Agape Freedom Sports LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

Some people ask what talent really is.

Where does it come from?

Is it something you’re born with? A gift? DNA? Is it built through long hours, repetition, and sacrifice? Or is it influence — the kind that sparks something early, fuels passion, and slowly turns potential into something real between the chalk lines?

The truth is… nobody fully knows.

For some, it’s natural ability — instincts you can’t teach, timing you can’t coach. For others, it’s the grind — the unseen hours, the quiet work, the details most people overlook. And for most?

It’s a little bit of everything.

But for Holy Cross standout Jules Galella… the answer feels a little more personal.

A little more real.

Her sister.

Long before the lights, the noise, the big moments — before the Galella name carried weight across local softball fields — it was simple.

A backyard.

A tee.
A bat.
A ball.

And the kind of laughter that reminds you why kids fall in love with the game in the first place.

Jules was still in that early stage — just trying to make contact, just trying to understand it all. Meanwhile, her older sister Mia was already ahead — more polished, more confident, someone worth watching.

And like so many younger siblings…

Jules didn’t just admire her.

She chased her.

She watched every swing.
Studied every move.
Mirrored everything she could.

Day after day… rep after rep… moment after moment.

And somewhere in those quiet backyard sessions, something real started to form.

Something lasting.

Because this isn’t some big-city spotlight story.

This is Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Blue-collar. Tough. Built on grit and work ethic passed down through generations. Around here, nothing is handed to you. Dreams aren’t given — they’re earned.

And Division I dreams?

They don’t come around often.

Which is why when they do… they mean everything.

Because the truth is, nobody just wakes up one day and says, “I’m going Division I,” and it magically happens. Around here, that’s a long shot. A dream you hope for… not one you expect.

But every once in a while…

Someone breaks through.

And that’s what makes the Galella story different.

That’s what makes it special.

Last season, Jules didn’t just share the field with a great player.

She shared it with her sister.
Her best friend.
Her role model.

Mia Galella.

Now a freshman at Boston College, Mia continues her journey at the Division I level. An injury may have slowed things down with a medical redshirt, but it hasn’t changed her impact — especially on Jules.

If anything…

It’s made it deeper.

“Last season meant so much to me. It was the last time I would ever play with my sister, and it flew by so fast. She is my role model, and I have looked up to her my whole life. I cherished every game and every practice we had together until it was over,” said Jules Galella.

She continued: “Growing up, my sister pushed me so much. We used to always go outside and hit off the tee together, or we would play catch because we had so much fun doing it together. Growing up playing softball with my sister and having her guide me through every step made me the player who I am today.”

She added: “Mia has given me the best advice anyone could, which is to have fun. Having fun is so important on and off the field, and I am always having fun playing the sport I love. I enjoy dancing around or even singing to myself when I’m out on the field. College is definitely hard, but having a sister to look up to who is succeeding so well makes me not worry as much.”

Even her coach sees it.

“Mia was a great role model for Jules. They come from a great family who instilled strong values in them. I am amazed at how Jules has emerged from her sister’s shadow. When you get to know Jules, you immediately realize she is a mature, confident young woman. Despite unusually high expectations because of Mia’s talent, she is in the process of carving out an excellent high school softball career,” Said Holy Cross Head Coach Joe Ross

He continued: “Jules has been nothing short of excellent since she started in our program. She played out of position as a freshman but adjusted and became a productive outfielder. Offensively, she has been a consistent run producer. She will have to raise her game this year and assume some leadership responsibilities.”

And then… there was the moment.

May 6th.
Against Mid Valley.
Bottom of the 7th.
Down 6–5.
One out.
Bases loaded.

You can feel it if you’ve ever been there — the tension, the noise, the way everything suddenly slows down.

Her sister Mia standing on second.

Jules steps in.

Pitch comes.

Contact.

A line drive into the outfield.

Two runs score.
The winning run crosses the plate.

Walk-off.

On her birthday.

The kind of moment you don’t script.
The kind you don’t forget.
The kind that tells you exactly who a player is becoming.

“She is a very carefree player. She doesn’t yet realize how beneficial her attitude can be for her teammates, especially when they are dealing with adversity. Her biggest adjustment this year will be recognizing how her attitude can positively influence our team culture,” said Joe Ross.

Jules is part of something building at Holy Cross — a culture driven by energy, accountability, and belief.

And she brings that energy every day.

“She is capable of much more as a leader. She has a burning desire to be great and is willing to work hard to achieve her goals. As a program, we need her to figure out how she can effectively spread positive energy. When she does, that will permeate through our team in ways that will stay with our program after she graduates,” Ross added.

Last season, she hit .419 — 31 hits, 28 runs, 32 RBIs, 7 doubles, and 4 home runs.

And now?

It’s not just continuing.

It’s evolving.

Through 11 games this season, Jules Galella has been steady, dangerous, and quietly dominant. A .486 average. Seventeen hits in 35 at-bats. Thirteen RBIs. Fifteen runs scored. An on-base percentage north of .560.

What makes Jules so tough at the plate is simple — no matter where the ball is pitched, she finds a way to get the barrel to it and put it in play. Her approach stands out because she looks relaxed, comfortable… like she’s always in control, waiting for her pitch.

“Jules always brings the energy and is cheering for her teammates whether she just struck out or hit a home run or we are winning or losing. She plays relaxed while still bringing confidence and energy,” said teammate Ava Schmidt.

She continued: “Something people may not see about Jules is that she is always joking around on and off the field, and it allows others to relax and feel more at ease and play freely. Although she is always joking, she works hard to be the best player she can be.”

But it’s not just the numbers.

It’s the feel.

If you’ve been around the field this spring, you’ve felt it.

That moment when she steps in… and the dugout leans forward. The chatter rises. The defense shifts just a little more on edge.

“I definitely knew Jules was one of their top power hitters on the team but definitely my biggest challenge was her discipline at the plate. She does a well job of laying off speeds and seeing movement.” Said an opponent of hers, Adrianna Condrad from Abington Heights. 

Because something might happen.

And more often than not…

It does.

A line drive into the gap.
A clutch RBI.
A tough at-bat that keeps an inning alive.

Nothing flashy. Nothing forced.

Just consistent.
Just tough.
Just reliable.

And then there’s the bigger picture.

Holy Cross sits at 9–2 — and it hasn’t come easy. Wins like 17–1, 15–1, 17–0… those aren’t just wins, they’re statements. The kind that echo across the valley and make people start paying attention.

But what separates this team… is what happens when things get tight.

Because not every game is a blowout. Not every inning goes your way.

And in those moments — when the energy dips, when momentum swings — that’s when identity shows.

That’s when leaders emerge.

And more and more…

That’s where Jules shows up.

Not just with her bat.

But with her presence.

A calmness. A confidence. The same one built years ago in a backyard, where the game was simple and the joy was real.

And that’s why this feels like more than just a hot start.

Because when you combine a 9–2 record, a lineup that can score in waves, and a player like Jules Galella growing into both a producer and a leader…

You get something different.

Something that travels.
Something that holds up late in games.
Something that feels… real.

And if you’ve been standing along the fence, sitting in the bleachers, or leaning on that dugout rail this spring…

You can feel it.

Because this isn’t just a team having a good year.

This feels like a team building toward something.

Something dangerous.
Something memorable.
Something that, if it keeps trending this way…

Might just turn into a season people around here won’t forget for a very long time.

And just like it started all those years ago…

It still comes back to the same place.

A backyard.
A sister.
And a love for the game that never left.

—————————-

None of this is possible without the people who believe in it. Thank you to all of our sponsors and donors for supporting Agape Freedom Sports this season. 🥎