Blue Ridge outfielder Shania Yachymiak lobs the ball towards second base during a Raider practice in Hallstead on Friday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF
BY KEVIN WOODRUFF
Blue Ridge’s softball team is hitting the diamond after a 12-2 finish in Lackawanna League Division III last year under coach Bob Pavelski.
The Raiders battled their way to the District II Class A finals where the girls were defeated by Old Forge in a 2-1 battle.
Pavelski said that after only losing one senior to graduation the Raiders are bringing back a solid group of athletes.
The Raiders return seven seniors in Gabby Wolfe, Karissa Hawk, Erin Salinkas, Kaitlyn Krug, Ashley Dorunda and Courtney Ucci, along with junior Jackie Furch.
“Hopefull we’ll have a long, long season,” Pavelski said. “I told the girls we are shooting for the state championship. We are going big, because if you don’t have goals, you don’t have anything.”
In the league, the Raiders will have to face off against powerhouse and rival Elk Lake, who handed the Raiders their only two losses in the league last year, along with a tough Montrose team.
Pavelski said that at the district level, Old Forge always gives the Raiders some trouble.
Raider third baseman Melody Carpenter throws towards first at practice in Hallstead on Friday while teammate Jenna Rupakus looks on. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF
He said he will look to the entire team to step up this season and play tough.
“I’ve found through the years that someone different steps up during each game,” Pavelski said.
Blue Ridge’s varsity softball team is comprised of seniors Wolfe, Hawk, Salinkas, Krug, Dorunda, Ucci, junior Furch, sophomores Jenna Rupakus and Taylor Decker and freshman Shania Yachimyak.
Blue Ridge kicks off its season on Saturday, Apr. 2, at the Polly Tompkins Memorial Tournament.
Full schedule:
Apr. 2, Polly Tompkins Tournament, TBA
Apr. 4, home against Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 7, at Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 8, at Carbondale, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 11, home against Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 14, at Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18, home against Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 20, home against Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 26, at Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 28, at Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 30, home against Athens, 1 p.m.
May 2, home against Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, at Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, home against Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, at Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
May 16, at Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
May 18, home against Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
May 23, home against Abington Heights, 4:30 p.m.
Elk Lake’s Kenzi Moon bunts the ball during a Warrior softball practice in Dimock on Thursday afternoon. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF
Elk
Lake
Elk Lake returns for a new season under coach Tony Blaisure after posting an 19-1 record last season, with its only loss of the year coming from Nanticoke in the District II Class AA finals.
Full schedule:
Mar. 25, at Dunmore, 4 p.m.
Apr. 4, at Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 7, at Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
Elk Lake’s Gabby Baltzley waits for the throw from teammate Bri Hollenbeck during a Warrior practice on Thursday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF
Apr. 11, home against Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 14, home against Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18, at Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 20, at Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 26, home against Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 28, home against Lackawanna Trail, 4:30p.m.
May 2, home against Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, at Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, at Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, home against Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
May 16, home against Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
May 18, at Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
Forest City
Forest City’s girls return to the diamond after a 2-12 finish in Lackawanna League Division III last season under the direction of coach Dave Liuzzo.
Full schedule:
Mar. 25, at Western Wayne, 4 p.m.
Mar. 30, at Wallenpapuack, 4 p.m.
Apr. 4, at Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 7, home against Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 11, at Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 14, home against Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18, at Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 20, at Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 26, home against Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 28, home against Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, at Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, home against Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, at Lackawanna Trail, 4:3 p.m.
May 12, home against Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
May 16, home against Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
May 18, at Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
Montrose
Montrose’s softball team made a trip to the District II Class AA quarterfinals last season with a 9-5 record in Lackawanna League Division III under coach Mel Lasher.
Full schedule:
Mar. 25, at Mid Valley, 4:30 p.m.
Mar. 29, at Wyalusing, 4:30 p.m.
Mar. 30, at Dunmore, 4 p.m.
Apr. 1, at Carbondale, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 4, at Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 7, home against Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 11, at Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 14, home against Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18, at Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 20, home against Forest City, 4:3 0p.m.
Apr. 26, home against Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 28, home against Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, at Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, home against Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, at Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, home against Lackawanna Trial, 4:30 p.m.
May 16, at Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
May 18, at Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
Mountain View
Mountain View’s girls’ softball team finished up with a 6-8 Lackawanna League record last season under coach Charlie Hennagin and look to improve on the 2010 effort.
Full schedule:
Apr. 4, home against Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 7, home against Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 11, at Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 14, home against Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18, at Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 20, home against Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 26, at Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 28, at Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, at Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, home against Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, at Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, home against Susquehanna, 4:30 p.m.
May 16, at Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
May 18, home against Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
Susquehanna
Susquehanna’s Sabers had a 3-11 finish in Lackawanna League Division III under coach Ralph Welch and look to improve on the 2010 effort.
Full schedule:
Mar. 23, at Hancock, 4 p.m.
Apr. 4, home against Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 6, at Deposit Central (N.Y.), 5:30 p.m.
Apr. 7, home against Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 11, at Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 14, at Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 18, home against Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 20, home against Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 26, at Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
Apr. 28, at Forest City, 4:30 p.m.
May 2, at Blue Ridge, 4:30 p.m.
May 5, home against Lackawanna Trail, 4:30 p.m.
May 9, home against Montrose, 4:30 p.m.
May 12, at Mt. View, 4:30 p.m.
May 16, at Western Wayne, 4:30 p.m.
May 18, home against Elk Lake, 4:30 p.m.
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