No 4 North Pocono Shocks No 1 Valley View in Back-and-Forth Slugfest, 7–6
By: Brad Loff | Sportzwire | April 2, 2025 | Photo courtesy BL Sports Photography - Brad Loff
In a matchup featuring two of District 2’s top softball programs, the fourth-ranked North Pocono Lady Trojans delivered a major statement by knocking off No. 1 Valley View, 7–6, in a thrilling road victory on Wednesday evening. With both teams combining for 24 hits and five home runs, it was a heavyweight battle that went down to the wire.
North Pocono entered the contest as a solid contender, but the Cougars had sat atop the latest coaches poll and looked to defend their unbeaten record. What unfolded was a momentum-swinging contest that featured power hitting, clutch pitching, and relentless offensive pressure from both squads.
Early Back-and-Forth Sets the Tone
Valley View wasted little time getting on the board in the bottom of the first when Taylor Cawley came through with an RBI single to give the Cougars a 1–0 edge. However, North Pocono showed resilience right away. In the top of the second, Paige Dymek delivered a momentum-swinging, two-run double to center field after working a deep count, tying the game 2–2.
The Lady Trojans seized their first lead an inning later. With two outs in the third, Ellie Ambrosecchia jumped on a pitch and sent it over the left field fence for a solo home run, putting North Pocono ahead 3–2.
But the top-ranked Cougars responded like a championship-caliber team. In the bottom of the fourth, Emily Moyles blasted a solo homer to center to even things up once again, this time at 3–3.
Trojans Explode in Fifth, Hold On Late
The turning point came in the top of the fifth when North Pocono’s bats came alive for four huge runs. Alyssa Lynch opened the frame by driving a pitch to deep right field for a two-run home run. Then it was Avarie Roscioli who tripled to the gap, bringing in another run. Riley Grambo followed with a productive groundout to score Roscioli and cap the four-run inning, giving North Pocono a 7–3 lead.
Valley View continued to show why they’ve held the No. 1 spot. In the bottom of the sixth, M Hallett connected on a solo home run to left after a tough six-pitch at-bat, cutting the deficit to 7–4. Then in the bottom of the seventh, Abbi Call launched a towering solo shot of her own, pulling the Cougars within one.
With the tying run at the plate, North Pocono ace Amelia Bell dug deep and delivered, recording the final outs to secure the complete-game victory.
Amelia Bell Leads the Way in the Circle
Bell was tasked with silencing one of the most explosive lineups in the region, and she did just enough to get the job done. Over 7.0 innings, Bell allowed 11 hits and 6 earned runs while striking out five and walking two. She threw 134 pitches—85 of them for strikes—and faced 35 batters in a performance that showed grit and composure.
She also contributed at the plate, going 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
Trojans’ Bats Come Through Clutch
North Pocono’s lineup put together a well-rounded and aggressive offensive performance, racking up 13 hits with several players delivering in key moments. Roscioli was flawless at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a triple, 4 RBIs, and 6 total bases. Lynch finished 2-for-4 with a home run and 2 RBIs, while Dymek chipped in a 2-for-3 day with a double and 2 RBIs. Grambo added a 2-for-4 effort with an RBI, and Ambrosecchia scored twice and launched a solo homer of her own.
Riley Grambo and Roscioli also flashed solid defense, as North Pocono played error-free softball, a critical factor in such a close game. Olivia Charles led the Trojans with 6 chances in the field.
Valley View’s Power Display Falls Just Short
Despite the loss, Valley View’s offense remained dangerous from top to bottom. The Cougars slugged four home runs—one each from Cawley, Call, Moyles, and Hallett—and collected 11 total hits.
Cawley had a big day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a home run, 3 RBIs, and 6 total bases. A Call added a 2-for-3 performance with a solo home run and 5 total bases, while also being hit by a pitch. Karwowski contributed two hits, including a double, and Hallett went 2-for-4 with a home run.
Cawley started in the circle for Valley View and was tagged with the loss after 4.1 innings. She gave up 5 earned runs on 9 hits while striking out 5 and walking none. Abbi Call pitched 2.2 innings in relief, surrendering 2 runs on 4 hits with 4 strikeouts.
Defensively, Valley View played clean behind their pitchers, turning a double play and committing no errors. Catcher M Hallett made 9 plays behind the dish to lead the team.
Looking Ahead
North Pocono, now riding high after a signature win, will look to keep the momentum going as they travel to Scranton Prep for their next contest on Friday. For Valley View, the narrow defeat offers lessons and fuel as they aim to regroup and prove why they’ve held the No. 1 spot all season.
Top Scorers – Stats Breakdown:
North Pocono (Ranked #4)
• Avarie Roscioli: 4-for-4, 1 3B, 4 RBIs, 6 TB
• Alyssa Lynch: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBIs, 5 TB
• Paige Dymek: 2-for-3, 2B, 2 RBIs, 3 TB
• Riley Grambo: 2-for-4, RBI, 2 TB
• Ellie Ambrosecchia: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 4 TB
• Amelia Bell: 1-for-4, 2B, R
Valley View (Ranked #1)
• Taylor Cawley: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBIs, 6 TB
• Abbi Call: 2-for-3, HR, HBP, 2 R, 5 TB
• Maggie Hallett: 2-for-4, HR, RBI, 5 TB
• Emily Moyles: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 4 TB
• Kalli Karwowski: 2-for-4, 2B, 3 TB
