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WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

ALLENTOWN PA—- Softball.

The game that too many people overlook.

Not enough fans pack the stands. Not enough local media shows up. Girls’ sports still do not always get the attention they deserve. Baseball gets the spotlight. Football gets the crowds. Boys basketball gets the buzz.

But I’ll say this — people are missing out.

Because right here in the Lackawanna Conference, we have some of the best softball teams in the entire state of Pennsylvania.

Mid Valley is a perfect example.

Coming into this season, there were questions. A lot of them.

The Spartanettes lost several key players to graduation. Some people wondered if Mid Valley would take a step back. Others wondered if the younger players were ready for the bright lights of varsity softball.

I remember standing along the fence at the Mid Valley-Holy Cross league championship game last year. The sun was starting to set, the crowd was buzzing, and a fan struck up a conversation with me.

She looked concerned.

“Mid Valley loses most of their infield,” she said.

I smiled and looked at her.

“Enjoy this season,” I replied. “Good coaches know how to reload and stay competitive.”

And I meant it.

Because I was talking about Mid Valley’s longtime head coach, Mike Piercy.

I know what it takes to build something. From 2016 through 2023, I ran a men’s slow-pitch softball team and was part of three league championship appearances. I made multiple semifinal appearances as a head coach and later as an assistant coach in 2024 and 2025.

So when I said good coaches reload, I believed it.

Mid Valley did not start the season the way it wanted, falling to Tunkhannock 15-8 in the opener.

But then something happened.

The Spartanettes settled in.

They ripped off 12 straight wins.

The confidence grew.

The chemistry grew.

The young players stopped looking like young players.

Before the season, the questions were loud.

Could Mid Valley bounce back after losing so much talent?

Could the younger players step up and play like veterans?

Would Ava Hazleton have a defense behind her?

Those questions were answered quickly.

Freshman Angela Laskowski stepped into one of the toughest positions on the field — shortstop — and began hitting over .500.

Sophomore Avery Tinney took over center field as a first-year starter.

Sophomore Ariana Davey grabbed the catching duties and never looked back.

Julie Prisco and Marley Morano filled important roles and helped keep the machine moving.

The youth didn’t just show up.

They grew up fast.

That’s what Mid Valley softball does.

Coach Mike Piercy has built a program that keeps producing players year after year. He watches the junior high games. He teaches the fundamentals. He understands that championships aren’t built in March.

They’re built years earlier.

The foundation starts in rec ball.

It continues in travel ball.

It grows in junior high.

And eventually, those players arrive at varsity ready to compete.

Mid Valley isn’t just a softball team.

It’s a softball-building machine.

Before Ava Hazleton, there was Maranda Runco.

One of the greatest players to ever come through District 2 softball.

Runco went on to play Division I softball at Villanova University and earned All-Big East honors.

At Mid Valley, she posted a remarkable 1.11 career ERA, struck out 637 batters in 415 innings, hit .671, and launched 48 home runs.

She was ranked the No. 1 player in Pennsylvania by MaxPreps, earned multiple State Player of the Year honors, All-State recognition, and was named an Extra Inning Softball All-American.

That’s the type of player Mid Valley has produced.

That’s the type of program Mike Piercy has built.

Which is why I found it interesting when, back on April 25, a Facebook profile under the name “Tom Russ” accused Coach Piercy of “playing the politics game.”

The reality is simple.

Programs don’t accidentally win seven consecutive District 2 championships.

Programs don’t accidentally make deep playoff runs year after year.

Programs don’t accidentally develop player after player after player.

Winning at that level requires knowledge, preparation, trust, chemistry, development, and hundreds of hours of work behind the scenes.

Not politics.

What stood out to me even more was the response from former Mid Valley softball parent, whose daughter played for the Spartanettes last season. Her words offered a perspective that only someone who spent years around the program could provide.

Her words weren’t about defending her own daughter.

They were about defending every girl who earned a spot on that field.

She wrote:

“Coach Piercy gets to pick nine. Nine ladies step onto the field, have each other’s backs, and play like everything is on the line.

“He can roster more, but only nine can play at a time. Coach Piercy has to find the nine who fit the philosophy, understand the mission, and can mentally battle through the game.”

“The most unfair point you made is suggesting that girls got their positions because of who their families are, not because of their work ethic.”

“Don’t ever say a girl on Mid Valley didn’t earn her spot.”

End Quote.

And honestly, that’s the point.

Every player in that dugout matters.

Every starter earned her opportunity.

Every bench player plays a role.

Every practice matters.

Every sacrifice matters.

Now Mid Valley finds itself exactly where elite programs expect to be.

Back in the state semifinals.

For the second consecutive season.

And let’s not forget — this is the same program that won a PIAA State Championship in 2023.

As I write this, four Lackawanna Conference softball teams are heading to the state semifinals:

Mid Valley.

Holy Cross.

Valley View.

Abington Heights.

