Mid Valley Spartans

Mid Valley used a five-run third inning and a balanced effort from both the circle and the plate to power past Back Mountain 7-3 in Section 5 play. Full recap now on SportzWire.com.

Anna T fanned 15 and added two hits at the plate to lead Jefferson Township to a 4-2 win over a resilient Mid Valley squad in Section 5 10U softball action. Nora P struck out 10 in a strong effort for Mid Valley, while Adaline O went 2-for-3 with an RBI.

Quinn B led the way with four RBIs while Grace E struck out seven in the circle, helping Mid Valley Little League Softball Minors earn a 16-0 win over Mountain Top on Saturday.

SportzWire will provide live audio broadcasts of Monday’s PIAA softball semifinals, featuring Valley View vs. Northwestern Lehigh and Mid Valley vs. Pine Grove Area. Tony Sibilla of Penn Sports Radio will call the Valley View game, while Nate Johns and Paul Bo will cover Mid Valley. All four teams fall within SportzWire’s coverage area. Listen live at SportzWire.com. Tickets are available now at PIAA.org.

Fueled by a sophomore ace, a senior slugger, and relentless team energy, Mid Valley powered through in Allentown. Two wins from Penn State — the Spartanettes are officially in the hunt.

Pitching, power, and poise — Pope John Paul II played championship-level baseball in Center Valley, and now stands one win away from the 4A state final.

Ava Hazelton struck out 13 and Mid Valley rallied in the 6th to take down Lake-Lehman 6-4 in a back-and-forth playoff thriller. Cortazar tripled, Larson drove in two, and the Spartanettes move on.

The rosters for the 91st Annual Dream Game have been released, featuring standout senior athletes from across the region. Representing the City team under head coach Jake Manetti (West Scranton) are top talents like Treyvon Dickey (Scranton Prep), Gabe Franek (Dunmore), and Drew Kiesendahl (Wallenpaupack). On the County side, head coach Mike Schuback (Old Forge) leads a loaded roster highlighted by Zach Cwalinski (Valley View), Richie Kostoff (Riverside), and Mason Avery (Honesdale). The game is scheduled for July 23 at John Henzes Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Doug Pua delivered at the plate and Lorenzo Hernandez dominated on the mound as Mid Valley knocked off Scranton Prep 4-1 to punch their ticket to the District II AAAA final.

Championship tension. Extra-inning chaos. One perfect swing. Peyton Graboske’s go-ahead double in the 10th sealed the deal, as Holy Cross claimed a 7-5 win over Mid Valley and the Lackawanna League D2 crown in one of the season’s most thrilling softball duels.

With the rain falling and tension rising, Holy Cross found their closer. On her birthday, Jules Galella delivered the ultimate gift — a two-out, walk-off single to cap a wild seventh inning and hand the Crusaders a thrilling 7-6 win over Mid Valley under the lights at Magis Field.

League clinched. No-hitter thrown. Message sent. Mid Valley rolled past Holy Cross 11-0 behind Nick Mills' two-way domination to secure the Lackawanna League title in convincing fashion.

TUNKHANNOCK, PA — On a warm Saturday afternoon in Tunkhannock, two of the area’s top softball programs collided in a battle defined by pitching dominance and defensive precision. And in the end, it was McKenzie Hannon and the Tigers who stood tall.

In a tightly contested battle on Friday afternoon, Elk Lake held off a late seventh-inning rally from Mid Valley to secure a 3-2 victory on the road.

“Limits exist only in the mind.” For Matt Marcinek, these aren’t just words—they’re a way of life. Born with cerebral palsy, Matt could’ve let the world define him by his condition. Instead, he forged a path no one saw coming. Through sweat, science, and sheer will, he became a respected grappling coach, a mental performance expert, and the founder of No Limits Grappling Academy—Scranton’s powerhouse of No-Gi Jiu-Jitsu. His journey isn’t just about martial arts. It’s about refusing to be boxed in. About transforming pain into purpose. About proving that greatness isn’t reserved for the lucky or the able-bodied—it’s earned by those who keep showing up, even when it’s hard. In every class he teaches, every student he guides, and every story of struggle he helps rewrite, Matt’s message rings loud and clear: You are not your limitations. You are your mindset.