Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

North Pocono stepped onto the field Friday afternoon against Scranton carrying the look of a team that knows exactly who it is.

The Trojans came in as one of the top teams in the Lackawanna Conference, and for good reason. They had not lost a single game this season to a Lackawanna Conference opponent. This is a team that has been doing damage all year long, averaging around 10 runs per game while allowing only about 2. In simple terms, North Pocono has not just been winning — it has been dominating.

And the scary part for the rest of the conference?

This does not feel like a one-year thing.

This is a program that is starting to look built for staying power.

North Pocono is coming off a District 2 championship last season, the program’s first district title in 50 years. That alone would have made 2025 a season to remember. But watching the way this team carries itself, the way it competes, and the culture that has clearly been established, it is hard not to think there could be several more championships ahead in the coming years — especially as long as head coach Joseph Miraglia is leading the way.

Miraglia did not just stumble into this kind of success.

He spent eight years alongside former Valley View head coach EJ Weston, one of the most respected softball minds in the area. During that time, Miraglia was part of a Valley View staff that helped guide the Lady Cougars to a state runner-up finish in 2012 and a PIAA state championship in 2013. He was there for the big moments. He was there for the pressure. He was there learning, studying, and soaking in the kind of softball wisdom that cannot always be taught from a book.

Later, he took over at Forest City and quickly proved he could build something of his own.

Under Miraglia, Forest City captured District 2 championships in both 2017 and 2018, a clear sign that his impact was real and that his success was no accident. But eventually, Miraglia appeared ready for a bigger challenge — and a larger talent pool than Forest City, one of the smallest Class 1A programs in the state, could consistently provide.

That opportunity came in 2023, when he applied for the head coaching position at North Pocono.

Looking back now, it is hard to imagine a better fit.

Within just three years, Miraglia helped lead North Pocono to its first District 2 championship in 50 years and turned the program into one of the area’s rising softball powers. What is happening at North Pocono is not random. It is the product of experience, culture, leadership, and a coach who understands exactly what winning softball is supposed to look like.

And right now, the Trojans are playing like a team that may only be getting started.

Friday, they did exactly what strong teams are supposed to do.

They hit the ball hard. They got on base. They applied pressure. And they scored runs in bunches against a Scranton team that has struggled over the last few years. The Knights have since hired new head coach Mia Paweski, but the wins have still been difficult to find this season. Scranton’s only victory so far came against Scranton Prep.

From the start, North Pocono looked like the sharper, deeper, and more confident team.

So this is how the game unfolded.

In the top of the first inning, Amelia Bell drew a walk to get things started and immediately created pressure on the bases. She stole second on the next at-bat. Isabella Forgione struck out swinging, and Avarie Roscioli also went down swinging, but Bell stayed aggressive. She stole third and later raced home after an error by the third baseman, giving North Pocono the game’s first run. Cameron Forgione struck out looking to end the inning, but the Trojans had already grabbed a 1-0 lead.

Scranton answered in the bottom half of the inning.

Anna Pica singled on a line drive to right, then advanced to second on an error. Addison Angelo struck out swinging for the first out, but Sophia Lieonori followed with a line-drive single to center, bringing Pica home to tie the game. Tatum Gillern then grounded into a fielder’s choice, with Bell flipping it to second baseman Charles to get the out as Lieonori was retired trying to advance. Ava Angelo worked a walk, but Bianca Perez struck out swinging to end the inning.

After one inning, the game was tied 1-1.

That tie did not last long.

North Pocono exploded in the top of the second and turned the game on its head.

Adysen Iyob started the inning with a single on a pop fly to right. Haylie Keating walked, and Paige Dymek followed with a bunt single to load things up and put the pressure squarely on Scranton. Gabriella Cara then ripped a line-drive single to left that scored both Iyob and Keating, while Dymek moved to third as North Pocono regained the lead, 3-1.

The Trojans were far from finished.

Courtesy runner Havenstrite entered for Cara, and Charles bunted into a fielder’s choice. Dymek was thrown out trying to score, but Havenstrite advanced to third and Charles reached second. Bell then lined a single to center, scoring Havenstrite and moving Charles to third. Isabella Forgione walked, and then Roscioli delivered a fly-ball single to left, driving in both Charles and Bell as the lead grew to 6-1.

Then came another big swing.

Cameron Forgione doubled on a line drive to center, bringing home Isabella Forgione and Roscioli to make it 8-1. Iyob followed with another single, and Keating doubled on a fly ball to center, scoring both Cameron Forgione and Iyob. By the time Dymek struck out looking and Cara grounded out to end the inning, North Pocono had poured in nine runs and completely seized control.

The Trojans led 10-1.

In the bottom of the second, Scranton had no answer.

Jenna Wasslin struck out swinging. Sydney VanValen popped out to second baseman Charles. Kelsey Fedrick struck out swinging. Just like that, it was a quick and quiet inning for the Knights.

North Pocono kept rolling in the top of the third.

Charles reached on an error by the shortstop, and Bell walked. Isabella Forgione popped out to center for the first out, and Roscioli followed with a flyout to center, but both runners were able to advance on the tag. Cameron Forgione then walked to load the bases, and another walk brought Charles home to make it 11-1.