Think about that for a second.

Four teams.

One conference.

One region.

That’s not luck.

That’s greatness.

So yes, softball may still be overlooked by some.

But anyone sleeping on Mid Valley Softball — or Lackawanna Conference softball as a whole — simply hasn’t been paying attention.

Because while the spotlight may not always be there, the excellence certainly is.

Here how the game went down:

First Inning Recap:

Mid Valley put a pair of runners on base in the top of the first inning, but Villa Maria Academy escaped the threat without allowing a run. Parker Bennett drew a leadoff walk before Angela Laskowski reached on a fielder’s choice. Another fielder’s choice off the bat of Ava Davey kept the inning moving, and a two-out walk to Frein put two runners aboard. However, Villa Maria second baseman Cassidy recorded the final out on a pop-up off the bat of Prisco to keep the game scoreless.

Villa Maria’s offense also threatened in the bottom half of the inning when Dernoski opened with a single to right field. Mid Valley pitcher Ava Hazleton quickly settled in, striking out Adams and Dzielinski before fanning Stanton to end the inning. Through one inning, the game remained scoreless as both pitchers worked out of early traffic.

Second Inning:

Mid Valley broke through in the top of the second inning, using aggressive baserunning and timely hitting to take the early lead.

After Hricenak flew out to left field, Tinney dropped a pop-fly single into the infield and later moved into scoring position. Mackey followed with a ground-ball single to shortstop, advancing Tinney to third.

Tinney then stole home, and Mackey moved all the way to third on an error by catcher Dernoski, giving Mid Valley a 1-0 lead. Bennett followed with a triple to left field, scoring Mackey and extending the Spartanettes’ lead to 2-0.

Villa Maria Joseph went quietly in the bottom half of the inning as Hazleton continued to dominate in the circle, striking out Fox and Hadgimallis before Frabizzio grounded out to Laskowski at shortstop.

After two innings, Mid Valley led Villa Maria Joseph, 2-0.

Third Inning:

Villa Maria Joseph kept Mid Valley off the board in the top of the third inning. Davey struck out looking to open the frame before Frein grounded out to second baseman Cassidy. Prisco then dropped down a bunt, but Dolan fielded it at third and threw to Fox at first to end the inning.

Hazleton stayed in control in the bottom half for Mid Valley. Cassidy and Dolan both went down swinging before Dernoski popped out to Prisco at second base.

After three innings, Mid Valley continued to lead Villa Maria Joseph, 2-0.

Fourth Inning:

Mid Valley put a runner in scoring position in the top of the fourth inning, but Villa Maria Joseph worked out of trouble.

After Hricenak grounded out to third, Tinney dropped a single into right field. Morano then moved Tinney to third with a sacrifice groundout, but Mackey popped out to shortstop Hadgimallis to end the threat.

In the bottom half, Hazleton continued to cruise in the circle for Mid Valley. Adams popped out to first, Dzielinski popped out to third, and Stanton struck out looking to end the inning.

After four innings, Mid Valley held a 2-0 lead over Villa Maria Joseph.

Fifth Inning:

Mid Valley broke the game open in the top of the fifth inning, using timely hitting and Villa Maria Joseph miscues to build a commanding lead.

After Bennett grounded out to open the inning, Laskowski singled hard into left field. Davey then reached on an error, putting two runners aboard. Frein followed with a fielder’s choice before Prisco delivered a line-drive single to center, scoring Hetzel and extending the lead to 4-0.

Hricenak kept the inning going with a hard ground-ball single to left, bringing home Frein and pushing Mid Valley’s lead to 5-0.

The Spartanettes continued to apply pressure when Tinney reached on an error, allowing Prisco and Mackey to score. Tinney then came all the way around on additional Villa Maria Joseph errors, making it 8-0. Morano later reached on another error before Mackey grounded out to end the inning.

Villa Maria Joseph managed a two-out walk in the bottom half, but Hazleton and the Mid Valley defense kept the shutout intact. Fox popped out to third, Hadgimallis grounded out to Laskowski at shortstop, and Cassidy struck out swinging to end the inning.

After five innings, Mid Valley led Villa Maria Joseph, 8-0

Sixth Inning :

Mid Valley put another runner in scoring position in the top of the sixth inning, but Villa Maria Joseph kept the Spartanettes off the board.

After Bennett popped out to catcher Peters, Laskowski lifted a double to left field to give Mid Valley a runner at second with one out. Davey then popped out to shortstop Hadgimallis before Frein grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.

Villa Maria Joseph went down in order in the bottom half as Hazleton continued her shutout effort. Gross struck out swinging, Peters flew out to left fielder Mackey, and Adams grounded out to Prisco at second.

After six innings, Mid Valley remained in control with a 8-0 lead.

Seventh Inning :

Mid Valley went quietly in the top of the seventh inning. Capman popped out to third, Mackey popped out to first, and after Tinney reached on an infield single, Morano popped out to the pitcher to end the frame.

