Agape Freedom Sports LLC



WRITTEN BY: jERIC YURKANIN

Sometimes athletes do not stop growing because they lack talent.

Sometimes they stop growing because the environment around them never allows them to become who they are capable of becoming.

Sometimes it is the coaching.

Sometimes it is the culture inside the program.

Sometimes parents become too involved, creating pressure instead of confidence. Sometimes a locker room loses accountability. Sometimes players stop being coachable. Sometimes standards disappear. Sometimes nobody pushes each other to grow. And when that happens, talent alone eventually stops being enough.

That happens in nature all the time.

Certain plants cannot grow in the wrong soil. Certain fish cannot survive in the wrong water. A freshwater fish cannot simply be dropped into saltwater and expected to survive because its body was never built for that environment. Fish that need oxygen-rich moving water struggle in stagnant water. Some species need the right temperature, the right balance, the right conditions, or slowly they begin to fade away.

Athletes can be the same way.

A player may have talent. She may have heart. She may have work ethic. She may even have the ability to become something special. But if the culture around her is unhealthy, if confidence is constantly being drained, if mistakes become fear instead of lessons, if players are afraid to fail, afraid to grow, or afraid to believe in themselves, eventually even talented athletes can begin looking stuck.

That does not always mean they are not good enough.

Sometimes it simply means they have not found the right water yet.

The right team.

The right coach.

The right role.

The right culture.

Because when athletes finally get placed into the right environment with the right coaching staff, everything can change. Their shoulders relax. Their confidence returns. Their swing feels freer. Their glove feels steadier. Their voice gets louder in the dugout. The game starts becoming fun again. And suddenly, the same athlete who once looked uncertain begins looking alive again.

They start believing again.

That is why culture matters so much in softball.

It is not just about lineups, records, rankings, or who has the most talent on paper. It is about whether players feel like they can grow. Whether they can make mistakes without feeling broken. Whether they are challenged while still being supported. Whether accountability exists without destroying confidence.

The best programs understand that.

They do not just build softball players.

They build environments where softball players can breathe, compete, fail, learn, trust, and rise together.

And that is part of what has happened this season at Carbondale Area.

Two years ago, Chargerettes head coach Jeff Kelsch applied for the Carbondale softball coaching position but was not selected. Instead of walking away from the game, he continued coaching travel softball, continued training players, continued developing athletes, and continued believing his opportunity would eventually come.

Then, after two difficult seasons, Carbondale administration went searching again for a new leader of the softball program.

Kelsch applied once more.

This time, the odds finally broke his way.

Carbondale hired him in January.

Only a few months later, he has already shown why he was the right choice.

For the first time in a long time, there is real energy surrounding Carbondale softball again. The Chargerettes are 12-6 heading into the playoffs, but the record alone does not tell the full story. The confidence looks different. The dugout energy feels different. The belief feels different. Players are competing harder, trusting each other more, and thriving inside a healthier culture.

And now, with the District 2 playoffs beginning this week, Carbondale believes it has a chance.

It will not be easy.

Programs like Mid Valley and Lake-Lehman stand in the way, two teams built with talent, experience, and playoff expectations.

But right now, Carbondale looks alive.

The Chargerettes look confident.

And maybe, for the first time in a long time, they truly believe they belong in the fight with quality head coach Jeff Kelsch leading the pack.

Here is how today’s game went:

Top 1st – Blue Ridge Batting

Peyton Rutter strikes out swinging for the first out. Abby Piechocki grounds out to third base. Two outs. Hailey Carpenetti grounds out to shortstop to end the inning.

Bottom 1st – Carbondale Batting

Bella Kelsch grounds out to shortstop for the first out. Aurora Esgro singles on a fly ball to center field. Abby Carachilo flies out to second base. Two outs. Esgro later scores after tagging up.

Carbondale 1, Blue Ridge 0

Alexa Borosky singles on a line drive to right field. Riley Pietrowski strikes out swinging to end the inning.

Top 2nd – Blue Ridge Batting

Blewett is hit by a pitch. Trista Laude flies out to first baseman Maureen Newcomb for the first out. Jaylyn Thatcher walks, advancing Blewett to second. Natalie Bailey walks to load the bases. Kuiper grounds out to first baseman Newcomb as Blewett scores, while Thatcher advances to third and Bailey moves to second. Two outs.

Blue Ridge 1, Carbondale 1

Hayes strikes out swinging to end the inning.

