Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

Softball is not a sport for just anyone.

To play this game, you need toughness. You need focus. You need a sharp eye to track a round ball flying toward you at high speed while gripping a bat, knowing you have only a split second to react. It is not easy. It is not simple. And it is definitely not for the weak.

Defensively, the game demands just as much.

Fielding a hard-hit ball is one thing — but standing in the outfield with the sun shining down, trying to track a ball soaring through the sky? That takes concentration, timing, instincts, and real awareness. Softball tests everything — your body, your reactions, your confidence, and your mind.

And then there’s the part people don’t always talk about enough — the mental side.

Because the truth is, the best players… the ones playing Division I or on their way there… they’re different.

They eat, breathe, and live the game.

They’re playing travel ball in the summer. Training all winter. Grinding through fall workouts. Finding mentors. Playing in big-time tournaments. Getting reps when nobody’s watching.

That’s the level this game demands.

That’s what it takes.

And that’s why what West Scranton is doing right now deserves real respect.

Because it hasn’t been easy.

The Invaders haven’t had a winning season in a few years, and on top of that, they’ve been thrown into one of the toughest schedules you’ll find anywhere. Last year and again this year, they’ve gone up against some of the best — Abington Heights, North Pocono, and Valley View… the defending Class 4A state champions, still loaded, still dangerous, still very much a team built for another deep run.

And that’s just part of it.

This year, West Scranton also battled Mid Valley — a team that reached the 3A state semifinals last season — and held them to just one run, keeping them scoreless deep into the game.

That tells you everything.

There are no easy nights. No breaks. No shortcuts.

But something is changing.

This year, West Scranton isn’t just showing up…

They’re competing.

And last night — they proved it.

The Invaders came within inches of pulling off one of the biggest upsets this program has seen in years against Valley View. Bottom of the seventh. Game on the line. One or two swings away from walking it off and stunning the defending state champions.

Let that sink in.

They have nothing to hang their heads about.

If anything, that game set a new standard.

It showed their fight. Their toughness. Their belief.

It showed who they are becoming.

This is not the same West Scranton team people remember.

This team is tougher.

This team believes.

And this team proved it belongs on the field with anybody.

So here’s how it all went down…

Right from the start, you could feel it — this wasn’t going to be easy for Valley View.

Top of the 1st — Valley View batting

Ella Swingle stepped in and lifted a ball to shortstop Sydney Williams for the first out. Cora Castellani followed with a patient walk, but West Scranton didn’t panic. Maggie Hallett grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Sophia DeLuca making the play at third to cut down Castellani trying to advance.

Two outs.

Then Zoie Krupovich popped one right back to Williams at short.

Three up. Three down.

No damage.

Bottom of the 1st — West Scranton batting

Williams led things off but popped out to second baseman Ella Swingle. Mia Tallo followed with a fly ball to center, tracked down by Krupovich. Then DeLuca grounded one to Castellani at short.

Clean inning.

Both teams feeling each other out.

Top of the 2nd — Valley View batting

Ashlan Palickar got things going with a line-drive double to left, the first real spark of the game. But again — West Scranton responded.

An appeal at second caught Palickar off the bag. One out.

Big play.

Coral Kelly worked a walk, but DeLuca came up again defensively, handling another fielder’s choice to erase the lead runner. Minelli swiped second, trying to create something… but Grace Munley lifted a fly ball to right, where Allie Stanko settled under it.

Threat over.

And right there, early in this game, West Scranton’s defense was sending a message.

They weren’t backing down.

They were ready.

Bottom of the 2nd — West Scranton batting

Laney Mackie drew a walk to give the Invaders a base runner, but Valley View tightened up defensively. A pair of pop-ups to Swingle at second and a fielder’s choice off the bat of Tumavitch erased the threat. Stanko went down looking to end the inning.

Still scoreless.

Still tight.

Top of the 3rd — Valley View batting

Connor was locked in.

