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Defending 4A Champs Flex Early, Blank Hanover in Three-Inning Statement

Defending 4A Champs Flex Early, Blank Hanover in Three-Inning Statement

By: Justin Bradley | SportzWire | May 18, 2026 | Photo courtesy Justin Focus

Defending State Champs Hit Fast Forward, Cougars Punch Ticket to District Semifinals

Blink and you may have missed it. Valley View wasted no time getting its postseason started Monday, turning its District 2 Class 4A opener into a three-inning statement behind explosive bats and dominant pitching.

And for the defending Class 4A state champions, it looked like business as usual.

No. 2 Valley View looked every bit like a team with championship expectations Monday afternoon, rolling past Hanover Area 17-0 in the opening round of the District 2 Class 4A playoffs.

The defending state champions wasted little time establishing control.

Valley View struck first in the opening inning when Zoie Krupovich lined an RBI single down the left field line before Liv Lemoncelli added another run in style, stealing home to make it 2-0.

Then the second inning arrived and the Cougars completely opened the floodgates.

Valley View erupted for 15 runs in the frame, sending hitter after hitter to the plate during an offensive avalanche. Navaeh Evans started the rally with an RBI double, Cora Castellani added another run-scoring hit, and Abbi Call took over from there with a three-run single before later returning and driving in more with an RBI double.

Maggie Hallett, Ashlan Palickar, Mady Minelli, Ella Swingle, and Grace Munley all joined the offensive surge as Valley View stacked up 15 hits in the victory.

Call then went right back to work in the circle.

The Cougars ace delivered a three-inning no-hit shutout, striking out seven and not issuing a walk. Simply put, Hanover never had an opportunity to build momentum.

Valley View also played clean defense behind Call, finishing without an error while Hallett paced the defense with seven chances.

Call led the offense with three hits and four RBIs, while Krupovich, Castellani, and Evans each added multi-hit performances.

Now the road continues.

The No. 2 seeded Cougars will host No. 3 Wallenpaupack on Wednesday with a trip to the District 2 Class 4A championship game on the line.