Local softball teams poised to make a run in Lackawanna League action
WAYNE COUNTY — Now that Old Man Winter has finally loosened his icy grip on northeastern Pennsylvania, local fans are primed for some exciting softball action.
Honesdale, Wallenpaupack Area and Western Wayne are all right in the thick of the race for Lackawanna League laurels … which means that an entertaining sprint to the finish is in the offing.
Coach Dave Patrisso’s Hornets are looking to recapture the magic that led to a trip to the PIAA State Tournament in 2019.
“We have had mixed results thus far and are battling inconsistencies, but there have also been positive signs we can build on,” the veteran skipper said. “We have some talented players and I expect us to gel very soon which should lead to more consistency.”
Paupack is in Year One of the Phil Babyak Era after the longtime assistant took the reins from Dan Gumble, who stepped down after a dozen years in the dugout.
“Right now, I am happy where we’re at,” Coach Babyak said. “We are competing in all the big games. The Lackawanna League is as good, if not better than I've ever seen it. I'd like to think that the toughest games are behind us, but every game will be challenging.”
Coach Joe Romanowski’s Lady ‘Cats seem poised for a successful season on the heels of tough 2021 campaign in which they posted just two wins.
Here Come the Hornets
Honesdale fans are buzzing about the possibility of another deep playoff run this spring.
While the Lady Hornets entered the week at 1-2 in league action, Coach Patrisso believes that his team is showing signs of breaking out soon.
“Right now we are not making enough solid contact or playing defense the way we will need to to compete with the best teams,” he offered. “That being said, we always play our best softball in May once we consistently get on fields for practice.“
To the surprise of absolutely no one, Marissa Gregory is once again leading the Red & Black attack.
The senior righty anchors Honesdale’s pitching staff and is already piling up big numbers. Gregory sports a 2-2 record with a stellar 2.86 ERA and division-leading 41 strikeouts.
In addition, Marissa is among the team leaders offensively. She boasts a sizzling .583 batting average with a triple, a homer and six RBIs.
Amaya Yarrish is also enjoying another superb season with the stick.
The junior shortstop came into the week batting a robust .486 average. Yarrish leads the team with two homers and five runs. She has smoked a double and accumulated five RBIs as well.
Next up for Honesdale is a Saturday road trip to Pittston Area for a non-league battle with the Patriots.
Paupack on the Attack
Wallenpaupack Area is playing exciting softball under rookie skipper Phil Babyak.
Paupack is currently 2-2 in Division II and 3-3 overall. The Lady Bucks already own an electrifying win over archrival Honesdale in which they rallied from a 7-2 deficit en route to an 8-7 victory.
Coach Babyak’s girls latest victory came at the expense of Scranton Prep, an impressive 8-4 decision in a Division I-II crossover.
“Before defeating Prep, the overall record of the teams we played was 23-4,” said Coach Babyak. “We had a pretty tough schedule to start the season, but those games will help us prepare for the competition we’ll see for the rest of the way.”
Hunter Myers is leading Paupack’s offensive assault. The slugging sophomore is hitting a team-best .579. She’s also among the division leaders in homers (3) and RBIs (10).
Meanwhile, freshman Clara Babyak and senior Natalie Meredick are providing a potent 1-2 punch in the circle.
Babyak’s record is 1-2 with a 2.86 ERA and 11 strikeouts. Meredick is 1-1 with 10 Ks, while Josie Leighton also owns a win and has fanned five.
If Mother Nature deigns to cooperate, Paupack will be back in the field twice this week: At Holy Redeemer (Wed) and at Scranton High School (Mon).
Lady 'Cats Battle Back
Western Wayne struggled a bit last year on the Lackawanna League softball diamond.
The Lady ‘Cats posted just two victories in 2021, both at the expense of winless Carbondale Area. And, while the local lasses did qualify for the District Two tournament, they were eliminated in the first round by Lake Lehman.
Despite an overall record of 2-14, Coach Romanowski sensed that brighter days were coming … and it looks like his intuition was on target.
Thanks in large part to his daughters, Kaeli and Emily, Western Wayne has already equaled its win total from last spring. The Lady ‘Cats own a non-league shutout of Marian Catholic and 4-2 decision over Carbondale.
As of Wednesday, Western Wayne stood at 2-2 overall. The Lady ‘Cats are 1-2 in the Division III standings.
Kaeli Romanowski has been very effective in the circle. The hard-throwing senior righty is 2-2 with an excellent 2.15 ERA and 36 strikeouts. Her best game to date came in the victory over Marian Catholic.
In that one, Romanowski powered her way to a complete game 2-0 shutout. Kaeli allowed just one hit while piling up 11 Ks and not walking a batter.
Meanwhile, sister Emily is enjoying a solid season at the plate. A sophomore shortstop, Romanowski is batting .308 with a double, a triple, four runs scored and two RBIs.
Weather permitting, the Lady ‘Cats will be back on the diamond Friday afternoon at home versus Hanover Area.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Lackawanna League Varsity Softball Honesdale Paupack Western Wayne
