Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

The Riverside Vikings came into this one hungry.

You could feel it before the first pitch.

This is a team that has been grinding over the last few weeks, trying to fight its way through a tough stretch after dropping three straight games. There has been no quit in this group — only a team continuing to show up, continuing to work, and continuing to battle through adversity.

And a big part of that fight has been sophomore Shelby Lewis.

She is the kind of player who can bring fire to a team. She can hit. She can lead. She can compete. And when needed, she can step into the circle and give everything she has for her team.

This season has not been easy for Riverside. It has been a rough road so far, especially after the Vikings lost their starting pitcher and number one arm to an offseason basketball injury. That kind of loss can shake a team. It can change everything. It can force players into roles they did not expect to carry this early.

That is where Lewis stepped in.

She was asked to help fill that role, and she has been doing everything she can to help her team win games, stay competitive, and keep fighting. And at the end of the day, it is not always just about wins and losses. Sometimes it is about leadership. Sometimes it is about toughness. Sometimes success is found in giving everything you have, hard work and not giving up even when the road is not easy.

One of the greatest coaches in NCAA basketball history, Hall of Famer John Wooden, once said, “Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”

He taught that success is not just about winning. It is about preparation. It is about effort. It is about knowing you emptied the tank and gave your best.

And honestly, I will take his word for it.

My theory is this too: success is also winning the games you are supposed to win. That is part of having a successful season. But there is also another side to it. Success can be found in leadership. Success can be found in growth. Success can be found in the way a player responds when more is put on her shoulders than anyone expected.

And Riverside, along with pitcher and leader Shelby Lewis, has shown signs of that success this season.

I know it.

I can see it.

I have heard the conversations. I have heard what fans have said. I have heard what parents have said too. Sure, some people may have different expectations. That comes with sports. That comes with competition. Everybody sees the game a little differently.

But me? I will gladly lean toward the words of a man who won 10 national championships in 12 years.

Because sometimes success is not just found on the scoreboard.

Sometimes it is found in the fight.

And from the way this one started… you could tell Riverside was ready to come out swinging.

In the top of the first, the Lady Vikings wasted no time putting pressure on Honesdale. Emily Chilek worked a walk to get things started, and Raigan Monahan followed with a single while also reaching on an error, allowing Chilek to move all the way to third. Kate Reynolds popped out, but Riverside kept the pressure on. Mikayla Smith drew a walk, and Chilek came home on a passed ball to put the Vikings on the board first.

Then everything sped up.

Cassidy Merrifield was hit by a pitch, and Monahan scored on a wild pitch to make it 2-0 Riverside. Mackenzie Keller struck out, but then came another big swing in the inning from Shelby Lewis. The sophomore sent a ground ball into center field and drove in both Smith and Merrifield, stretching the lead to 4-0 and giving Riverside exactly the kind of fast start it needed.

“I was just trying to stay relaxed and look for a good pitch to hit. My teammates were getting on base in front of me, so my main focus was just putting the ball in play and helping the team score. I tried not to do too much and just trust the work I’ve been putting in,” said Shelby Lewis.

Honesdale answered in the bottom of the first when Kaydence Frampton homered, trimming the score to 4-1. But that would be all the Lady Hornets could get, and Riverside walked out of the inning still holding firm control.

The second inning turned into more of a battle. Honesdale’s defense stepped up in the top half and held Riverside scoreless, trying to keep the game within reach. In the bottom of the inning, the Lady Hornets showed signs of life. Molly Diehl struck out, Mia Drake struck out, but Maddie Decker singled and Abbey Stiles followed with a single of her own. For a moment, it felt like Honesdale was building something.

But Shelby Lewis shut it down.

Another strikeout. Runners left on.

In the top of the third, Riverside found another answer. Cassidy Merrifield reached, Keller struck out, and then Lewis delivered again. This time, she ripped a double to left field and knocked in Merrifield to make it 5-1. Lewis tried to stretch it into a triple and was thrown out at third — a great effort, an aggressive play, and a perfect example of how she competes.

And in the bottom of the third, Lewis went right back to work in the circle. Diehl and Frampton both struck out against the Riverside sophomore, while Abbey Beatty managed a double to keep Honesdale alive for a moment. But Lily Head flew out, and once again the Lady Hornets were turned away.

Then came the fourth inning… and that was when everything opened up.

Tierra Schiavo struck out to begin the inning, but then Chilek walked and Monahan walked, setting the table for Kate Reynolds. And Reynolds delivered in a big way, ripping a line-drive double to left-center that brought both Chilek and Monahan home.

