Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

On a day when pouring rain washed out much of the high school softball slate, Mid Valley never blinked.

While fields around the area were soaked and games were postponed, the Spartanettes had the luxury of a turf field — and they made the most of it.

As fans filtered in along the fence line and music echoed across the complex just 15 minutes before first pitch, there was a certain energy building in Throop. Pittston Area arrived ready, its shortstop even sporting a face cover in the damp, chilly conditions. But once the game started, it didn’t take long to see the story unfolding.

Mid Valley’s youth was ready for the moment.

The opening inning brought an early test. The first ball put in play smacked off Mid Valley pitcher Ava Hazleton’s leg and for a split second, everything froze. But Hazleton quickly gathered herself, scooped up the ball, and fired to first for the out. From there, the Spartanettes settled in. Freshman Angela Laskowski secured the next out on a pop-up, and Hazleton closed the frame by striking out Pittston Area’s Samantha Herbert.

Three up, three down.

Mid Valley threatened in the bottom of the first. Laskowski was hit by a pitch, then aggressively swiped second and moved into scoring position after the ball was dropped at the bag. Abby Mackey followed with a walk, putting two runners on. But Pittston Area worked out of trouble as Herbert recorded back-to-back strikeouts and Natalie Hricenak lifted a ball to left to end the inning.

Scoreless after one — but Mid Valley was already applying pressure.

In the bottom of the second, the Spartanettes broke through. Sophomore Ariana Davey reached on an error, and after Avery Tinney was retired, Davey moved up to second. Marley Morano then put the ball in play, reached on another Pittston Area miscue, and Davey raced home with the game’s first run.

Mid Valley had a 1-0 lead — and Hazleton was just getting started in the circle.

Pittston Area again went quietly, and in the bottom of the third, Mid Valley added more. Laskowski ripped a double on a ground ball to left, and Parker Bennett followed with a bunt that helped bring her home. Just like that, the Spartanettes had doubled their lead.

Then came the loudest swing of the afternoon.

Leading off the bottom of the fourth, Sophomore Avery Tinney turned on a pitch and launched it over the fence in right field, sending a jolt through the Mid Valley crowd and extending the lead to 3-0.

“I had two strikes on me, and I was just looking to make solid contact,” said Tinney. “Once I saw the pitch coming in, I knew I was swinging no matter what.”

That blast was more than just an insurance run. It was another sign that Mid Valley’s younger players are not just filling spots — they are making an impact.

“Any day you have five to six players on the field who have never played a varsity game, there are going to be some growing pains,” said Mid Valley head coach Michael Piercy. “We’ll keep developing as the year goes on, but they’re just really talented kids. The more experience they get, the better we’ll be, and we are really excited about this season. I think we can hang in there with anybody.”

That confidence showed all game long.

By the fifth inning, Hazleton was still dealing and Mid Valley’s offense kept manufacturing runs. Mackey singled to center, Bennett followed with another hit, and Hazleton dropped down a bunt that rolled perfectly up the third-base line to load the bases. Hricenak then lifted a sacrifice fly to left, plating Mackey and stretching the Spartanettes’ advantage to 4-0.

For much of the afternoon, Hazleton flirted with perfection.

That bid ended in the sixth when Pittston Area’s Isabella Roman recorded a single to the outfield. Another hit came in the seventh, but that was all Pittston Area could manage against the Mid Valley ace, who finished with nine strikeouts, two walks, and just two hits allowed in a complete-game shutout.

“Ava pitches her heart out all the time,” said Mid Valley freshman shortstop Angela Laskowski. “She sets the tone, and with our defense backing her up, we have consistent hitting. Even when we get down, like last game, we can always trust each other.”

Piercy believes that trust — mixed with returning experience and rising young talent — is what gives this team a chance to be dangerous all season.

“We always have expectations to win a district title and go to the state playoffs,” Piercy said. “That’s something we always talk about. We have some key kids back this year who have some state playoff experience. We have a pitcher who, when she’s on, is as tough as anyone. We feel that’s always going to be our expectation: win a district title and win the state.”

And he made it clear this win carried extra value against a respected opponent.

“Pittston Area is a really good team. Their coach does a great job, and you know they’re always going to be tough,” Piercy said. “It was great to see the way the game unfolded. We played Tunkhannock the other day, and it was a real offensive game. They hit really well, and Ava made some corrections. She located the ball really well today and spun the ball, and that’s the kid we’re used to seeing. So I was proud of her coming back after a day off and looking like she did today.”

Pittston Area made one final push in the top of the seventh when Julian Haas doubled to left field, briefly giving the Patriots some life. But Hazleton and the Spartanette defense slammed the door shut from there, recording the final outs to preserve the 4-0 victory.

Parker Bennett led Mid Valley with two hits, going 2-for-3, but this one belonged to the entire Spartanettes lineup — especially the underclassmen and new starters who stepped into the spotlight and answered the call.

On a day when rain ruled the schedule across the region, Mid Valley simply ruled the field.

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