Bottom 2nd – Carbondale Batting

Amethyst Kealoha-Silva grounds out to second base for the first out. Maureen Newcomb singles on a hard ground ball to left field. Ellinger pops into a double play to third baseman Rutter, with Newcomb doubled off first after failing to tag up. Three outs.

Top 3rd – Blue Ridge Batting

Rutter singles on a fly ball to third base. Piechocki singles on a hard ground ball to shortstop Alexa Borosky, advancing Rutter to third. Carpenetti grounds out to first baseman Newcomb, with Rutter holding at third and Piechocki moving to second. One out. Blewett is hit by a pitch to load the bases. Rutter steals home, while Piechocki advances to third and Blewett moves to second on defensive indifference. Trista Laude flies out to third baseman Ellinger for the second out.

Blue Ridge 2, Carbondale 1

Thatcher walks. Bailey strikes out looking to end the inning.

Bottom 3rd – Carbondale Batting

Maddy Stokes singles on a pop fly to right field. Bella Kelsch bunts out to catcher Piechocki, advancing Stokes to second. One out. Esgro grounds out to first baseman Bailey, moving Stokes to third. Two outs. Carachilo grounds out to shortstop Blewett to end the inning.

Top 4th – Blue Ridge Batting

Kuiper strikes out swinging for the first out. Champang walks. Rutter singles on a bunt. Piechocki singles on a hard ground ball to shortstop, advancing Rutter to second. Carpenetti grounds into a fielder’s choice as Borosky throws to Ellinger at third, retiring Rutter attempting to advance. Piechocki advances to second. Three outs.

Bottom 4th – Carbondale Batting

Alexa Borosky triples on a line drive to left field. Riley Pietrowski follows with a triple to right field, scoring Borosky.

Carbondale 2, Blue Ridge 2

Amethyst Kealoha-Silva singles on a line drive to left field, scoring Pietrowski.

Carbondale 3, Blue Ridge 2

Newcomb strikes out swinging. One out. Ellinger strikes out swinging for the second out. Maddy Stokes singles on a hard ground ball to left field, scoring Kealoha-Silva.

Carbondale 4, Blue Ridge 2

Bella Kelsch triples on a hard ground ball to center field, scoring Stokes.

Carbondale 5, Blue Ridge 2

Aurora Esgro doubles on a line drive to right field, scoring Loughney.

Carbondale 6, Blue Ridge 2

Carachilo singles on a hard ground ball to shortstop, advancing Esgro to third. Borosky lines out to center field to end the inning.

Top 5th – Blue Ridge Batting

Blewett strikes out swinging for the first out. Laude pops out to second baseman Carachilo. Two outs. Thatcher strikes out swinging to end the inning.

Bottom 5th – Carbondale Batting

Pietrowski reaches on an error by center fielder Blewett and advances to second on the same play. Kealoha-Silva is hit by a pitch. Newcomb walks to load the bases. Ellinger walks, forcing in Pietrowski.

Carbondale 7, Blue Ridge 2

Mikayla Loughney strikes out swinging for the first out. Kelsch flies out to center fielder Blewett, allowing Kealoha-Silva to score after tagging up. Newcomb advances to third.

Carbondale 8, Blue Ridge 2

Esgro singles on a hard ground ball to center field, scoring Newcomb and advancing Ellinger to second.

Carbondale 9, Blue Ridge 2

Carachilo flies out to center field to end the inning.

Top 6th – Blue Ridge Batting

Bailey singles on a hard ground ball to right field. Kuiper walks. Champang strikes out looking with Pietrowski pitching. One out. Rutter singles on a bunt to the pitcher, loading the bases. Piechocki grounds into a fielder’s choice to third baseman Ellinger, retiring Bailey at home. Kuiper advances to third and Rutter to second. Two outs. Carpenetti doubles on a fly ball to center field, scoring Kuiper and Rutter while Piechocki advances to third.

Blue Ridge 4, Carbondale 9

Blewett grounds out to second baseman Carachilo to end the inning.

Bottom 6th – Carbondale Batting

Borosky singles on a fly ball to left field. Pietrowski singles on a hard ground ball to center field and advances to second on an error, while Borosky advances to third. Courtesy runner A. Pietrowski enters for Riley Pietrowski. Kealoha-Silva doubles to center field, scoring Borosky and Pietrowski.

“Today at the plate, I was thinking about driving through the ball, and all I needed was a base hit. I knew I had powerful hitters behind me to bring me in. I’m feeling super confident at the plate right now,” said Carbondale freshman shortstop Alexis Borosky.

