3/27/25
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College softball will have a busy four-day stretch this weekend, as the Falcons are set to play a doubleheader each day, with two at home and two on the road.
 
It starts on Thursday, March 27^th, when the Falcons will travel to take on D3 #5 Brookdale CC. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 3:30pm ET at the Brookdale CC softball field in Lincroft, NJ. The doubleheader will have a video livestream via the BrookdaleTV YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Then, on Friday, March 28^th, the Falcons will host the Frederick CC Cougars in a non-region contest at Scranton HS softball field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm ET. There will be a pay-per-view video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE.
 
On Saturday, March 29^th, Lackawanna College will play a Region XIX DII doubleheader at home against Sussex County CC. First pitch of the pair of games is scheduled for 12:00pm ET, and both games will have a pay-per-view video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE.
 
Finally, on Sunday, March 30^th, the Falcons will be back on the road for a doubleheader at D3 #6 SUNY Corning CC. First pitch is set for 12:00pm ET in Corning, NY at the Corning CC softball field. There will be a video livestream available via the Corning Community College Athletics YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
About The Falcons
The Falcons (11-13) won a pair of games earlier this week at Penn State Hazleton, sweeping past the Nittany Lions by scores of 12-2 and 15-0. Lackawanna compiled 20 hits in two games and were challenged by Hazleton. The Falcons scored six runs in the first two innings of game one, then slowly built their advantage before winning in six innings at 12-1. In game two, the Falcons scored 12 runs in the second inning and cruise to the five-inning victory. You can read the full recap HERE.
 
The Falcons had started slow, but are now up to .289 at the plate through 24 games this season. Lackawanna has scored 117 runs, averaging 4.9 per game on the year. The Falcons have 33 extra-base hits, including 24 doubles and six triples, and they have a .730 OPS. Lackawanna has drawn 70 walks and struck out 111 times. They have also stolen 34 bases.
 
Pitching-wise, the Falcons have been steady, posting a staff ERA of 6.07 this year. In 150 innings, the Falcons have allowed 166 runs, 130 earned, on 210 hits, while striking out 90 and walking 97. Opponents are hitting .322 against the Falcons this season and have been hit by 21 pitches.
 
Defensively, the Falcons have 42 errors and a .934 fielding percentage. They've turned three double plays and caught six runners stealing this season.
 
Sophomore utility player Jillian Heimberger (Unionville, PA) is first on the team with 29 hits and is hitting .403 through 24 games. She has a team-best 1.014 OPS and has scored 17 runs, second on the team. Heimberger leads the Falcons in extra-base hits (6), doubles (4), total bases (37), slugging (.514), and on-base percentage (.500). She has eleven RBIs, tied with two others for first on the team, and she has drawn 13 walks, second on the squad. Heimberger has also stolen five bases, tied for third on the squad. She has six multi-hit games on the season, collecting two hits and two RBIs in a loss to nationally ranked Danville Area CC back on March 2^nd. Heimberger was excellent against Corning this past Sunday, combining for six hits in nine at-bats in the doubleheader split. She went a combined 2-for-5 with three runs, a triple, and two RBIs against PSU Hazleton in two games. Heimberger comes into the weekend on a nine-game hitting streak. She has 22 putouts and 19 assists this season.
 
Sophomore outfielder Emmalee Mowery (Mechanicsburg, PA) is second on the team with 24 total hits and a .348 batting average this season. Mowery has a .871 OPS, second on the team, boosted by a .465 OBP, and she leads the Falcons in runs (19) and walks (15), and she is tied for the team-high in RBIs (11). She has seven stolen bases this season, also a team high. Mowery has nine multi-hit games during the season, including three of her last four games. She was 3-for-4 with a run scored, a double, and two RBIs in the win against Southern Maine CC on March 7^th. Mowery has gone a combined 7-for-15 (.467) with eight runs scored and seven RBIs in her last four games. She had four combined hits and five RBIs in the two games against Corning. Mowery was 1-for-3 with three runs, an RBI, and a double in the game one win against PSU Hazleton on Tuesday. She has 53 putouts and two assists in the outfield this season.
 
