Friday night was one of those games you don’t forget.
Two youth all-star teams. Ages 9 to 11. Two proud Scranton programs — South vs. West. Two sides of the same city, colliding on a chilly mountain night up at Aston Field in Moscow, PA. These kids didn’t just show up — they showed heart, hustle, and a fire to win.
I brought my wife and our 6-year-old son along. Her nephew was playing for South Scranton. Before we left, she told me to pack extra clothes for Micah — sweatshirt, pants, the whole deal. I said, “He’ll be fine.”
We pulled up to the field, wind cutting through the air like October baseball. I got out of the car, shivered, and gave her that look. She smiled. “Told you so.” Yeah… sometimes wives just know better. It was a good game we went too.
This game had everything — clutch hits, lead changes, emotion, and elite-level effort from both dugouts. But like in all great games, only one team walks off with the W.
West Scranton 9/10 All Stars did just that — storming back from an early deficit and launching a fourth-inning rally that turned the tide in a back-and-forth showdown, pulling off a 10-7 victory that had the whole field buzzing.
South Scranton wasted no time getting on the board. Dakarai Walters smashed a triple, and Jackson Kane’s groundout made it 2-0. By the third, South had built a 4-2 lead thanks to a rope double from Julian Peters and a clean RBI single by Aali Muhammad.
But West Scranton didn’t panic. They responded like a seasoned squad — patient, focused, and ready to attack.
Trailing 4-2, West Scranton erupted.
Zach Nealon sparked it with a single. Then Christian Cook stepped in and delivered an RBI knock — the kid was cooking. Vallon McNamara showed patience and drew a walk. Dallas Sostre moved runners with a smart out. And then came the flood.
Maylen Haffner lined one into right. Jojo Jaworski went down the left field line. Darian Martes punched one up the middle. Hit after hit. Run after run. West turned a two-run hole into an 8-4 lead, and the dugout was rocking.
It wasn’t just power — it was pressure. Baseball the West Scranton way.
K.J. Abram was electric — 3-for-3 with speed to burn, stealing multiple bases and setting the tone. Zach Nealon chipped in a 2-for-2 night with big swings, and Liam O’Hora came up clutch with two RBIs, including a sixth-inning double that gave West a late cushion they wouldn’t give back.
West finished with 11 hits and 7 stolen bags — full throttle on the base paths all night.
Christian Cook got the start and powered through 3.1 innings, striking out five while navigating traffic on the bases. He gave up seven hits and five runs but kept West in the game.
Jack Schalk came in from the pen and closed the door when it mattered, keeping South off the board when the game was tightest.
Defensively, West locked in late. Martes and Nealon made key throws, and the team stayed composed under pressure.
South didn’t back down. Aali Muhammad had a standout game — multiple hits, two stolen bases, and constant pressure on the base paths. Dakarai Walters and Conrad O’Connor drove in runs, while Jaxon McLane collected two hits of his own.
Alex Novoa quietly had one of the smartest games of the night — walking twice, staying disciplined, and giving his team chances. In big-time games, getting on base is everything — and Novoa did exactly that.
This one had it all. Energy. Emotion. Execution. Two well-coached, motivated teams — and one game to decide it all.
West Scranton walked away with the win, but both sides walked off the field with pride. If the West side continues to bring this kind of effort — scrappy, fearless, and together — they won’t just win games.
They’ll make memories that last a lifetime.
Agape Freedom Sports LLC 
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