WRITTEN BY: JERIC YURKANIN
The Old Forge 12U Lady Devils All-Stars may enter tonight with a 1–3 record in July tournament play, but don’t let that record fool you.
Their road through July has been anything but easy.
Old Forge opened the month against a strong Abington Heights team and suffered a 4–0 loss. A few days later, on July 8, the Lady Devils battled a talented Lakeland team before falling 7–5 and being eliminated from that tournament. Then, on Monday night, they had to face Lakeland again.
That is a difficult stretch for any team.
Old Forge is much better than its record shows, and anyone familiar with softball in this area knows the Lady Devils should never be taken lightly.
Winning softball has been part of the Old Forge tradition for years. Their varsity program has captured 11 District 2 championships, including five consecutive titles through the 2024 season under longtime head coach Pat Revello. That championship streak finally ended in 2025 when Holy Cross defeated Old Forge in the District 2 title game.
Success like that doesn’t suddenly begin when players reach the varsity level.
It starts on the youth fields, during summer practices, tournament games and long evenings when coaches teach players how to compete, defend, run the bases and play the game the right way. Old Forge’s youth coaches have consistently prepared their players for the next level, and that foundation has helped create one of the area’s most respected softball programs.
This past spring, the Old Forge varsity team once again showed that toughness when it upset a very talented Mid Valley team with a dramatic walk-off victory during the regular season. Mid Valley later advanced to the state semifinals for another deep postseason run.
That victory showed exactly what Old Forge softball has always been about.
The Lady Devils compete. They battle. They don’t back down from anyone.
There is also no shame in Old Forge’s losses to Lakeland this summer. The Lakeland 12U All-Stars are a strong team and could be part of the group that eventually helps bring the Lady Chiefs’ varsity program back into championship contention.
After Monday’s loss to Lakeland, Old Forge responded exactly how a tough team is supposed to respond.
The Lady Devils came back Wednesday and defeated Dunmore, 13–3.
Their bats came alive. Their confidence returned. Suddenly, Old Forge enters tonight’s game with some momentum and a little fire burning inside the dugout.
But tonight brings another challenge.
The Tripp Park All-Stars have also experienced an up-and-down July. They have earned two victories over Carbondale but have struggled against several strong opponents, including the Redwings and Mid Valley.
Now, Old Forge comes walking into Tripp Park.
One team is trying to keep its momentum rolling. The other is looking to protect its home field and turn its tournament around.
When the first pitch crosses the plate tonight, records will no longer matter.
It will be Old Forge’s tradition, toughness and suddenly hot offense against a Tripp Park team searching for a statement victory.
Under the lights, with fans lining the fence and every pitch carrying tournament pressure, tonight could become a much different game. Let get to the game:
Top of the First Inning — Old Forge
Old Forge wasted little time putting pressure on Tripp Park in the opening inning, collecting back-to-back singles to start the game. Aleia D. ripped a line-drive single before Addison C. followed with a bloop single near third base, giving the Lady Devils two runners aboard with nobody out.
Lyla L. then reached on a fielder’s choice, and Old Forge showed tremendous patience at the plate. Consecutive walks to Gracie G., Nina M., and Cecilia B. forced in two runs, allowing the Lady Devils to grab an early 2-0 lead.
Tripp Park pitcher Emma F. regrouped and prevented the inning from getting any bigger. Brielle C. grounded back to the pitcher, who fired home to catcher Emma L. to force out Gracie G. at the plate. Kylie M. later reached on a dropped third strike, but Nina M. was also thrown out trying to score. Despite loading the bases and threatening for more, Old Forge settled for a 2-0 advantage heading into the bottom of the first inning.
Bottom of the First Inning — Tripp Park
Trailing 2-0, Tripp Park looked to answer in the bottom of the first. Emma F. lined the ball hard but was retired for the first out. Emma L. then worked a walk to give Tripp Park a baserunner, but Old Forge’s defense quickly erased the threat. Kenzie B. grounded out to first base, moving the inning along, and McKenley D. followed with a ground ball that resulted in the third out. Old Forge retired the side while preserving its early two-run advantage.
