventh to sneak out with a 6-3 decision.

Hazleton Area (5-4) was the first to come from behind, tying the game in the fifth and then pushing across a go-ahead run in the sixth.

But, Parkland took advantage of an error to open the seventh inning, then used the top of the order to forge its game-winning rally.

The Trojans sent nine batters to the plate in the rally, yet managed only two hits. Kyle Stinner reached on the error and Nick Rabasco singled, and both runners advanced on Jared Rosenblatt's bunt. Damian Muth then walked to load the bases.

Tyler Graeff followed with a roller to second, in which the Cougars got one out at first as the tying run scored. Chris Rabasco then singled in two more runners and a groundout added the game's final run.

"We're a very young team that made a lot of dumb mistakes, but we still hung in there, which is a good thing," Parkland coach Tony Galucy said. "We have a lot of underclassman in the lineup and we didn't throw any of our top pitches, so in a way we found out a lot about our team. But that's why we have (Hazleton Area) on the schedule. You want to play against the best competition you can."

The Trojans went on top 2-0 in the third when Nick Rabasco drove an 0-1 pitch over the fence right centerfield over the fence for a two-run homer in the third. The blast was one of Rabasco's four hits; he also doubled and scored twice.

"He's quality and so is his brother," Hazleton Area coach Gino Cara said, referring to freshman Chris Rabasco, who added a single and two RBI.

Carl Cara led the Cougars with three singles and three stolen bases. Matt Barletta helped with two singles and a RBI, Evan Vigna doubled, singled and knocked in a run and Tyler Rubasky and Brady Wolfe both singled.

"We're hitting all right at the top (of the order)," Gino Cara said. "I know that some of our kids down below can do a better job. They're just in a (funk), but they'll bounce back."

In the home fifth, Cara singled, stole second and went to third on an error off Barletta's bat.

Vigna singled Cara home and another error off a ball hit by Wolfe allowed Barletta to score the tying run with two outs.

One inning later, Cara reached on an infield hit and Rubasky singled and a double steal set the table for Barletta, who punched a ball to the right side of Parkland's drawn-up infield as Cara scored the tie-breaking run.

"I really can't complain the way we played in a lot of areas," Gino Cara said. "Of course, I thought we should have held on (for the win), but a few things went against us... It was a good game... You may see both of us in the state (playoffs). That's a pretty good outfit."

Mark Solanick, Hazleton Area's starting pitcher, worked four strong innings, striking out seven, walking two and allowing four hits.

"He did a very good job," Cara said of his pitcher. "And the two (Kyle Karmonick and Nick Thrash)) we brought in also did a very good job."

The Cougars will travel to Tunkhannock on Friday.

PARKLAND (6)

N. Rabasco 2b 4 3 4 2, Zesch p 0 0 0 0, Duff p 0 0 0 0, Rosenblatt dh 3 0 1 0, Muth lf 0 1 0 0, Graeff rf 4 0 0 1, C. Rabasco ss 3 1 1 2, Merkle c 2 0 0 0, Schneck 3b 3 0 0 0, Callahan cf 4 0 1 1, Stinner 1b 2 2 1 0. Totals 25 6 8 6.

HAZLETON AREA (3)

Cara ss 4 2 3 0, Rubasky c 4 0 1 0, Concepcion cr 0 0 0 0, Barletta cf 3 1 2 1, Vigna 1b 3 0 2 1, Biasi 3b 4 0 0 0, Wolfe rf 4 0 1 0, Solanick p 0 0 0 0, Karmonick p 0 0 0 0, Thrash p 0 0 0 0, Thrash dh 2 0 0 0, Chirico ph 0 0 0 0, Gawel ph 1 0 0 0, Greco lf 4 0 0 0, Klein 2b 3 0 0 0. Totals 32 3 9.

PAHS..................002 000 4 - 6 8 2

HAHS..................000 021 0 - 3 9 4

2B: N. Rabasco, Vigna. HR: N. Rabasco. SB: Cara 3, Concepcion, Barletta, Wolfe 2, Muth, Merkle. C. Rabasco.

Parkland

                                 IP H R ER BB SO

Zesch.........................5.0 7 2 0 2 9

Duff (W)....................2.0 2 1 1 0 0

Hazleton Area

                                 IP H R ER BB SO

Solanick .................. 4.0 4 2 2 3 6

Karmonick (L) ........2.1 3 2 1 1 1

Thrash.......................0.2 1 2 2 2 0

Read more: http://standardspeaker.com/sports/parkland-rallies-late-to-beat-cougars-1.1302241#ixzz1sUGm4g5Z

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