Villa Maria Joseph tried to rally in the bottom half. After Levy struck out swinging, Stanton worked a walk and Fox reached on an error, putting two runners aboard. Hadgimallis struck out looking for the second out before Frabizzio singled to right field, loading the bases.

Hazleton then finished off her dominant shutout by striking out Cassidy swinging to end the game.

And Mid Valley continued its impressive postseason run Thursday afternoon, shutting out Villa Joseph Marie 8-0 to advance to the PIAA Class 3A state semifinals. The Spartanettes scored three runs in the second inning and broke the game open with five more in the fifth while collecting nine hits on the day. Sophomore Avery Tinney led the offensive attack, going 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four stolen bases. Freshman Angela Laskowski continued her outstanding season, finishing 2-for-4 with a double. 

“My approach at the plate today was to just trust myself and play the way I know how for my team. I found success against Villa Joseph Marie’s pitching by knowing what she was throwing, paying attention to what the umpire was calling, and adjusting to her pitches so I could make something happen. Our offense wasn’t the greatest in our last game, but I knew this game that me and my team would make better decisions and play together at the plate.” Said Angela Laskowski 

Angela added: “I trust my pitcher, Ava. She works so hard every day, pushes herself, loves this team, and is a great leader. That gives me and the rest of the infield confidence as one defense. I know she will succeed in her duties, and when people do get a hit off her, I want her to be confident in her defense. As an infield, we work together and push ourselves to not let the ball reach the grass and to defend Ava.”  

While Parker Bennett tripled, drove in a run, scored once, and drew a walk. 

“I knew with a runner on third I had to put the ball in play somewhere hard, so I took advantage of the pitch she threw me that was down and in early in the count. I feel like getting on the scoreboard early helped us with our confidence in later innings especially taking pressure off Ava pitching.” Said Parker Bennett 

Julie Prisco added an RBI single and a run scored, while Natalie Hricenak collected a hit and RBI. Mid Valley also received contributions from Addison Frein and Abbey Mackey, who each scored a run as the Spartanettes took advantage of six Villa Joseph Marie errors.

In the circle, Ava Hazleton was dominant once again. The senior ace tossed a complete-game two-hit shutout, allowing just two walks while striking out 13 batters over seven innings. Hazleton faced 26 batters and needed 108 pitches to earn the victory as Villa Joseph Marie struggled to solve her throughout the afternoon. 

“My curveball and changeup were both working really well together today. I kept them off balance by mixing up the spots and pitches with different speeds. “ Said Mid Valley’s Junior Pitcher, Ava Hazleton 

Nothing can shake this pitcher or rattle her: 

Ava added: “I stay composed by staying as confident as i’ve been and trusting my team.”

The Jems managed only two hits, one each from Dernoski and Frabizzio, and struck out 13 times against Hazleton’s overpowering performance. Mid Valley’s defense backed its pitcher well, committing just one error, as the Spartanettes earned their second consecutive state semifinal appearance and moved one step closer to another trip to the state championship game.

“I feel as a team we have been doubted and this run is us proving a point. We have a lot of under class-man and our chemistry has improved every game.” Said Parker Bennett 

And that brings us back to where this story started.

Softball may not always draw the biggest crowds. It may not always get the headlines, television coverage, or attention that football, baseball, and boys basketball receive. But if you were standing at this game Thursday afternoon, watching Ava Hazleton paint the corners with strikeouts, watching Avery Tinney fly around the bases, and watching another young group of Spartanettes rise to the occasion, you would understand exactly what makes this sport special. You would see the passion, the preparation, the pressure, and the pride that these athletes bring every single game. There is nothing “small” about high school softball in Pennsylvania.

For Mid Valley, this victory was about more than just advancing to another state semifinal. 

“It means a lot to be in this position again. It shows how competitive our team is and how hard we’ve worked throughout the season to get here. We know the challenges only get tougher from this point on, so we need to keep playing the way we’ve been playing — supporting each other, staying focused, and trusting one another. If we do that, we like our chances.” Said, Ava Hazleton

“For us to advance in the state playoffs, even though our team has been there in the past, it is still a big deal because we have worked hard to get here this year as a team. Honestly, I think that is our biggest key heading into the next game. We play our best when we support each other and play as one. That is what we have been doing. We have gotten stronger and stronger every practice and every game as a team, and that is how I know me and my team can succeed.”  Said Angela Laskowski 

It was another reminder of what happens when a program is built the right way. Players graduate. Stars move on. Questions get asked. Yet year after year, the Spartanettes keep showing up, competing, and finding new leaders. That is the culture Coach Mike Piercy and his staff have built. The names may change, but the expectations never do. Now, with another state semifinal appearance secured, Mid Valley is just two wins away from adding another chapter to an already impressive softball legacy. And if this season has taught us anything, it’s this: never doubt the Spartanettes.

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