Lily Smith popped out. Swingle lined out. Castellani struck out looking.

One, two, three.

And now you could really feel it — West Scranton wasn’t just hanging around…

They were controlling the moment.

Bottom of the 3rd — West Scranton batting

The Invaders looked to build something of their own.

Connor lifted a pop-up to second baseman Ella Swingle for the first out. Julia Farkaly stepped in but went down swinging. Then Williams sent one toward short, but Castellani was right there to make the play.

Another clean inning.

Through three — it was scoreless.

And you could feel it…

West Scranton was right there with them.

Top of the 4th — Valley View batting

This is where the game shifted.

Maggie Hallett stepped in… and didn’t miss.

A line-drive shot to left field — gone.

Just like that, Valley View broke through.

1-0.

And they didn’t stop there.

Zoie Krupovich followed with a hard single to center. Then Palickar came up again — and delivered. A double ripped down the line, pushing Krupovich home and advancing herself to third.

2-0.

The momentum was building.

Kelly popped out, but Mady Minelli answered with a hard ground-ball single to left, bringing another run across.

3-0.

Munley kept it going with a base hit to center, putting runners on. After a strikeout, Swingle came up in a big spot…

And crushed it.

A triple to center field, driving in two more.

Just like that, it was a five-run inning.

Valley View 5, West Scranton 0.

The kind of inning that can break a team.

“We have really great coaches that are always putting in effort to keep us up in the dugout and all of our teammates energy really builds off of each other. We knew we had to start making adjustments at the plate and Maggie was one of the firsts to do so, getting the energy up with a home run that was ultimately the start of our rally and really got us going offensively and defensively.” Said Mady Minelli

Bottom of the 4th — West Scranton batting

But not this team.

Not this West Scranton team.

Tallo grounded out. DeLuca popped out.

Two quick outs.

It could’ve ended right there.

But then — they fought back.

Mackie worked a walk. Connor stepped in and ripped a double to left, scoring the first run for the Invaders.

5-1.

Then Tumavitch dropped one into left field, hustling into second as another run came across.

5-2.

Just like that — life.

Energy.

Belief.

Stanko lined out to end the inning, but the message was clear:

West Scranton wasn’t going anywhere.

Top of the 5th — Valley View batting

Hallett reached on an error to open things up, and the pressure returned.

After a lineout and a bunt play, Minelli came through again with a hard single to center, scoring another run.

6-2.

Valley View answered.

But again — West Scranton held the line from there.

Bottom of the 5th — West Scranton batting

And here came the response.

Connor flew out to start the inning, but Farkaly worked a walk to keep things alive. Williams popped out, bringing Tallo to the plate with two outs.

Big moment.

And she delivered.

A line-drive double to center.

Run scores.

6-3.

“I saw a lot of outside pitches which I normally struggle with but I was able to make the adjustments I needed. I was mostly focusing on hitting line drives and doing anything I can to get on base.” Said West Scranton’s Mia Tallo

Then DeLuca followed with a hard single to left, pushing Tallo to third. Mackie stepped in and dropped a pop fly into short, bringing another run home.

6-4.

“For me, I was just looking for my pitch and not chasing, hoping for anything that can help my team out.” Said Sophia DeLuca

Now it was a game again.

The dugout was alive.

The energy had flipped.

Connor grounded out to end the inning — but the damage was done.

West Scranton was right there.

Top of the 6th — Valley View batting

Connor went right back to work.

Strikeout looking.

Pop out.

Strikeout looking.

Three up. Three down.

Calm. Composed. Locked in.

And now — it was time.

Bottom of the 6th — West Scranton batting

Tumavitch reached on an error to start the inning, and the crowd could feel it building.

A single from Stanko put two on.

Opportunity.

But Valley View tightened up.

A strikeout. A fly out. A pop out.

Threat over.

Still a two-run game.

Top of the 7th — Valley View batting

Last chance for the Invaders to keep it within reach.

And they did.