Carbondale 11, Blue Ridge 4

Newcomb pops out in foul territory to third baseman Rutter for the first out. Ellinger pops out to second baseman Kuiper for the second out, with Kealoha-Silva advancing to third after tagging up. Loughney singles on a line drive to shortstop, scoring Kealoha-Silva.

Carbondale 12, Blue Ridge 4

Kelsch grounds into a fielder’s choice to shortstop, advancing Loughney to second. Courtesy runner Bauer enters for Kelsch. Esgro singles on a ground ball to shortstop, advancing Loughney to third and Bauer to second. Bauer is later picked off at second by pitcher Thatcher to end the inning.

Top 7th – Blue Ridge Batting

Laude singles on a hard ground ball to center field. Thatcher walks. Bailey is hit by a pitch to load the bases. Kuiper grounds into a fielder’s choice as Borosky throws to Ellinger at third, retiring Thatcher while Laude scores.

Blue Ridge 5, Carbondale 12

Champang doubles on a line drive to center field, scoring Bailey and advancing Kuiper to third.

Blue Ridge 6, Carbondale 12

Rutter doubles on a line drive to center field, scoring Kuiper and Champang.

Blue Ridge 8, Carbondale 12

Piechocki walks. Carpenetti doubles on a line drive to left field, scoring Rutter and advancing Piechocki to third.

Blue Ridge 9, Carbondale 12

Blewett grounds out to second baseman Carachilo, allowing Piechocki to score while Carpenetti advances to third.

Blue Ridge 10, Carbondale 12

Laude walks. Thatcher pops out to pitcher Riley Pietrowski to end the game.

“Even though they were coming back, we had confidence, stayed positive, and pushed to finish the game,” said Alexis Borosky.

Final: Carbondale 12, Blue Ridge 10

Ball game.

It was a roller coaster type of game. I think our girls relaxed a bit and allowed Blue Ridge to mount a late comeback. Senior leadership from Maureen Newcomb really made a difference in the game. She’s a true leader and knows when to take a timeout to reset the girls. Riley struggled early, but found the toughness to stay the course and trust the defense behind her. In my mind, I thought we should win this, and for me, it’s about keeping our girls, on and off the field, positive and focused on pumping each other up,” said Carbondale first-year head coach Jeff Kelsch.

Jeff continued: “I absolutely love that we can produce hits throughout the lineup and bring girls in at clutch moments to keep the momentum on our side. Audrey Stokes and Macey Loughney have been doing just that the last few games. Also, Meg Zavislak is another player I will sub in. It’s a nice rotation that keeps the other side guessing what this girl can do, especially if they haven’t faced them yet. Girls stepping up when they get the opportunity is what we’ve been doing all season, and they’ve answered that call beyond my expectations.”

The numbers almost looked unreal by the end of the afternoon. Carbondale piled up 17 hits and 12 runs while surviving a furious seventh-inning rally to defeat Blue Ridge 12-10 in a thriller that felt more like an emotional roller coaster than a softball game.

“The mentality we had, and continue to have in every game, is that we have to get up first. Being the team getting chased is easier than having to chase. At the very beginning, we went back and forth run-wise, but I think what made us pull away was the drive the girls had to help the seniors win for our senior game. The whole team went in with a chip on our shoulder with how close the first time we played them was, so we wanted to get the job done and get more safety runs on the board,” said Carbondale senior first baseman Maureen Newcomb.

She added: “We knew after our loss against Montrose on Thursday that we had to win the following two games, Mountain View on Friday and Blue Ridge today, to gain momentum heading into the postseason. Seeing that we had a better game against Blue Ridge today than we did the first time helped prove to ourselves that if we put all of our skills together and play as a team heading into the postseason, we will continue to get the job done.”

Aurora Esgro delivered one of the biggest offensive performances of the day, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBIs, a double, a stolen base, and multiple momentum-shifting hits throughout the middle innings. Alexa Borosky added a huge afternoon at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored, while Riley Pietrowski finished 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.

Amethyst Kealoha-Silva continued the Chargerettes’ offensive explosion by going 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Bella Kelsch added a triple and two RBIs, Maddy Stokes collected two hits and an RBI, while Abby Carachilo, Maureen Newcomb, Mikayla Loughney, and Olivia Ellinger all contributed key run-producing moments during Carbondale’s massive fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

As a team, the Chargerettes finished with five extra-base hits, 17 total hits, and zero defensive errors while constantly putting pressure on Blue Ridge’s defense and pitching staff.