7-1 Riverside.

And you could feel it — the dugout, the energy, the momentum — it all shifted.

“I knew this upcoming game would be a key win coming off of a Holy Cross loss. I knew high balls were being called the entire game, so I had to adjust my approach. I was looking for anything in the zone that I could take to the outfield for some RBIs. In moments I knew runs were needed, I slowed my swing down and let my mechanics do the work to send the ball to the gap,” said Riverside’s Kate Reynolds.

But the Vikings were not done.

Smith walked. Merrifield walked. Keller walked.

Pressure.

A run scores — 8-1.

Lewis reached on an error — two more runs score.

10-1.

Caitie Beecham grounded out — another run crosses.

11-1.

It felt like everything was happening at once. Walks. Contact. Pressure. Mistakes forced. Runs piling up. Riverside was not just scoring — they were overwhelming.

Honesdale was held scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, managing only a single by Decker. Riverside stayed in control.

The top of the fifth was quiet, but Honesdale showed some fight in the bottom half. Autumn Razny doubled, Molly Diehl singled to bring her home, and Frampton followed with a double that scored another.

11-3.

A little life.

But Riverside had more.

In the top of the sixth, the Vikings found another gear and never let up. Keller walked. Lewis was hit by a pitch. Schiavo reached on an error. Then Chilek lifted a sacrifice fly, bringing Lewis home.

12-3.

Monahan followed with a double — 13-3.

Reynolds doubled again — two more runs.

15-3.

The dugout was alive. The bats stayed hot.

Smith singled. Merrifield grounded out, but another run scored.

Then more traffic. More pressure.

Walk. Walk. Walk.

Run.

18-3.

Schiavo was hit by a pitch — another run scores.

19-3.

“All nine were hitting all game, just at different times. In those two innings, everything just clicked together. Keeping the dugout with positive energy during the cold was a key factor. Everyone was cheering and being loud, which motivated everyone to be the best they could for the team,” said Kate Reynolds.

Reynolds added: “After the game vs. Holy Cross, I feel as if some confidence was lost. As the innings vs. Honesdale played out, confidence was built back up. Reflecting on the loss of three starting seniors and our starting pitcher from last year, the team knew we had to step it up this year. I am overjoyed with the outcome of this year’s team, especially being new starters and underclassmen. I have a feeling some big wins will be in our future!”

By that point, the game had turned into a wave Riverside just kept riding. Hit after hit. Walk after walk. Runner after runner crossing the plate.

Relentless.

In the bottom of the sixth, Honesdale managed two hits, but Riverside did not allow anything else. Three outs later, it was over.

“I think this win shows the kind of team Riverside is. We were able to contribute both at the plate and in the circle, and that really helped us today. Everyone played their role and supported each other, and I think it shows how hard we’ve been working. Moving forward, we just want to keep building off this and try to keep that same energy every game,” said Shelby Lewis.

She continued: “The energy was really high. Everyone in the dugout was cheering and staying locked into every at-bat. When we started putting runs together, it kind of gave us momentum, and you could feel everyone feeding off the energy from each other.”

And when you look at the box score, the stars showed up all over the lineup for Riverside. Shelby Lewis led the charge in every sense, finishing 2-for-3 with 5 RBIs while also controlling the game in the circle, setting the tone from start to finish. Kate Reynolds delivered a huge day at the plate, going 2-for-4 with 4 RBIs and multiple extra-base hits, coming through in big moments when Riverside needed to break the game open. Raigan Monahan added to the pressure with a run-scoring hit and multiple runs scored, while Mikayla Smith and Cassidy Merrifield kept traffic moving all game long, combining for 6 runs scored and constantly putting Honesdale on their heels. Mackenzie Keller reached base and scored three times, showing patience at the plate, and Caitie Beecham and Tierra Schiavo both contributed RBIs to keep the momentum rolling. It was not just one player — it was a complete team effort, a lineup that stayed relentless from top to bottom, and a performance that showed exactly what Riverside is capable of when everything starts clicking together.

And maybe that is what made this one feel bigger than just another mark in the win column.

Yes, Riverside needed a win.

Yes, they needed to stop the skid.

But more than that, they needed to feel something again.

To feel the reward of showing up. Fighting. Believing.

That is what this game looked like.

It looked like a team refusing to stay down.

It looked like a leader stepping up.

And it looked like Riverside — for one night — reminding everybody what it looks like when fight finally turns into results.

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