JESSUP– – As the temperature climbed to 88 degrees on Jessup Mountain at Jessup Youth Association Field Tuesday evening, you could feel playoff softball in the air—and the heat rising off the field.
Parents arrived early with tarps, tents, lawn chairs, coolers, and anything they could find to escape the blazing sun during the opening game. With record-breaking temperatures expected across the area over the next few days, it was the kind of evening where softball became just as much about toughness, endurance, and focus as talent.
Heat and softball can go hand in hand, but it has to be managed. The weather can change everything—the way pitchers grip the ball, how hard players sprint after a ground ball, how aggressively they round the bases, and how much energy teams have late in the game.
Valley View’s Carbino Club entered the Section 5 matchup red hot at 3-0, averaging 16.6 runs per game during the postseason while allowing less than one run per game defensively.
Across the diamond, Pittston Area came in averaging 12.5 runs per game while surrendering just 3.1 runs per contest, setting up what looked to be one of the tournament’s best matchups.
Carbino Club was led offensively entering the game by Lizzie Deriancho, who was batting .833 over the previous three games. Elizabeth Troy (.667) was close behind, while Natalie Paciotti, Rebecca Peoples, and Lucie Smith were also swinging hot bats.
Pittston Area countered with Hannah Beekman, who entered the playoffs hitting .833, followed by Sadie Bomber (.800) and Kylie Kroski (.714). On paper, it featured two explosive offenses.
But on this night, Carbino Club brought the heat from the first inning until the final out, rolling to a commanding 12-0 victory in five innings.
Top of the 1st – Pittston Area
Jerlyne Matta popped out to first baseman Natalie Paciotti for the first out. Andrea Colon struck out swinging before Hannah Beekman grounded out to end the inning.
Bottom of the 1st – Carbino Club
Victoria Brown struck out swinging before Elizabeth Troy fouled out to third. Alia Lopuhovsky doubled to center field, and Lizzie Deriancho drew a walk. After Deriancho advanced to second on defensive indifference, Lopuhovsky raced home on a wild pitch to give Carbino Club an early 1-0 lead. Natalie Paciotti struck out to end the inning.
Score: Carbino Club 1, Pittston Area 0
Top of the 2nd – Pittston Area
Kylie Kroski grounded out to begin the inning. Sadie Bomber reached on a dropped third strike and advanced to second and third following a throwing error. Emilia Enslin struck out swinging before Celeste Fediw grounded out, leaving the runner stranded.
Bottom of the 2nd – Carbino Club
Sophia Thomas opened the inning with a walk, and Alana Lopuhovsky followed with a line-drive single. Rebecca Peoples reached on a bunt that resulted in an error, allowing Thomas and Lopuhovsky to score as Carbino Club increased its lead to 3-0.
Eliza Evans popped out, Charlee Cole worked a walk, but Lucie Smith struck out and Maggie Ritzco popped out to end the inning.
Score: Carbino Club 3, Pittston Area 0
Top of the 3rd – Pittston Area
Grace Whitling drew a leadoff walk, but Ava Basile struck out looking. Natalie Lambert popped out to third, and Emma Enslin lifted a pop fly to shortstop to end the inning.
Bottom of the 3rd – Carbino Club
Lily Witkowski struck out before Victoria Brown and Elizabeth Troy both popped out, giving Pittston Area a quick, scoreless inning.
Top of the 4th – Pittston Area
Sophia Bomber grounded out to shortstop. Jerlyne Matta followed with a pop out to short before Andrea Colon also popped out to shortstop as Carbino Club retired the side in order.
Bottom of the 4th – Carbino Club
Alia Lopuhovsky popped out before Lizzie Deriancho reached on a walk. Natalie Paciotti then lined an RBI triple to center field, scoring Deriancho and stretching the lead to 5-0.
Moments later, Sophia Thomas launched a fly-ball triple to center, bringing home Paciotti and making it 6-0. Alana Lopuhovsky fouled out before Rebecca Peoples grounded out to end the inning.
Score: Carbino Club 6, Pittston Area 0
Top of the 5th – Pittston Area
Hannah Beekman grounded out to the pitcher before Kylie Kroski grounded out to third. Sadie Bomber followed with another ground ball to the pitcher as Carbino Club retired the side in order, bringing the offense to the plate with a chance to end the game.
Bottom of the 5th – Carbino Club
Eliza Evans reached on a dropped third strike after a passed ball. Charlee Cole followed with a bloop single to center before Lucie Smith grounded out.
Maggie Ritzco then singled back through the middle, and Lily Witkowski ripped a line-drive single to left field. Evans and Cole both scored on the play while Ritzco advanced to third, extending the lead to 8-0.
Ritzco later scored on a wild pitch, with Witkowski advancing to third to make it 9-0. Victoria Brown then popped out to shortstop Kylie Kroski for the second out.
Elizabeth Troy and Alia Lopuhovsky each drew walks to load the bases.
With one swing, Lizzie Deriancho ended it.
Deriancho crushed a towering fly-ball triple to right field, clearing the bases as Lily Witkowski, Elizabeth Troy, and Alia Lopuhovsky all scored, giving Carbino Club a 12-0 walk-off victory.
Carbino Club also received another dominant outing in the circle from Alana Lopuhovsky, who fired a five-inning no-hitter. She allowed no hits, no runs, struck out four, and walked just one while facing only 17 batters.
Pittston Area starter Andrea Colon pitched 3⅓ innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on four hits, while striking out four and walking four.
Offensively, Carbino Club finished with 12 runs on eight hits, drew six walks, and struck out just five times. Lizzie Deriancho led the way, going 1-for-1 with a triple, three RBIs, two walks, and a run scored. Lily Witkowski went 1-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, while Natalie Paciotti finished 1-for-2 with a triple and an RBI. Sophia Thomas also tripled and drove in a run, while Alana Lopuhovsky, Rebecca Peoples, Charlee Cole, and Maggie Ritzco each added a hit. Carbino Club had 11 different players score at least one run, showcasing its balanced offense.
Pittston Area was held hitless, with Grace Whitling drawing the team’s lone walk as Carbino Club’s defense completed one of its most dominant postseason performances of the summer.
As the sun beat down and the temperature sat heavy over Jessup Mountain, Carbino Club didn’t blink. Pittston Area came in with big bats, strong numbers, and plenty of confidence, but Carbino Club answered with pitching, defense, speed, and pressure from every part of the lineup. Alana Lopuhovsky controlled the circle with a five-inning no-hitter, and behind her, the defense played with energy and confidence.
Then came the final spark. Lizzie Deriancho stepped up in the fifth and delivered the swing that ended the night — a bases-clearing triple to right field that brought the Carbino Club dugout to life and sealed the 12-0 win. On a night when the heat was real, Carbino Club brought its own fire, stayed unbeaten, and moved one step closer to a championship.
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