Agape Freedom Sports Media LLC

WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN

SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT — Very few softball players ever get the opportunity to compete for a state championship.

Even fewer can say they played on one of the final two teams left standing.

And only a select few will ever know what it feels like to win one.

For the Valley All-Stars, that dream came within one victory.

While Monday’s 8-3 loss to Bullskin in the Pennsylvania Little League 8-9-10 Minors State Championship stung, it should not define what this group accomplished. It was a team that finished 8-2 overall, with both losses coming to the same Bullskin squad. After falling to Bullskin earlier in the tournament, Valley refused to let its season end. Instead, the All-Stars battled back through the elimination bracket, rattling off five consecutive victories to earn another shot at the championship.

That isn’t luck.

That’s resilience.

That’s championship character.

This team never panicked when its backs were against the wall. They never quit. They never doubted each other. They simply kept playing Valley softball.

Watching this group from the opening rounds of the District Tournament, it was clear they were special. They played with confidence, grit, toughness and an unselfish style that made them one of the best youth teams in Pennsylvania.

That shouldn’t surprise anyone around the Lackawanna Conference.

These young players are growing up in communities that have become synonymous with championship softball.

Over the past six seasons, Mid Valley reached the PIAA Class 3A state championship game in 2021 before returning to win a state title in 2023. The Spartans also advanced to the state semifinals in both 2025 and 2026.

Meanwhile, Valley View has established itself as one of Pennsylvania’s premier programs, winning back-to-back PIAA Class 4A State Championships in 2025 and 2026 after reaching the state finals a year ago.

Championship softball has become the standard in this area, and these young Valley players have been watching it firsthand.

Remember these names:

Liliana Smargiassi. Emma Fredericks. Adaline Owens. Aubrey Altier. Grace Eboli. Brielle Addison. Mackenzie Thomas. Madelyn Matthews. Tiara Krupovich. Ariana Linsinbigler. Nora Piercy. Eliza Iyoob.

Write them down.

Because over the next several years, there’s a very good chance you’ll be reading those names in newspaper headlines, seeing them on television highlights and watching them compete for district and state championships at the high school level.

They’re only getting started.

The future of softball in Northeastern Pennsylvania remains incredibly bright. This spring alone, four Lackawanna Conference teams reached the PIAA state semifinals, three advanced to the state championship game and Valley View captured its second consecutive state title.

Youth softball is following the same path.

Don’t be surprised if the Lackawanna Conference produces several more state champions over the next five to eight years.

Valley represented its community with class throughout this tournament. There is absolutely nothing to hang their heads about. They proved once again that the Lackawanna Conference remains one of the premier softball regions in Eastern Pennsylvania.

Bullskin 8, Valley 3

Bullskin erased an early three-run deficit with a four-run fourth inning before adding four insurance runs in the sixth to capture the Pennsylvania Little League 8-9-10 Minors State Championship Monday evening at South Williamsport Community Park.

Valley came out swinging.

Eliza Iyoob opened the bottom of the first with a single before Nora Piercy followed with another base hit. After Grace Eboli recorded the first out, Liliana Smargiassi lined an RBI single to center field to score Iyoob for a 1-0 lead. Adaline Owens later brought home Piercy on a groundout, and consecutive Bullskin throwing errors allowed Owens to score, giving Valley a 3-0 advantage after one inning.

Valley’s defense backed up its offense early.

After allowing a leadoff single, Nora Piercy retired the next three hitters in the first inning. Valley followed with a perfect second inning on defense, and Piercy escaped another threat in the third by stranding two runners with two strikeouts and a pop-up.

Bullskin, however, refused to go away.

The visitors loaded the bases in the fourth before Emma N. delivered a run-scoring single. Valley committed a pair of costly throwing errors during the inning, allowing Bullskin to score four times and turn a 3-0 deficit into a 4-3 lead.

Valley immediately threatened in the bottom half when Iyoob blasted a triple to center and Piercy followed with another single, but Bullskin cut down Iyoob at the plate before retiring the next two hitters to escape the inning.

Bullskin then delivered the knockout punch in the sixth.

Bellamy P. doubled, Kaisyn R. added an RBI single, and Ella B. capped the rally with a two-run inside-the-park home run as Bullskin scored four times to extend the lead to 8-3.

Valley was unable to mount one final comeback.

Iyoob led the Valley offense by going 2-for-2 with a triple and a run scored, while Piercy also finished 2-for-2 with a run scored. Smargiassi drove in a run with a base hit, Emma Fredericks collected a hit and two RBIs, and Mackenzie Thomas added a single.

Piercy was outstanding once again in the circle, striking out eight batters over five innings, while Grace Eboli added three strikeouts in relief.

For Bullskin, Emma N. earned the complete-game victory, allowing three runs on seven hits while striking out six. Ella B. provided the biggest offensive blow with her inside-the-park two-run home run, while Bellamy P. doubled and scored twice.

Valley finished with seven hits, led by Iyoob and Piercy with two apiece, while Bullskin collected eight hits. The difference proved to be the fourth inning and Bullskin’s ability to capitalize on three Valley errors.

The final score may read Bullskin 8, Valley 3.

But the legacy of this Valley team is much bigger than one game.

“The character and belief in themselves was amazing. They never quit and battled until the end. We are so proud.” Said Valley All stars head coach, Jonathan Eboli.

He continues: “I’m most proud of their ability to stay in every game. They have lifelong memories and friends from this experience. The support from the Mid Valley and Valley View communities helped everyone.” 

“We will see every player continue to work hard and improve each season. The future of softball in northeast PA is very bright.  Most importantly, the life lessons they’ve learned on how to support each other through wins and losses will always be something they can reflect on.” Said Eboli. 

They captured the Pennsylvania Section 5 Championship, battled through adversity, won five straight elimination games after an early tournament loss, reached the state championship game and established themselves as one of the top 8-9-10 minor softball Little League teams in Pennsylvania.

Most importantly, they inspired a community and showed the next generation what Valley softball is all about.

Their season ended one win short of a state title.

Their story is only beginning.

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