Top of the Second Inning — Old Forge
Old Forge threatened to add to its lead when Ellie T. drew a leadoff walk. Molly M. followed with a groundout to first base, advancing the inning to two outs after Lilah S. went down swinging. Tripp Park pitcher Emma F. then finished off an impressive inning by striking out Sophia K. swinging, stranding the runner and keeping the deficit at 2-0 heading into the bottom of the second.
Bottom of the Second Inning — Tripp Park
Tripp Park answered in a big way in the bottom of the second to erase the early deficit. Annie G. grounded out to second base to begin the inning, but the offense quickly came alive afterward. Sophia C. lined a single into right field, Sarah M. was hit by a pitch, and Adrianna D. worked a walk to load the bases with one out.
With the pressure mounting on Old Forge, a wild pitch allowed Sarah M. to race home, cutting the deficit to one. Moments later, Kennedy P. put the ball in play with a groundout to first baseman Molly M., allowing another run to score from third. Although Old Forge recorded the second out on the play, Tripp Park had done its job, battling back to even the score at 2-2 heading into the third inning.
Top of the Third Inning — Old Forge
Old Forge regained control in the top of the third, with Aleia D. once again providing the spark. She drove a fly ball into center field for a leadoff double, immediately placing the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Addison C. grounded back to pitcher Emma F., who threw to first baseman McKenley D. for the first out. Lyla L. then followed with another ground ball back to the circle. Emma F. again made the play at first, but Aleia raced home to give Old Forge a 3-2 lead.
The Lady Devils kept the pressure on. Gracie G. drew a walk, and Nina M. reached when her ground ball was misplayed at first base. Cecilia B. then walked to load the bases before Brielle C. worked another free pass, forcing Gracie home and extending Old Forge’s advantage to 4-2. Emma F. escaped further damage when Kylie M. popped out to end the inning, but Old Forge had pushed across two runs and reclaimed the momentum.
Ball 1, Emma L scores on wild pitch, Kenzie B caught stealing 3rd, third baseman Brielle C.
Half-inning ended by out on the base paths.
Top of the Fourth Inning — Old Forge
Old Forge added another run in the top of the fourth to extend its lead. Ellie T. opened the inning with a groundout from second baseman Kenzie B. to first baseman McKenley D. Molly M. then worked a walk before Lilah S. struck out looking for the second out.
Sophia K. kept the inning alive with a sharp line-drive single to center field. Aleia D. followed with a ground ball that was misplayed at second base, allowing Molly M. to score and push Old Forge’s lead to 5-3. Tripp Park prevented any further damage when Sophia K. was thrown out attempting to score, ending the inning on the base paths.
Bottom of the Fourth Inning — Tripp Park
Tripp Park once again battled back in the bottom of the fourth. McKenley D. reached on an error by the third baseman, and Annie G. followed by reaching on another defensive miscue. McKenley was later thrown out trying to advance to third, with Brielle C. recording the out, while Annie moved safely into scoring position at second.
A wild pitch allowed Annie to advance to third, and Sophia C. then grounded out to first baseman Kylie M., bringing Annie home and cutting Old Forge’s lead to 5-4. Sarah M. followed with a groundout from catcher Aleia D. to first base, ending the inning. Tripp Park had pulled within one run heading into the fifth.
Top of the Fifth Inning — Old Forge
Old Forge created some much-needed separation in the top of the fifth. Addison C. and Lyla L. opened the inning with back-to-back walks before Gracie G. reached on an infield single to shortstop, loading the bases with nobody out.
Nina M. then lifted a pop fly that was misplayed at first base, allowing both Addison and Lyla to score. Gracie advanced to third as Old Forge extended its lead to 7-4. Cecilia B. followed by reaching safely on a dropped third strike and passed ball, keeping the bases crowded with the Lady Devils threatening to break the game open.
