Agape Freedom Sports LLC

By Jeric Yurkanin | Agape Freedom Sports |Staff Writer May 31, 2025

WILKES-BARRE, PA — Zoe Pecuch doesn’t just play for wins. She plays for something deeper. She plays for legacy. She plays for love. She plays for “PA”

If you’ve ever been to a Holy Redeemer softball game, you’ve likely seen him — the quiet man near the dugout, notepad in hand, glasses slipping down his nose, scribbling between pitches. That’s her grandfather. And to Zoe, he’s everything.

On a brisk playoff afternoon, Her PA was locked in as always — tallying runs, tracking base runners, watching the game unfold like a coach with a deeper connection. But by the fourth inning, Elk Lake had taken a 3-0 lead. Zoe was 0-for-3. And Pa’s posture said it all — tense shoulders, furrowed brow, pen paused.

I leaned over and said, “It’s softball — one big inning, and everything flips. Just watch.”

And then, like it was scripted, it happened.

In the fifth, Redeemer punched back. In the sixth, they pulled ahead. And in the seventh — with the season hanging in the balance — it was Zoe’s turn. Two runners on. Game on the line. Pressure thick. And Zoe? Calm. Fierce. Ready.
Crack.
A rocket into left.
Two runs score.
Ballgame.
Redemption complete.

Pa didn’t cheer. He didn’t shout. He just smiled — soft, full, healing. The kind of smile that carries memories and says everything without saying a word.

It’s been a year since he lost his beloved wife — Zoe’s grandmother. He hasn’t missed a game since. Not one. He’s not just a stat-keeper. He’s a memory-keeper. A living legacy. A quiet presence reminding Zoe — and all of us — that love, like softball, endures through the seasons.

I get it. I lost my mom to cancer in 2018. My dad, heartbroken after 50 years of marriage, passed away less than two years later. Grief is heavy. It lingers. But what remains are the stories, the moments, the way they made us feel.

“He texts me before every game. He cheers like crazy. He’s my biggest fan,” Zoe says, lighting up.

But “biggest fan” doesn’t even scratch the surface. Pa watches like a coach, loves like a grandfather, and lives like a legend. Someday, Zoe will pass down these stories to her kids — how their great-grandfather never missed a game, never stopped believing, never stopped showing up.

Not every athlete gets that. Zoe is one of the lucky ones. She knows it. And I felt it, too.

I wasn’t that lucky. Three of my grandparents passed before I turned eight. My grandmother lived into my high school years, but she didn’t care for sports. I never had a “Pa” in the stands.

But Zoe does. And that matters.

What she’s building isn’t just stats — it’s legacy. A connection between past and present, between pain and purpose, between family and the game. And that’s what makes Zoe Pecuch more than a standout player.

That’s what makes her unforgettable.

But Zoe keeps moving keeps working hard and doesn’t quit working and learning and improving her game.

🥎🔥 THE ENGINE THAT DOESN’T QUIT 🥎🏆

When Zoe Pecuch steps into the batter’s box, she brings calm confidence and laser focus. She’s not just another bat in the order — she’s the sparkplug. The anchor. The engine.

This year? That engine’s been running red-hot.
She’s torching pitchers with a .581 batting average and a jaw-dropping .658 on-base percentage. Her presence at the plate has changed games, flipped narratives, and carried Holy Redeemer through big moments.

“Every at-bat, I step up expecting to hit,” she said. “I want to put the ball in play and help us win.”

And win they have — often because of her.

🏅 1st in Wyoming Valley in batting average, OBP, RBI, and runs.
🔥 Within Top 20 in Pennsylvania AA for every major offensive category
💪 .903 slugging percentage — showing not just contact, but power.

But none of it came easy.

“My travel coach has been my hitting instructor since I was 10,” Zoe said. “He taught me everything. And I’ve worked hard in the gym all offseason to get stronger.”
That work is paying off — in box scores and banners.
The Cycle, the Shift, and the Championship
Every athlete has a moment where they shift from contributor to leader.

For Zoe, that moment came with the rarest of achievements — hitting for the cycle.

“After that game against Hanover, I felt it,” she said. “I was becoming a leader.”

It wasn’t just about the bat — it was her voice, her poise, her presence.

And when Holy Redeemer finally lifted the District 2 title after three straight years of heartbreak? Zoe soaked it all in.

“That was the best moment ever,” she said, eyes lighting up. “So happy. We finally did it.”

🥎 BUILT THROUGH BATTLES🥎

Zoe doesn’t just rely on high school ball. She grinds year-round with the Impact Panthers, a travel team that plays nearly 100 games a year.

“Travel ball prepares you for everything,” she said. “It’s a huge reason for my success.”

Her summer is already booked — travel tournaments, gym sessions, and a senior season she’s already laser-focused on.

2026 Goals:

• 100 career hits
• All-State honors
• Another District Championship

“But it’s never just about me,” she said. “Team always comes first. I want to grow, but I want us to win together.”

🥎 FAMILY FIRST, LEGACY IN MOTION🥎

At the heart of Zoe’s fire is family.

Athleticism runs in her blood — her parents, cousins, and relatives all competed. But Zoe? She’s forging her own legacy, step by step, swing by swing.

And she’s not just an elite player — she’s a teammate’s dream.

“I want coaches to know I’m all-in,” she said. “I give 100% every time. I celebrate my teammates. I just want us all to succeed.”

Off the Field?

She’s still competitive — just in different ways. Whether she’s tanning, hanging with friends, or pushing herself in workouts, Zoe finds joy in the grind and the downtime.

🥎 A MESSAGE TO THE FUTURE ROYALS🥎

“Get stronger. Stay active. Eat right. Don’t give up. Know your worth — and never let anyone shake your confidence.” Said Zoe.

Zoe Pecuch isn’t just a rising star. She’s the heartbeat of a program, a leader built on grit and love, and a reminder that softball is more than a game — it’s a story that connects generations and storing up memories.

And she’s just getting started.