But Blue Ridge never stopped fighting. Even trailing 12-4 entering the seventh inning, the Lady Raiders nearly completed one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season. Peyton Rutter led the charge, finishing an incredible 4-for-5 with two RBIs, three runs scored, a double, and constant pressure on the basepaths.

Hailey Carpenetti added a massive day offensively as well, going 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Abby Piechocki collected two hits and reached base multiple times. Hannah Champang delivered a clutch RBI double during the seventh-inning rally, and Kuiper added two RBIs despite not recording a hit.

Riley Pietrowski battled through all seven innings for Carbondale, throwing 157 pitches while striking out seven to earn the complete-game victory despite the late pressure.

“That is crucial, especially as we go into playoffs. They’ve all learned to answer the call in several high-pressure games. Riley did a great job on her senior night to get the W. That composure from the team shows that they’ve put in the work and believe in themselves. That’s all I can ask for,” said Jeff Kelsch.

Jeff continued: “I think they learn from each and every game. New and different situations come up in different games, and they’ve responded well. I think they’ll take into playoffs that they’re never out of a game, keep battling, do your best, and hopefully we get the best outcome. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. Going into next year, mental toughness will be a focus so we can handle stressful situations better as the team believes in its ability and our program.”

For Blue Ridge, Hailey Carpenetti kept the game under control early, allowing just one run over three innings, before Jaylyn Thatcher entered and battled through the Chargerettes’ offensive avalanche, throwing 88 pitches over three innings. In the end, the box score told the story of complete chaos — 22 combined runs, 28 combined hits, eight walks by Blue Ridge, seven strikeouts from Pietrowski, and a game where momentum never truly felt safe until the final popup settled into a glove.

And maybe that is the real story of Carbondale softball right now. Not just a 12-6 record. Not just a playoff berth. Not just another team stepping into the District 2 tournament hoping to survive one more day. This feels deeper than that. It feels like a program starting to breathe again. You can feel it in the dugout noise. You can see it in the way players carry themselves. You can hear it in the confidence after a big hit, the encouragement after a mistake, and the belief that lingers around the field when a team no longer looks like it is waiting for something to go wrong. Carbondale is starting to look like a team that believes something good can happen.

“Communication is important because if there’s no talking going on during the innings, we won’t know exactly what the play is or what’s happening around the field,” said Carbondale catcher Bella Kelsch.

She continued: “The team is definitely heading in a great direction for the playoffs. When people are down, the dugout is always there to pick them up and stay hype during innings. The performance is going to show people that we’re better than they expected to see.”

And that is what the right water does. It does not create the talent from nothing — it gives that talent room to rise. It turns tight shoulders into relaxed swings, quiet voices into loud dugout energy, and fear into freedom.

“The dugout energy was very good in the last few innings, especially on offense. It’s one of the things that keeps us together the whole game,” said Carbondale’s Abby Carachilo.

Abby added: “I think the chemistry and confidence at the plate lately has come from us knowing what we are capable of doing and working together to get on base and just get runs in.”

Whether the Chargerettes make a deep playoff run this spring or use this season as the first brick in something bigger, one thing feels different now. Under head coach Jeff Kelsch, Carbondale softball has found life again. The soil feels better. The water feels right. And when a team starts growing, believing, and playing together with that kind of energy, sometimes the most dangerous thing about them is that their story may only be beginning.

“I absolutely love that we can produce hits throughout the lineup and bring girls in at clutch moments to keep the momentum on our side. Audrey Stokes and Macey Loughney have been doing just that the last few games. Also, Meg Zavislak is another player I will sub in. It’s a nice rotation that keeps the other side guessing what this girl can do, especially if they haven’t faced them yet. Girls stepping up when they get the opportunity is what we’ve been doing all season, and they’ve answered that call beyond my expectations.” Said Jeff Kelsch

The numbers almost looked unreal by the end of the afternoon. Carbondale piled up 17 hits and 12 runs while surviving a furious seventh-inning rally to defeat Blue Ridge 12-10 in a thriller that felt more like an emotional roller coaster than a softball game.

“The mentality we had, and continue to have in every game, is that we have to get up first. Being the team getting chased is easier than having to chase. At the very beginning, we went back and forth run-wise, but I think what made us pull away was the drive the girls had to help the seniors win for our senior game. The whole team went in with a chip on our shoulder with how close the first time we played them was, so we wanted to get the job done and get more safety runs on the board,” said Carbondale senior first baseman Maureen Newcomb.

She added: “We knew after our loss against Montrose on Thursday that we had to win the following two games, Mountain View on Friday and Blue Ridge today, to gain momentum heading into the postseason. Seeing that we had a better game against Blue Ridge today than we did the first time helped prove to ourselves that if we put all of our skills together and play as a team heading into the postseason, we will continue to get the job done.”

