Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

Carbondale Area’s softball team made the drive Friday evening — up into the country, up Tunnel Hill, to the home field of the Lackawanna Trail Lady Lions.

And it felt like they were driving straight into winter.

This was one of those late-March nights where softball doesn’t feel like spring yet… it feels like survival.

By first pitch, the temperature had dipped into the low 40s, and with the wind cutting across the field, it felt like the 30s. Fans lined the fences bundled in hoodies, winter coats, hands tucked deep into pockets, trying to fight off that kind of cold that doesn’t just sit on you — it sinks into you.

Every breath felt sharp.

Every swing stung a little more.

Every inning asked the same question:

Who’s going to handle this better?

Because on nights like this… it’s not just about talent.

It’s about toughness.

But while the air wrapped itself in cold…

Carbondale brought the heat.

And not just a spark — a full-on fire.

The Lady Chargerettes stepped onto that field like the temperature didn’t exist, turning a freezing evening into their own personal hitting showcase. Ball after ball jumped off the barrel, sprayed across Tunnel Hill like sparks flying into the night. The cold tried to take over the game…

…but it never touched Carbondale’s bats.

They weren’t just warm.

They were on fire.

Twenty-two runs later — including a nine-run explosion in the seventh — Carbondale walked out with a statement 22-11 win over Lackawanna Trail.

And from the very first swing, you could feel it building.

Top of the first — Aurora Esgro sets the tone with a single. Abby Carachilo follows with a double, bringing her home for the first run. Amethyst Kealoha Silva triples — another run scores. Addison Pietrowski doubles — another run crosses. Then Alexis Borosky blows it open with an inside-the-park home run, clearing the bases.

Just like that — 5-0.

Cold night… hot start.

Carbondale’s defense backed it up in the bottom half, holding the Lady Lions scoreless. But Lackawanna Trail answered in the second. Brynn Kelly and MacKenzie Bennett reached after being hit by pitches, Averie Higgins dropped down a bunt to score one, and Shelby Malamud delivered the big moment — a double that brought in three runs.

Just like that, the game flipped.

5-4, Trail.

But Carbondale didn’t flinch.

Top of the third — they answered again. Carachilo doubled, Kealoha Silva reached, Pietrowski knocked in a run, and Borosky added a sacrifice fly. By the end of the inning, it was 7-4 Carbondale, and you could feel the momentum shifting back.

And it didn’t stop there.

In the fourth, the Chargerettes kept pouring it on. Adrianna Strokes singled, Pietrowski reached, Carachilo drove in another, and Kealoha Silva added to the damage with a hit that brought in two more.

10-4.

But this game had no interest in slowing down.

Bottom of the fourth — Lackawanna Trail punched right back. Bennett walked, and Malamud delivered again — this time with a home run that cut the lead to 10-7.

Back and forth.

Punch for punch.

The kind of game where the cold disappears… because everything else is moving too fast.

Carbondale added more in the sixth. Bella Kelsch reached, Harang Granville singled, Riley Pietrowski added another hit, and Maureen Newcomb came through with a two-run double.

13-8.

“It’s an adrenaline rush!! It’s really exciting to have my teammates this pumped up and hitting really well, and giving us all more chances at bat, it was a lot of fun.” Said Carbondale Catcher Bella Kelsch

She continued: “Some things that helped me at the plate was my teammates staying loud, and being really pumped up. At the plate I just clear my mind and think.. “see ball, hit ball”

Trail answered again in the bottom half to make it 13-10.

Still within reach.

Still a game.

And then…

…the seventh inning happened.

The moment where everything broke open.

The moment where the cold, the tension, the fight — it all got overwhelmed by one thing:

Carbondale’s bats.

Kelsch singled. Granville reached. Riley Pietrowski doubled in two. Borosky tripled. Newcomb doubled. Nykaza reached. Esgro doubled. Kelsch doubled again. Carachilo added another hit.

“Pietrowski is a seasoned senior captain, and with that comes some maturity, especially at the plate. She was confident in herself and that rubbed off throughout the team. She also had a great start in the circle that only made her that much more focused on hitting the ball hard and scoring runs.  Borosky had a great night, like Pietrowski she came with the right mindset in her hitting and was really seeing the ball well tonight.” Said Carbondale Area first year Head Coach, Jeff Kelsch.

Both their performances helped to boost the dugout and in a few instances we were at 2 outs and still they both managed to find a way to get on base and drive in runs.

Hit after hit.

Run after run.

No let-up. No pause.

Nine runs.

Just like that — 22.

By the time the inning ended, you could feel it. Not just on the scoreboard… but in the body language, the energy, the sound of the dugout.

This one was over.

“Following our first game, we made some changes in the line up that we felt would give us better chances at creating opportunities on the bases. And jumping out early was part of what we felt we needed to do going into this game. Lots of speed up front followed by strong hitters. The early lead allowed the girls to settle in and focus on defense, as well. The seventh inning the girls had found their stride and were hitting for the team, which led to relaxed and focused at bats that ended up boosting their confidence and energy.” Said Carbondale Head Coach, Jeff Kelsch.

He continued: “We didn’t focus on the score, once the girls started out with the lead, they fed off that energy and just kept turning the order over. It was infectious and they all did their part to just keep the midget of hitting for contact sad hitting for the team.

He has more to add: “It’s really a great feeling when they are working as a team, playing for the name on the front of the jersey. It’s also pretty great that they didn’t settle in and get comfortable with a lead,, and just kept on hitting and keeping very high energy throughout all 7 innings. If we can keep this mindset  and aggressive hitting, we will have some pretty competitive games. For our 2nd game of the season and only our 2nd time on a field all year, I’m super proud of how they responded after the loss to Dunmore.”

Lackawanna Trail tried to answer in the bottom half, but the fire had already taken over the night.

Final score:

Carbondale 22, Lackawanna Trail 11.

“The mindset in the dugout was really loud and hyped up. Our team didn’t fail to keep smiling and we were telling me to keep smiling. My teammates kept encouraging me when I had a good hit, or did some good things behind the plate on defense. The offense kept the rally going by cheering everyone on and staying up beat and they were all at the fence cheering for every batter.” Said Bella Kelsch

And maybe that’s the thing about nights like this.

The cold shows up first.

It tries to control everything. Slow the game down. Make every moment harder.

But every once in a while…

a team shows up with something stronger.

More energy. More fight. More fire.

And instead of surviving the night…

they take it over.

Friday night on Tunnel Hill, bundled fans came expecting to battle the cold.

But they left watching something else entirely.

A team that didn’t just handle the conditions—

They burned right through them. 🔥

GAME STATS – CARBONDALE 22, LACKAWANNA TRAIL 11

Carbondale Area Chargerettes:

Runs: 22 Hits: 22 RBIs: 19 Extra Base Hits: 10 Strikeouts: 3

Top Performers:

Riley Pietrowski: 4-for-5, 3 runs, 4 RBI Alexis Borosky: 2-for-5, 3 runs, 4 RBI, HR, 3B Abby Carachilo: 4-for-6, 2 runs, 3 RBI Maureen Newcomb: 3-for-5, 1 run, 3 RBI Amethyst Kealoha-Silva: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 3B Bella Kelsch: 3-for-6, 2 runs, 1 RBI Aurora Esgro: 2-for-6, 3 runs, 1 RBI

Extra Base Hits:

Doubles: Pietrowski (3), Carachilo (2), Newcomb (2), Esgro, Kelsch Triples: Borosky, Kealoha-Silva

Home Run: Borosky

Lackawanna Trail Lady Lions:

Runs: 11 Hits: 10 RBIs: 10

Top Performers:

Shelby Malamud: 3-for-3, 3 runs, 6 RBI, HR, 2 2B Averie Higgins: 2-for-3, 2 runs, 1 RBI Peyton Laytos: 2-for-4 Lauren Dewey: 1-for-2, 2 RBI

🔥 Team Notes:

Carbondale scored in 6 of 7 innings 9-run 7th inning blew the game open 22 hits on a cold night — offense never slowed Energy, depth, and lineup balance showed from top to bottom

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