Hallett popped out. Krupovich grounded out. Palickar lined out to center.

Three outs.

Just like that…

West Scranton was heading to the bottom of the seventh with a chance.

Bottom of the 7th — West Scranton batting

This is what every player dreams about.

Seventh inning.

Game on the line.

Tallo led it off with a walk.

“I kept my composure leading off the bottom of the seventh. I was just looking to get on base and help lead my team. I feel it was very important for my teammates to see me get on base to get them confident and feel energized going up to bat. I also make sure to cheer my teammates on and give them any advice I can.” Said Mia Tallo

The tying run was coming to the plate.

DeLuca lined out. One out.

Mackie popped out.

Two outs.

Everything came down to this.

Connor stepped in — and came through.

A line-drive single to right.

Runners move up.

Then Tumavitch…

Another pop fly.

It drops.

Run scores.

6-5.

Now the tying run is 90 feet away.

The go-ahead run at second.

The dugout on its feet.

The crowd holding its breath.

One swing away.

Stanko steps in…

And lifts one to center.

Krupovich settles under it.

Makes the catch.

Game over.

Final: Valley View 6, West Scranton 5

“Today’s game says so much about our team. It shows the improvements we’ve been making and working on since the offseason. This just goes to show it doesn’t matter how much we are down by, we are always going to fight and give it our all. I am extremely proud of my teammates regardless of the outcome. It was a super tough game, but we put our heads down and that is something we can hold with us for the rest of this season. I’m so confident in this team and I know we can beat anybody.” Said Mia Tallo

“I have a lot of confidence in my team. We have a pretty tough schedule, but we all are good individual athletes and work together very well. Picking each other up play by play is really important to us, and we work very hard at practices, so we are happy to see that we can reciprocate that in games.” Said Sophia Tallo

And even in the loss…

That field told a different story.

Because this wasn’t just another game.

This was a statement.

“This game against West Scranton definitely was not the game I thought it was going to be. We obviously have a large target on our backs due to the fact we won the state championship, so every team we play usually always plays us their best, and that’s what West did. They really showed up and were ready to play.” Said Valley View sophomore Mady Minelli

West Scranton didn’t just play with Valley View — they went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the state.

They took the punch.

They responded.

They fought all the way to the final out.

“Our girls are tough, they have that old-school West Side grit. They fight till the end. They don’t have quit in them.” Said West Scranton Head Coach John Connor

He added: ” We always talk about everything you got for 7 innings no matter the scoreboard. Brianna hits the gapper with two outs amoving Tallo to 3rd, Tumavitch drops a Texas leaguer over short and Mia scores. I’m really feeling like Allie is going to put it away. And she almost did, off the bat I thought she got all of it. “

He continued: “We’ve been playing the best teams in the area tough, we have ended up on the wrong side, but I really feel we are improving every game. The girls worked hard all off season and now during the season, and hopefully we hit full stride come playoffs.”

Well said.

Well, West Scranton was just one big swing away late in the seventh inning from a massive upset…

From flipping everything.

This team is not the same.

This team is tougher.

This team believes.

And if last night showed anything…

“Softball is a team sport where we need every one to contribute in order to win. Unfortunately my hitting has been slightly off the past few games and I knew I had to do something about it so i really focused and on confidence in my batting at the North Pocono game and that’s what I feel carried over to the West game and will hopefully continue to stay consistent. Defensively I haven’t gotten much hit to me all year in left and I give a lot of credit to my pitcher Abbi Call and Grace Munley for doing an amazing job at the mound and limiting peoples hits, but when the ball is hit to me i just try and stay calm and make sure I am aware of where the wind is blowing so i can successfully get under the ball and make the play.” Said Mady Minelli

It’s that West Scranton is no longer chasing teams like Valley View.

They’re right there with them.

Last night, a new standard was set for the West Scranton Lady Invaders. They showed they have no-quit, no-fear mentality and the toughness to battle with anybody.

They proved it last night.

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