Moments later, Keating put another ball in play and reached on an error by the shortstop, allowing Bell to score and pushing the lead to 12-1. Then Paige Dymek blew the game wide open with a line-drive triple to right field, scoring Forgione, Bell, and Keating in one shot.

Suddenly, it was 15-1.

Cara grounded out to end the inning, but North Pocono had once again done major damage.

Scranton managed just one hit in the bottom of the third. Pica struck out swinging, Angelo flew out to center, Lieonori singled on a line drive to left, and Gillern grounded out from short to first to end the inning.

Then came the fourth, and with it, more offense from the Trojans.

Armbruster opened the top of the inning with a double on a hard ground ball to third. Bell popped out in foul territory for the first out, but Isabella Forgione came through with a pop-fly single to left that brought Armbruster home and made it 16-1.

“At the plate I knew my team is fantastic offensively and didn’t feel a ton of pressure so I just played like myself trying my best and hoped for a good result. The chemistry on this team is fantastic we all have so much love for each other and feed off each other once one person gets there bat going we all do. It’s always important to stay focused in games even when your winning by a lot because you could never know what could happen and if you let up the other team could come back so it is important to stay focused throughout the entirety of the game.”Said North Poconos Isabella Forgione

Roscioli followed with a single, and Murphy added another base hit on a ground ball to short, scoring Forgione and moving Roscioli to second. Havenstrite then popped out to shortstop, but Keating walked to load the bases again. Dymek came through once more, doubling on a line drive to right and bringing home Roscioli and Murphy as the lead stretched to 19-1.

The inning still was not over.

Clementoni walked, and Armbruster followed with a pop-fly single to second that turned into even more trouble for Scranton. Keating and Dymek both scored, while Clementoni advanced to third and Armbruster reached second. Then Bell lined a single to center, driving in Clementoni and Armbruster to push the score to 23-1.

“We all just started hitting and started stringing the hits together to get some runs. Our approach was waiting for our pitch and not swinging at anything outta the zone. It gives us more confidence and less pressure on the defensive side.” Said North Poconos Anna Clementoni

By then, there was no mystery left about how this one would end.

In the bottom of the fourth, Scranton could not get anything going, and the game came to a close with North Pocono rolling to a dominant 23-1 victory.

“After that first inning we had a motivation talk that we don’t care who we play,  we have to play every game every inning! To be champions you have to play like champions! It was important to put up runs and gain momentum to settle in the rest of the game. “ Said North Pocono Head Coach Joseph Miraglia

He added: “We talked a lot about being patient today because of the pitching. We adjusted well l, let the ball travel and had some pretty good hits. “ 

He continued: ”We pride ourselves on defense. We know with our pitching , good defense and hitting the ball we are hard to beat. Actually, dew to injury, Areilla Bell threw in her first varsity game this year. She looked good. Than Anna Clementoni came in and finished up. She is also coming along strong. We have a big game tomorrow against Liberty, so I want to share the wealth. Our starter Amelia Bell didn’t throw. We will be ready for tomorrow! “

North Pocono’s offense was relentless from top to bottom, finishing with 23 runs on 16 hits, constantly applying pressure every inning. The Trojans exploded for nine runs in the second inning, followed by five in the third and eight more in the fourth, turning the game into a full offensive showcase. Paige Dymek led the charge with a huge day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with 5 RBIs, including a clutch bases-clearing triple that broke the game wide open. Amelia Bell set the tone early and often, scoring three runs, driving in three, and drawing two walks, while also swiping bases and creating chaos. Avarie Roscioli added two hits and two RBIs, and Haylie Keating reached base multiple times, scoring three runs and driving in two. North Pocono showed its depth as multiple players contributed — from Gabriella Cara and Cameron Forgione driving in runs, to Iyob and Armbruster adding key hits — proving once again this lineup does not rely on one player, but waves of production.

On the other side, Scranton managed just three hits and one run, with Sophia Lieonori providing a bright spot, going 2-for-2 with an RBI. Anna Pica also contributed with a hit and scored the team’s lone run early in the game. Despite the tough result, the Knights showed moments of life offensively in the first inning, but struggled to keep pace as North Pocono’s momentum built inning after inning. In the circle, Scranton’s Tatum Gillern battled through four innings against a powerful lineup, while North Pocono’s pitching duo of Amelia Bell and A. Clementoni combined to allow just three hits while striking out seven, keeping Scranton from finding any rhythm. Defensively, a few key errors proved costly for Scranton, extending innings and allowing the Trojans to turn pressure into big innings — something elite teams like North Pocono capitalize on every time.

From top to bottom, this was another reminder of what North Pocono has become.

This is not just a team with talent. This is a team with confidence, rhythm, depth, and belief. The Trojans know how to pressure defenses, they know how to capitalize on mistakes, and they know how to keep the lineup moving until an inning turns into an avalanche.

Friday afternoon was not just another win.

It was another statement.

North Pocono looks every bit like one of the teams to beat in the Lackawanna Conference — and maybe a program that is still climbing.

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