Valley View’s Abbi Call (25) pitches to Abington Heights’ Avary Brister (11) during the softball game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Monday, April 28, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Valley View’s Zoie Krupovich connects with a pitch during a PIAA Class 4A state playoff game at Wilkes University on Thursday, June 5, 2025. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Holy Cross’ Ava Schmidt pitches during the PIAA Class 1A first-round game at the University of Scranton’s Magis Field on Monday, June 2, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Holy Cross’ Lila Kolcharno (14) throws the ball during the District 2 Class 1A softball championship game Thursday at Magis Field in Scranton. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Riley Grambo throws the ball during the D2 Class 5A softball championship game at Magis Field in Scranton on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
North Pocono’s Amelia Bell pitches during the softball game at Abington Heights in Clarks Summit on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
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Valley View’s Abbi Call (25) pitches to Abington Heights’ Avary Brister (11) during the softball game at Abington Heights High School in Clarks Summit on Monday, April 28, 2025. (REBECCA PARTICKA/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Last season was quite a successful one for Lackawanna League softball.
Four of the six District 2 titles were claimed by the league. Holy Cross reached the quarterfinals of the PIAA Class 1A tournament before losing in eight innings to Claysburg Kimmel. North Pocono advanced to the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals before losing to Greencastle Antrim. Mid Valley got to the PIAA Class 3A semifinals before being stopped by eventual state champ Pine Grove. Valley View captured the PIAA Class 4A championship, blanking Kennard-Dale in the final.
With those teams — and others — returning a ton of talent, the potential for more league success exists.
Valley View and North Pocono are expected to battle for Division I honors with Abington Heights also in contention. Holy Cross, Mid Valley and Old Forge will vie for the Division II title, while Elk Lake, Montrose and Blue Ridge will duel for the Division III crown.
Five players who were named to the Times-Tribune All-Region team last season are back. Valley View has infielder/pitcher Abbi Call and Zoie Krupovich. Holy Cross has pitcher Ava Schmidt and infielder Lila Kolcharno and North Pocono returns outfielder Avarie Roscioli.
Division I
Although it graduated last year’s Player of the Year Taylor Cawley and All-Region infielder Kalli Karwowski, Valley View still has enough pieces to make another deep postseason run. Besides Call and Krupovich, the Cougars return junior Cora Castellani and sophomores Maggie Hallett and Ashlan Palickar, who were division coaches honorable mentions.
“The kids play on high-level travel teams and many of them are multi-sport athletes, so they handle pressure well,” Valley View coach Mia Wascura said. “We practice the physical, but we do practice the mental as well. So they’re ready for it. As long as we stay healthy, I think we have a really good shot at hopefully being back where we were.”
North Pocono returns seven starters. In addition to Roscioli, the Lady Trojans have division coaches honorable mentions Amelia Bell, Olivia Charles, Riley Grambo, Isabella Forgione and Paige Dymek among the returnees.
Abington Heights has to replace four starters, including two All-Region picks. But the Lady Comets do bring back division coaches honorable mentions Riley McColligan, Adriana Condrad, Eva Kane and Avary Brister.
Wallenpaupack brings back seven starters, including division coaches honorable mentions Gabby Hieber, Madison Haynes and Lucy Babyak.
Division coaches honorable mentions Emelia Williams and Abigail Wilce are among the returnees for Scranton Prep.
Delaware Valley, West Scranton and Scranton all have new coaches. Ashdon Clark takes over at Delaware Valley and has two starters back in juniors Gabriela Stalhman and Holly Olcott.
John Connor is West Scranton’s new coach. Among the returnees he inherits are division coaches all-star Mia Tallo and honorable mention Julia Farkaly.
Mia Pawelski is the new coach at Scranton. She will look to rebuild the program with young and talented players such as sophomore Bianca Perez and freshmen Trinity Gillern, Sophia Leonori and Anna Pica.
Division II
Not only was Schmidt an All-Region selection, she was the coaches’ pick as Player of the Year in Division II. Besides her and Kolcharno, Holy Cross returns division coaches honorable mentions Peyton Graboske, Jules Galella and Claire Helring.
Losing in the state quarterfinals has given the Lady Crusaders motivation coming into this season.
“It’s definitely powered us to work harder over the offseason and get ready for this season,” Schmidt said. “We’re going to keep that in the back of our mind to fuel us for close games like that again. We’ve built a lot of trust so that things like that don’t happen again and we can get further.”
Mid Valley has pitcher Ava Hazelton, a division coaches all-star last season, as well as honorable mentions Parker Bennett, Abby Mackey and Natalie Hricenak back.
Old Forge returns seven starters, including division coaches all-star Kate O’Hearn and honorable mentions Kamryn Notari, Lillianna Lenceski and Ariana Davitt.
Dunmore has a new coach in Sarah Ross. The Lady Bucks have seven starters returning, led by division coaches all-star Rachel Walsh and honorable mention Emily McGowan.
Riverside brings back seven starters, including division coaches all-star Mikayla Smith and honorable mentions Kate Reynolds, Emily Chilek and Cassidy Merrifield.
Western Wayne also has seven returning starters, headlined by division coaches all-star Hannah DeStefano and honorable mentions Khloe Mistishin and Olivia Black.
Lakeland has division coaches honorable mentions Alix Roberts and McKaelyn Eremo among its five returning starters.
Honesdale has been hit with some injuries and will look to some younger players to help fill the void.
Division III
Elk Lake graduated three division coaches all-stars, but bring back two in Celeste Clark and Aleece Greenley as well as honorable mentions Madlyn Ely and Taylor Traver.
Montrose has six returning starters, led by division coaches all-stars MycKenna Kublo and Kyleise Kublo and honorable mentions Ally Legg and Allison Jennings.
Blue Ridge also brings back six starters, including division coaches all-stars Hailey Champang and Hailey Carpenetti.
Lackawanna Trail will be led by division coaches honorable mentions Kate Jones and Peyton Laytos along with four other returning starters.
Carbondale Area has a new coach in Jeff Kelsch. Division coaches honorable mention Maureen Newcomb is among the returning starters for the Chargerettes.
Forest City has seven returning starters, including division coaches honorable mentions Mia Eccles and Aundrea Pevec.
Susquehanna has four division coaches honorable mentions back in Lauren Huyck, Cassandra Cottrell, Piper Heller and Jordyn Spoor.
Mountain View has a number of starters back, including senior Addison Kilmer, juniors Aubrey Sanders, Karley Norton, Isabelle Hobart and sophomores Emma Thatcher, Gianna Gravine and Annabelle Bowman.