Mid Valley Spartans

Sunshine, fast times, district records, and unforgettable performances took over Scranton Memorial Stadium as the PIAA District 2 Championships delivered two electric days of track and field action. From Wilkes-Barre Area’s record-breaking relay to Olivia Thomas announcing herself as a statewide star, District 2’s biggest stage was loaded with moments that turned heads across Pennsylvania.

Top-10 matchup. Packed tension. Two ace pitchers trading blows. Thursday night had all the ingredients of a postseason softball game, and Holy Cross rose to the moment behind Ava Schmidt’s electric performance in the circle. In a showdown between No. 5 Mid Valley and No. 7 Holy Cross in the latest SportzWire Coaches Poll, the Crusaders leaned on big swings and dominant pitching to earn a 5-2 road win.

Old Forge snatched a wild 6-4 win! Ava Arnold blasted a three-run walk-off bomb in the 7th, sealing the dramatic victory against Mid Valley.

Wyoming Area defeated Mid Valley 8-6 in a back-and-forth thriller. Snyder's clutch relief pitching secured the Warriors' win.

Some nights are bigger than baseball. Under a perfect sky at Mid Valley, the Spartans played for something deeper, something lasting. With Eddie Kaufman’s legacy front and center, this wasn’t just a game. It was a reminder.

Mid Valley Spartans exploded for six runs in the seventh inning to defeat Western Wayne 9-3. Brett Yanoski pitched a complete game for the decisive win.

Six total hits. That’s it. One pitcher owned the afternoon and never gave Elk Lake a real look. Cooper Lukasavage didn’t just deal… he shut the door completely.

Cloudy afternoon. Pre-break feel. Quiet crowd. Then one swing changed everything. Natalie Hricenak cleared the bases with a fifth-inning grand slam and just like that, No. 3 Mid Valley created separation in a game that felt tighter than the final score.

Abington Heights survived a massive seventh-inning rally to defeat Mid Valley 8-7 on Tuesday. The Comets built a dominant lead fueled by a six-run second inning, but the Spartans surged back with five runs in their final at-bat before falling just one run short.

If there was any question about how Old Forge would respond after its rivalry loss earlier in the week, it was answered almost immediately. One quarter in, the message was clear, this one wasn’t going to be close.

Friday night at Mid Valley was about more than a final score. With both teams and coaching staffs wearing green shirts carrying messages of support, the gym became a place of awareness, unity, and conversation. Scranton left with its first win of the season, but the lasting impact came from two programs standing together, reminding every student and athlete in the building that mental health matters and that no one has to carry the weight alone.

Mid Valley used a 19 to 9 second quarter and a combined 39 points from seniors Landon Pratt and junior forward Zack Buza to turn an early deficit into a 48 to 39 home win over Carbondale Area, improving to 2 and 1 behind late free throws and balanced guard play.

The “Single A” boys’ race was the highlight of the day, showcasing District 2’s best as Elk Lake stormed to a state championship and Riverside claimed silver. Led by Kendle Jones’ blazing 16:05 runner-up finish, Elk Lake’s top trio set the tone early, while sophomore Trevor Upright and senior Whalen Kinney sealed the title with clutch second-half surges. Riverside countered with tight pack running from Mikey Schimelfenig and the Connor brothers to secure second place. District 2 shined across the board with standout medal runs from Susquehanna’s Maxx Kelly, Lackawanna Trail’s Avery Ronchi, and solid performances from Lakeland and Blue Ridge to cap an unforgettable day for the region.

The Mid Valley-based NEPA Storm 10U softball team went undefeated in Apalachin, New York, posting wins over Eyota Travel Softball and Southern Tier Thunder. Grace Whitling and Frankie Nails each homered over the weekend, while pitchers Nora Piercy, Grace Eboli, and Emma Fredericks combined for 20 strikeouts across both games. The Storm’s explosive offense and dominant pitching set the tone as they now prepare for the USSSA Fall State Championship in Quakertown on November 1–2.

The Mid Valley-based NEPA Storm completed a flawless 5-0 run to claim the 10U Travel Softball Championship at Connell Park in South Scranton. Behind dominant pitching from Nora Piercy and Grace Eboli, and key hits from Arya Ameika and Lilyana Smargiassi, the Storm topped the Abington Wildcats 4-2 in Sunday’s title game to secure the tournament crown.