Cawley Crushes Two Homers as Valley View Secures District 2 4A Championship Over Tunkhannock
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | May 30, 2025 | Photo courtesy BlSportsPhotography.com / Brad Loff
Behind the powerful bat and dominant arm of Taylor Cawley, the Valley View Cougars locked up the District 2 4A softball championship with a 7-3 win over Tunkhannock on Friday evening at Wilkes Softball Stadium. The Cougars showed why they’ve been one of the most complete teams all season, combining clutch hitting, strong pitching, and error-free defense to earn the title.
Cawley, a senior leader and the heart of Valley View’s lineup, delivered one of the most memorable performances of the postseason. She launched two towering home runs — a solo shot in the fifth inning and a two-run blast in the sixth — and drove in four runs total to lead the offense. Her all-around excellence earned her Nina’s Bites Player of the Game honors, presented by Ninabites.com, with locations in Clarks Summit and Dunmore.
Valley View struck early, capitalizing on mistakes in the opening inning. Cawley ripped an RBI single to get the Cougars on the board before a Tunkhannock error allowed two more runs to cross, making it 3-0. Tunkhannock answered with a run in the bottom of the first, but it would be the only blemish on Cawley’s pitching line.
Cawley tossed five innings, allowing five hits and just one earned run while striking out seven. She kept Tunkhannock hitters off balance and controlled the pace of the game, handing the ball off to Abbi Call for the final two frames. Call picked up the save, working around four hits and two runs (one earned).
The Valley View offense added insurance throughout the middle innings. After Cawley’s solo homer in the fifth stretched the lead to 4-1, she crushed a two-run shot in the sixth to left field that broke the game open. Add in another run in the seventh, and the Cougars had created more than enough cushion to finish the job.
Tunkhannock showed fight, scoring two late runs and collecting nine hits, but defensive miscues proved costly. The Tigers committed three errors, two of which directly led to Cougar runs.
Erin Van Ness drove in two runs for Tunkhannock, while Addisyn Waterman and Emily Patton each went 2-for-3. Still, they struggled to find the timely hit to swing momentum back in their favor.
McKenzie Hannon pitched a complete game for the Tigers, allowing seven runs — just four earned — on nine hits over seven innings. She struck out six and walked four, but Cawley’s bat did the biggest damage, as both homers came off Hannon.
On the defensive side, Valley View was flawless. Not a single error was recorded, and catcher Maggie Hallett led the effort with eight putouts.
Also contributing offensively for the Cougars were Ashlyn Palickar, who went 2-for-3, and Zoie Krupovich, who added a perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate. Kylie Karwoski chipped in a hit, a walk, and a stolen base out of the leadoff spot.
The win marks another chapter of success for Valley View softball and sends them into the state tournament with momentum and belief. With their top pitcher locked in, an offense that can score in bunches, and a defense that doesn’t flinch, the Cougars look built for a deep run.
Top Performers Stat Breakdown:
Valley View Cougars (7 Runs, 9 Hits, 0 Errors):
Taylor Cawley (#20): 2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI, 1 R | 5.0 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 7 K, 1 BB
Ashlyn Palickar (#9): 2-for-3, 1 R
Zoie Krupovich (#12): 2-for-2, 1 R
Abbi Call (#25): 2.0 IP, 4 H, 2 R (1 ER), Save
Kylie Karwoski (#27): 1-for-4, 1 R, 1 SB
Tunkhannock Tigers (3 Runs, 9 Hits, 3 Errors):
Addisyn Waterman (#00): 2-for-3, 1 R
Emily Patton (#1): 2-for-3
Erin Van Ness (#22): 1-for-4, 2 RBI
McKenzie Hannon (#7): 7.0 IP, 9 H, 7 R (4 ER), 6 K, 4 BB, 2 HR allowed