Aurora Esgro delivered one of the biggest offensive performances of the day, finishing 4-for-5 with two RBIs, a double, a stolen base, and multiple momentum-shifting hits throughout the middle innings. Alexa Borosky added a huge afternoon at the plate as well, going 3-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored, while Riley Pietrowski finished 2-for-4 with a triple and an RBI.

Amethyst Kealoha-Silva continued the Chargerettes’ offensive explosion by going 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Bella Kelsch added a triple and two RBIs, Maddy Stokes collected two hits and an RBI, while Abby Carachilo, Maureen Newcomb, Mikayla Loughney, and Olivia Ellinger all contributed key run-producing moments during Carbondale’s massive fourth, fifth, and sixth innings.

As a team, the Chargerettes finished with five extra-base hits, 17 total hits, and zero defensive errors while constantly putting pressure on Blue Ridge’s defense and pitching staff.

But Blue Ridge never stopped fighting. Even trailing 12-4 entering the seventh inning, the Lady Raiders nearly completed one of the most dramatic comebacks of the season. Peyton Rutter led the charge, finishing an incredible 4-for-5 with two RBIs, three runs scored, a double, and constant pressure on the basepaths.

Hailey Carpenetti added a massive day offensively as well, going 2-for-5 with two doubles and three RBIs, while Abby Piechocki collected two hits and reached base multiple times. Hannah Champang delivered a clutch RBI double during the seventh-inning rally, and Kuiper added two RBIs despite not recording a hit.

Riley Pietrowski battled through all seven innings for Carbondale, throwing 157 pitches while striking out seven to earn the complete-game victory despite the late pressure.

“That is crucial, especially as we go into playoffs. They’ve all learned to answer the call in several high-pressure games. Riley did a great job on her senior night to get the W. That composure from the team shows that they’ve put in the work and believe in themselves. That’s all I can ask for,” said Jeff Kelsch.

Jeff continued: “I think they learn from each and every game. New and different situations come up in different games, and they’ve responded well. I think they’ll take into playoffs that they’re never out of a game, keep battling, do your best, and hopefully we get the best outcome. Sometimes we do, sometimes we don’t. Going into next year, mental toughness will be a focus so we can handle stressful situations better as the team believes in its ability and our program.”

For Blue Ridge, Hailey Carpenetti kept the game under control early, allowing just one run over three innings, before Jaylyn Thatcher entered and battled through the Chargerettes’ offensive avalanche, throwing 88 pitches over three innings. In the end, the box score told the story of complete chaos — 22 combined runs, 28 combined hits, eight walks by Blue Ridge, seven strikeouts from Pietrowski, and a game where momentum never truly felt safe until the final popup settled into a glove.

And maybe that is the real story of Carbondale softball right now. Not just a 12-6 record. Not just a playoff berth. Not just another team stepping into the District 2 tournament hoping to survive one more day. This feels deeper than that. It feels like a program starting to breathe again. You can feel it in the dugout noise. You can see it in the way players carry themselves. You can hear it in the confidence after a big hit, the encouragement after a mistake, and the belief that lingers around the field when a team no longer looks like it is waiting for something to go wrong. Carbondale is starting to look like a team that believes something good can happen.

“Communication is important because if there’s no talking going on during the innings, we won’t know exactly what the play is or what’s happening around the field,” said Carbondale catcher Bella Kelsch.

She continued: “The team is definitely heading in a great direction for the playoffs. When people are down, the dugout is always there to pick them up and stay hype during innings. The performance is going to show people that we’re better than they expected to see.”

And that is what the right water does. It does not create the talent from nothing — it gives that talent room to rise. It turns tight shoulders into relaxed swings, quiet voices into loud dugout energy, and fear into freedom.

“The dugout energy was very good in the last few innings, especially on offense. It’s one of the things that keeps us together the whole game,” said Carbondale’s Abby Carachilo.

Abby added: “I think the chemistry and confidence at the plate lately has come from us knowing what we are capable of doing and working together to get on base and just get runs in.”

Whether the Chargerettes make a deep playoff run this spring or use this season as the first brick in something bigger, one thing feels different now. Under head coach Jeff Kelsch, Carbondale softball has found life again. The soil feels better. The water feels right. And when a team starts growing, believing, and playing together with that kind of energy, sometimes the most dangerous thing about them is that their story may only be beginning.

————-

Thanks for our sponsor: