HS SOFTBALL: Postseason expectations high in Lackawanna League
Apr. 2—Fewer divisions. Greater expectations.
The 2023 Lackawanna League season kicks off Monday with a winnowing of divisions, three, down from four, but plenty are setting their sights on more than just a league crown.
Three of those teams sit in Division I, with Abington Heights and West Scranton not only eyeing league success, but earning the single available Class 5A berth in the state tournament.
Of course, defending 5A state champion Pittston Area from the Wyoming Valley Conference stands in their way, but for now, it's one step at a time.
And that first step is going to be even tougher with Valley View in the mix, healthy, and thinking of better things ahead.
District champs Old Forge, Elk Lake and Mid Valley all return the nucleus of those squads, all of whom fell in one-run games in the PIAA playoffs. None was closer than Old Forge, which was one out away from a berth in the Class 1A semifinals.
West Scranton lost, 1-0, in the district semifinals, to Pittston Area, and Abington Heights dropped a 5-3 semifinal decision to the state champs.
West Scranton coach E.J. Dougher has long and loudly voiced his opinion that the power of District 2 teams warrants additional state berths, but for now, there's only one, and the defending Lackawanna I champs will have their hands full repeating.
Of course, they have Mia Butka, a bulldog in the circle and a first-team all-state performer (20-2, 169 Ks) who also hit .419, and batterymate Isabella Summa, a second-team all-stater who bashed eight homers and drove in 30. Amelia Noll batted .424 last season and knocked in 26 as the Invaders won the division in a playoff win over Abington Heights.
The Lady Comets will be right on West's heels, led by first-team all-state first baseman and pitcher Lauren Stalica, who raked at a .586 clip with 27 RBIs. Marley Sarafinko tops the lineup after hitting .548, and Bryn Stiles, a second-team all-state outfielder, hit .403 with 23 RBIs.
After losing both pitcher/first baseman Taylor Cawley (.556) and center fielder Riley Cunningham (.448, 7 HR, 20 RBIs in nine games) to early-season knee injuries, Valley View looks to return to power with all-region second baseman Kallie Karwoski (.548, 38 H, 17 for extra bases) adding plenty of punch. Freshman Abbi Call gives the Cougars the luxury of depth in the circle, as well.
North Pocono, with first-year head coach Joe Miraglia coming over from Forest City, won the Division II title a year ago. Kylie Mastillo (.407, 6 HR, 23 RBIs), Amanda Burch (.400, 5 HR) and Ainsley O'Donnell (.383, 4 HR) hope to replicate that success in the new division format.
Wallenpaupack has plenty of pop in its young lineup, paced by Hunter Myers (.481, 5 HR, 25 RBIs), Kaitlyn Kielbasa (.408, 23 R, 6 2B) and Dakota Hubbard (.351, 19 RBIs).
First team all-state catcher Emily Henn (.525, 10 2B, 9 HR) will need to find some help at Delaware Valley.
Nina Barrouk (.396, 5 2B, 2 HR) and Bella Dennebaum (.381) provided the returning offensive pop for Scranton Prep, while Alana Cararchilo (.365, 23 H, 4 3B) will be among four seniors to meld Scranton, which has seven starters back.
Division II
Two years ago, Mid Valley played for a state title. Last year, they were a first-round exit.
With returning two-time Times-Tribune player of the year, and Villanova commit, pitcher Maranda Runco leading a solid core, the Spartanettes expect to be playing well into June, the Division II title among their laurels.
Runco, also a two-time first team all-state player, led the area with a .661 average with 18 extra base hits, 10 of those homers, and 39 RBIs.
Protecting the lefty slugger was Courtney Rebar's job. She hit seven homers, led the league with 42 RBIs and hit .423. Key performers back in the lineup include Kat Davis (.423, 30 runs), Krista Cortazar (.391, 26 RBIs) and Chiara Zavislak (.373, 5 2B).
Old Forge probably can still see a wind-blown fly ball dropping on the foul line for a game-winning, two-run double in the bottom of the seventh of its state quarterfinal loss.
Standout catcher Talia Piragas (.507, 21 RBIs, 12 XBH) and pitcher Karen Sickle (10-9, 200 K) will lead a squad with eight returning starters, including Lauryn Olivieri (.333) and Cat Liskosky, (.325, 5 HR) to take a run at Mid Valley.
Perennial power Holy Cross will lean on Mia Galella (.441, 7 HR, 24 RBIs), Katie Wywoda (.415, 15 RBIs) and pitcher Mia Scalese (.370, 4-3, 62 Ks) in its pursuit of a return to a sixth straight Class 2A district final.
Honesdale has seven starters back as it, and Western Wayne, move into the new Division II lineup. Pitching will be the key for the Lady Hornets, who offensively will lean on Amaya Yarrish (.389, 4 HR, 4 3B) and Makayla Cobourn (.303, 20 H).
Lexi Kostoff's leadership, both on the diamond and the basketball court, will be called upon to a youth movement at Riverside. Kostoff, a senior, posted a 3.39 ERA and struck out 160 while hitting .400. Paige Kelly (3.10, 16 RBIs) also figures prominently into the offense.
Morgan Quinn (.375, 5 HR) is the leading run-producer back (13 RBIs) for Dunmore, which will look to her and Allie Dempsey (.279, 11 RBIs) to lead the way.
Myha Kilmer provides Lakeland with a strong presence behind the plate and Joan Clauss-Walton is one of just two seniors on the squad.
Western Wayne will try to find a way to replace Emily Romanoski's numbers (.474, 28 R, 13 RBIs) after a knee injury ended her basketball campaign. Ava Daniels is the lone senior on a squad that could start six freshmen.
Division III
After winning one-run battles with Holy Cross of the last two district championships, Elk Lake is the prohibitive favorite after winning the pennant by four games a year ago.
Amanda Voll and Marissa Horn give the Lady Warriors two solid pitchers, and the team was literally a doubles machine, with 52 a year ago.
Leah Traver (.594, 31 RBIs), Layla Weaver (.473), Voll (.466, 34 RBIs) Lord (.459, 37 RBIs, 12 2B) and Horn (.419, 29 RBIs) provided a formidable presence.
Forest City has some sticks in its lineup, too, paced by Kim Graham (.436, 28 RBIs, 13 XBH), one of seven seniors. Ashley Bossick (.446, 23 RBIs), Haylee Herrmann (.382), Riley Bossick (.373, 18 RBIs) and Vanessa Hodges (.353) are other top hitters back.
Carbondale moves into a new division with a new coach, Lauryn Rodriguez, and will be led by Kierra Borosky (.326) and Madison Kelsch (.320), while Julia Gorel is out of the blocks quickly with two homers in three games, matching her 2022 production.
Blue Ridge will look to put the pieces together behind Gracey Hinkley (.474), Abby Laude (.370) and Leigha McCain (.341).
Vanessa Harvey (.333) is the top returnee at Mountain View in terms of hits (17) and runs (17), while senior Leah Evans hit .381 with 18 RBIs.
Carolina Ryon is coming off an all-star year for Lackawanna Trail, leading the way with a .543 average and 25 hits, eight for extra bases.
Senior catcher Nicole Zahora paced Montrose a year ago with a .462 average and scored 15 runs, most returning for the Lady Meteors.
At Susquehanna, Meghan Perry (.371) and senior pitcher Lexi Iveson will lead a rebuild that features eight underclassmen in the starting lineup.
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