Aldubayan Ignites Rally as Valley View Takes Down West Suburban 8-5 in State Tournament Opener
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | July 9, 2025 | Photo courtesy Team
Under the lights at Nanticoke Little League, Valley View (Carbino Club/Archbald) delivered a comeback win that showcased grit, power, and poise — rallying from a three-run deficit to defeat West Suburban 8-5 and open the Pennsylvania Major Softball Tournament with a statement.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the fourth, Valley View flipped the game on its head. Amira Aldubayan came through in the clutch, drilling a bases-clearing triple to deep right center that tied the game at five. The energy in the dugout exploded as Aldubayan tagged and scored the go-ahead run moments later on a perfectly executed sacrifice fly by Kali Mercatili. That 6-5 lead would hold — and grow — as Valley View added two more insurance runs to seal the win.
Aldubayan finished 1-for-2 at the plate with three RBIs and a run scored, and she later came in to pitch 1.2 innings of shutout relief, allowing just one hit and no walks to secure the victory.
West Suburban came out hot early, scoring two in the first on RBI hits by Adalyn H and Nevaeh W. After adding another in the third and two more in the top of the fourth, they looked in control — until the Valley View bats came alive.
Aria Forgione led Valley View at the plate, going 2-for-2 with a run scored. Mercatili and Kiley Burke each added a hit, while Mia Hutchison chipped in with a single and Rebecca Peoples provided speed on the bases with two stolen bags.
Alana Lopuhovsky started in the circle for Valley View, battling through 4.1 innings. She gave up six hits and five earned runs while striking out four and walking one on 67 pitches (49 strikes). Aldubayan then took over and locked down the final five outs.
West Suburban’s Reagan B was sharp at times, striking out 10 over five innings, but Valley View capitalized on key defensive miscues and timely hitting. Nevaeh W finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a triple, and five different players — Nevaeh, Adalyn H, Kennedy F, Aubrey B, and Camilla G — drove in runs for West Suburban.
It was a game defined by momentum swings, but when the lights were brightest and the pressure highest, Valley View’s bats — led by Aldubayan’s heroics — proved unstoppable.
Adding to the electric atmosphere was a special moment in the stands: Valley View shortstop Kalli Karwowski — a Penn State commit and the 2024 District 2 4A Player of the Year — was on hand to cheer on the next generation of Cougars. Her support didn’t go unnoticed, as the up-and-coming stars fed off the energy and inspiration from one of the program’s best.
Top Performers & Stat Breakdown
Valley View 11-12 AllStars (Carbino Club/Archbald)
Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aria Forgione (#17) | 2 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Amira Aldubayan (#18) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
Kali Mercatili (#11) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Kiley Burke (#3) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Mia Hutchison (#2) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
Rebecca Peoples (#14) | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pitching (Valley View):
Alana Lopuhovsky (#13): 4.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 K, 1 BB
Amira Aldubayan (#18): 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 K, 0 BB
West Suburban Sanctioned Team 12U
Player | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nevaeh W (#38) | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Adalyn H (#57) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Kennedy F (#24) | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Aubrey B (#18) | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Camilla G (#8) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Pitching (West Suburban):
Reagan B (#14): 5.0 IP, 6 H, 8 R (5 ER), 2 BB, 10 K (95 pitches / 62 strikes)
