Well, they did it! They really did it!
The Pittston Area Patriots softball players are state champions, and I was lucky enough to be along for the ride.
I’ve been lucky enough to be present for the only two times either Wyoming Area or Pittston Area was involved in becoming state champions. In 2019, Wyoming Area were crowned state champs in football at Hershey Stadium and of course, this past week, Pittston Area in softball at Beard Stadium at Penn State University.
Last week, I wrote of the team how I found them all to be down to earth with not one ego to be found by anyone.
I’ve never seen any team member lose it on or off the field and nobody got down on a fellow player. I’ve never seen any of the coaching staff get all over their players. There was always a calm about them.
Okay, there was that jungle-like birdcall that everyone seemed to do — even the parents got into it. As a matter of fact, one of the playoff games at Allentown had to be stopped because of the birdcalls; apparently one of the umpires didn’t like it.
They were steady all season, they were strong, they were smart and talented and you’d have to believe that because after all, there ended up 25-0 on the season.
The senior core of Sage Weidlich, Skylar Borthwick, Tori Para, and Jiana Moran were the team leaders; the veterans that took charge, the group of girls everyone looked up to and in the end the teammates they wanted to win a championship with.
After the medal ceremony and team photo by the scoreboard, head coach Frank Parente had a group hug with the four. He spoke from the heart when he told them how proud he was of them and how they lead the team.
Coach Parente, I’m finding out, is a compassionate man that has a passion for the game and his players. It’s not often you hear a coach tell his time that he loves them and I believe that.
This group of kids, not matter how far they go in life, how successful they will be or even at the lowest point in their life, they will remember this season, their teammates, and the love Coach Parente had for his team.
To me, this wasn’t just a team of girls from all over Pittston Area thrown together to make up a high school team, this was a true sisterhood and quite frankly, I’ll be disappointed if this group of girls doesn’t remain friends for the rest of their lives.
To achieve the level of state champions does not happen very often unless you have a dynasty on your hands. It’s extremely rare.
I can think of the great athletes and teams that came out of Pittston Area, and Wyoming Area for that matter, and in both school’s rich history of sports stars and teams and in 56-years only have one state title for each school … well, that’s how rare it really is.
I know it’s hard not to count on your chickens before they are hatched, but look at the players coming back next year.
Kallie Booth, Maura Mihalka, Marina Antal, Bella Giardina, Ava Callahan, and Taylor Baiera will step up as seniors next year and take the helm.
Giana Adams has proven herself as one of the all-time best softball pitchers, not only in Greater Pittston, but also all over the State of Pennsylvania at just an upcoming junior.
The team is deep with upcoming, now well-seasoned players that have had the taste of being a state champion. I hope they can carry that feeling, not only for next year and the following year, but also for the rest of their lives.
I thoroughly enjoyed documenting team action through photos. I didn’t get to many regular season games, but I was there from the time playoffs started until the last strikeout at the state championship game.
As I mentioned, state championships don’t come easy and they are few and far between, but just noting since 2019 when Wyoming Area took the football state title to last year the Warriors lost in the state title game and now this year with the PA softball title in hand, my question is this … what are they feeding these kids?
Now with graduations at a close and the softball game being the last official sport closing out the 2021-2022 school year, I look forward to the fall to see if either school can push the boundaries once again and knock on state title door.
Congratulations Mayor Lello
I had a lovely conversation with Elaine Lello, the new mayor of Dupont. Elaine takes the seat over for her late husband Dan who passed away with ALS.
It can’t be easy stepping in the shoes of Dan, but if anyone can, I believe Elaine will have the wisdom and forthrightness to do good for the Borough of Dupont.
Right now Elaine is being humble and modest, but I think she will grow into the job and she’ll make a great ambassador representing her constituents
Congrats Elaine, I know you’re going to do well and make Dan and your whole family proud.
Quote of the week
“When you are joyful, when you say yes to life and have fun and project positivity all around you, you become the sun in the center of every constellation, and people want to be near you.” – Sharon L. Adler
Thought of the week
“Inspiration comes from within yourself. One has to be positive. When you’re positive, good things happen.” Deep Roy
Bumper sticker
“Positive anything is better than negative nothing.” – Elbert Hubbard