Tripp Park’s defense and pitching staff responded when it mattered most. Gracie was held at third and Nina remained at second before Brielle C. struck out swinging. Kylie M. then grounded into a fielder’s choice, and Ellie T. went down swinging to end the inning. Old Forge scored twice but left additional runners stranded, carrying a 7-4 lead into the bottom of the fifth.
Bottom 5th: Tripps Park
Adrianna D strikes out swinging, McKenzie M grounds out, Kennedy P singles on a line drive to center fielder, Sura J strikes out swinging,
Top 6, three outs.
Bottom of the Sixth Inning — Tripp Park
Tripp Park’s offense erupted in the bottom of the sixth, turning a three-run deficit into a one-run lead. Emma F. started the rally with a line-drive single before Emma L. followed with an infield single. Kenzie B. then reached on an error at shortstop, allowing Emma F. to score and cut Old Forge’s lead to 7-5.
McKenley D. kept the inning moving with a hard single into left field, loading the bases. Annie G. then delivered another hard-hit single, and a throwing error allowed both Emma L. and Kenzie B. to score. McKenley advanced to third and Annie moved to second as Tripp Park tied the game at 7-7.
Old Forge brought Addison C. into the circle, and she responded by striking out Sophia C. for the first out. However, Sarah M. followed with a ground-ball single to shortstop, bringing McKenley home with the go-ahead run. Annie advanced to third as Tripp Park completed the comeback and grabbed an 8-7 lead in the bottom of the sixth.
Tripp Park’s offense was led by Emma L, who finished 2-for-2 with two runs scored and a walk to ignite the lineup from the leadoff spot. Annie G delivered one of the biggest hits of the night, going 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored, while Sophia C went 1-for-3 with an RBI, a run scored, and a strikeout. Sarah M added a 1-for-2 performance with an RBI and a run scored, McKenley D finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, and Kennedy P chipped in a hit while Kenzie B drove in a run, scored once, and drew a walk. Tripp Park collected eight hits as a team, with Emma L recording two total bases, while Annie G, Sophia C, Sarah M, Emma F, Kennedy P, and McKenley D each added one hit in the thrilling 8-7 victory.
In the circle, Emma F battled through six complete innings to earn the win, allowing seven runs—only three earned—on five hits while striking out seven and walking 12. She threw 150 pitches, including 70 strikes, and faced 38 batters, working out of several jams to keep Tripp Park within striking distance before the offense completed the comeback. Old Forge starter Addison C was outstanding despite taking the tough-luck loss, pitching 5⅓ innings while allowing eight runs, four earned, on eight hits. She struck out four, walked three, threw 107 pitches (64 strikes), and faced 29 batters. At the plate for Old Forge, Aleia D led the way by going 2-for-3 with two runs scored, a double, and a walk, while Addison C and Gracie G each added a hit. Lyla L scored twice and drove in a run as Old Forge finished with five hits and 12 walks in a hard-fought tournament battle.
When the final out settled into a glove, Tripp Park had completed one of the most exciting games of the tournament. It was a night that featured momentum swings, clutch hits, defensive mistakes, outstanding individual performances, and plenty of pressure from the first pitch to the last. Both teams left everything on the field, reminding everyone in attendance why tournament softball is so special. While Tripp Park celebrated an unforgettable comeback victory in front of its home crowd, Old Forge once again proved it is far better than its record suggests, battling until the very end against another quality opponent.
As the tournament continues, Tripp Park will look to carry this momentum into its next challenge, knowing confidence can grow quickly after a comeback win like this. For Old Forge, despite the heartbreaking result, there is plenty to build on. The Lady Devils showed resilience, competitiveness, and the fight that has become synonymous with their softball tradition. If this game was any indication, both programs have bright futures ahead, and the young athletes who took the field tonight created another memorable chapter in a summer filled with outstanding youth softball.
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