North Pocono’s Amelia Bell delivers a pitch at the Field of Dreams Lackawanna League Softball Star Rivals game at the University of Scranton Magis Field in South Side on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Old Forge’s Kate O’Hearn laughs at first base at the Field of Dreams Lackawanna League Softball Star Rivals game at the University of Scranton Magis Field in South Side on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Team White huddles on the mound at the Field of Dreams Lackawanna League Softball Star Rivals game at the University of Scranton Magis Field in South Side on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
Holy Cross’ Peyton Graboske hits at the Field of Dreams Lackawanna League Softball Star Rivals game at the University of Scranton Magis Field in South Side on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
A member of Team Purple rounds third base and heads for home at the Field of Dreams Lackawanna League Softball Star Rivals game at the University of Scranton Magis Field in South Side on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
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North Pocono’s Amelia Bell delivers a pitch at the Field of Dreams Lackawanna League Softball Star Rivals game at the University of Scranton Magis Field in South Side on Tuesday, June 23, 2026. (CHAD SEBRING/STAFF PHOTO)
By Holden Mostofsky
Correspondent
SCRANTON — Ava Schmidt was a threat both offensively and in the circle all season for the Holy Cross softball team.
Things were no different Tuesday night in the Field of Dreams All-Star Rivals Game.
Schmidt struck out eight and had a RBI double to help Team Purple down Team White, 8-3, in the contest featuring the Lackawanna League’s top seniors at the University of Scranton’s Magis Field.
“We were tied for a little bit. But we started poking a little hits through, and we all just started working really well together,” Schmidt said.
Brynn Warriner of Elk Lake contributed two hits and two RBIs for the winners.
“I believe we all know how to play our positions and other positions, but we started off pretty well, actually, and then I think just talking in the dugout helped us a lot, and it just connected us,” Warriner said. “We were a very bubbly group, so I think that helped a lot.”
Team Purple scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning. Kate O’Hearn of Old Forge, Rachel Walsh from Dunmore and Holy Cross’ Payton Graboske scored runs. Graboske also had a RBI single and Warriner had a RBI double.
In the top of the second, Team White responded with two runs, scored by Avery Venesky of Abington Heights and Brianna Connor from West Scranton. It then tied the game, 3-3, in the top of the fourth inning when an error allowed Western Wayne’s Hannah DeStefano to score.
But it didn’t stay tied for long as Team Purple answered with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. Riverside’s Cassidy Merifield and Carbondale Area’s Riley Pietrowski both hit drives to deep center field to knock in runs as Juliete DeStefano of Old Forge and Merrifield scored.
Then in the sixth inning, Team Purple sealed the victory. Kate Jones from Lackawanna Trail started it with a single. Olivia Lach of Lakeland followed with a RBI triple. Schmidt then hit a deep ball to left for a RBI double. Walsh had a RBI single to cap the inning.
Schmidt then closed things out, just the way Team Purple coach Sarah Cantarella of Dunmore planned.
“We were really fortunate, we had a lot of really great pitchers, and we knew we wanted Ava to finish it out for us and finish strong,” Cantarella said. “She had a great year, and we were looking to highlight her for that at the end of the game.”
Being able to be teammates with players who usually are opponents was exciting for Schmidt.
“After the season we had, it was really exciting to just play with everyone that I’ve been playing against all season and play with my friends and play against them,” Schmidt said. “We were all just joking around, and it was really fun.”
Warriner agreed.
“What I took away was just that you can meet new people and just have fun,” she said. “It’s just a great experience, and seeing all these people that really like softball, and then some people that don’t have their heart set on softball, and just play it for fun. All the different people that were here, they had fun, and our team won, we had fun, and what I took away was just meeting new people is a great experience.”
Cantarella said it was great to see the players come together, have one last moment to shine and get the recognition they deserve.
“It’s so much fun, and it’s so fun to see these girls who compete against each other all year, how easily they come together, they just match, and they’re looking forward to competing and winning, and it was a really great event,” Cantarella said. “We’re happy to get the win.”
Considering the success that the Lackawanna League had with a repeat state champion, two state runnersup and a state semifinalist, Cantarella also said it was the perfect way to end the season.
“To see the way the game is growing locally is incredible,” Cantarella said. “We have some really great athletes here, and we had four teams playing in the state tournament and (for) state titles, and to see everyone come out and support the kids here at a local venue is incredible.”