First-year corner infielder and catcher Laniah Tasker (Chambersburg, PA) is third on the team with 20 hits this season, and she has a .286 batting average through 23 games. Laniah has scored ten runs this year and has driven in eleven RBIs, tied with Mowery and Heimberger for first on the team. She has one of the only three home runs for the Falcons this season, hitting a three-run homer against Morris to tie game two and eventually help Lackawanna win on March 18^th. Laniah has two doubles and has drawn a walk and been hit by two pitches this season. She has a .668 OPS. Laniah has six multi-hit games this year. Tasker was 3-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI in the 8-3 loss to Kaskaskia on March 7^th. In the three games leading up to the Hazleton series, she drove in four runs and hit a double, which came in the 9-8 win against Corning on Sunday. She was a combined 3-for-8 with two runs and three RBIs, which included her three-run homer, in two games against Morris. Tasker was a combined 1-for-6 with three runs and an RBI against PSU Hazleton. She has 60 putouts and 18 assists this season, helping turn one of the three double plays for the Falcons this season. She has also caught two runners stealing.
 
First-year second base player Lindsey Tasker (Clarks Summit, PA) has 18 total hits this season, posting a .327 batting average through 24 games. Tasker has scored ten runs and has two doubles and seven RBIs this season. She has ten walks and five stolen bases this season. Tasker also has a .795 OPS on the year. Tasker has six multi-hit games this season. She was a combined 3-for-5 with two runs and a double in two games against Corning. She had a pair of hits in six at-bats and two runs scored in two games against PSU Hazleton. She has 39 putouts and 20 assists this season from second base.
 
First-year outfielder and pitcher Mia Scalese (Moscow, PA) has 17 total hits, hitting .283 so far this season. Scalese has appeared in 20 games this year and has ten runs and six RBIs. Scalese has drawn two walks, been hit by a pitch, and has stolen three bases this season. She has a pair of doubles on the season. Scalese has three multi-hit games this season, with a standout 4-for-4 showing in game two on March 19^th against Hudson Valley CC. She was a combined 5-for-9 in three games against HVCC, scoring a pair of runs. Scalese went a combined 2-for-7 with a run scored, an RBI, and a double in the two games against Corning. Scalese has a six-game hitting streak going right now. She did not appear in either game against PSU Hazleton. She has 15 putouts and ten assists on the year.
 
First-year first base player Gracie Sokol (Belle Vernon, PA) has 16 hits on the year, posting a .271 batting average through 23 games. Sokol has a .707 OPS and has six runs scored, while driving in eight runs. Sokol has seven walks this season and has been hit by a pair of pitches, and she has two doubles on the year. Sokol has three multi-hit games this season, all coming in the last week. She went 2-for-3 in a 6-4 win against Morris on March 18^th. Then hit twice in a loss to Mercer on March 22^nd. She was 2-for-3 with a double in the win against Corning on Sunday in game one. Sokol was 0-for-4 with a run scored in one game against PSU Hazleton on Tuesday. Sokol has 102 putouts and five assists this season.
 
Sophomore pitcher Brianna Dinice (Terryville, CT) has thrown the most innings for the Falcons this season, appearing in ten games and throwing 46.2 innings this season. Dinice is 3-6 with a 7.05 ERA on the year, starting in all but one of her appearances. Dinice has allowed 55 runs, 47 earned, on 58 hits, while striking out 27 batters and walking 45. Batters are hitting .293 against Dinice this season, and she has thrown a team-high 23 wild pitches. Dinice has thrown four complete games on the season. Her best game came in the first one, throwing seven innings, striking out five, and allowing just one unearned run in the win against Fayetteville Tech. Against Southern Maine, she went all seven innings and gave up four runs, three earned, to pick up the win. Dinice has struggled with walks and wild pitches as of late, walking a combined 22 batters in four games last week, while giving up 24 runs in 13 combined innings. She surrendered six runs on four hits and seven walks in four innings on Sunday to Corning in an eventual 6-5 loss for the Falcons.
 
Scalese has pitched in 39.2 innings this season, making ten appearances, six of which have been starts. Scalese is 2-5 with a 5.65 ERA. Scalese has given up 48 runs, only 32 earned, on 62 hits, striking out 28 and walking 20. Opposition is hitting .346 against Scalese this year, and she has hit nine batters with pitches this season. Mia has picked up a pair of wins in her last five appearances. She threw four innings of relief against Morris on March 18^th, giving up just an unearned run on four hits, while striking out six. She had a brief relief outing where she gave up three runs on one hit in just a third of an inning against Hudson Valley, then came back the next day and twirled a gem, striking out seven and allowing just three hits in a 1-0 complete game victory. Scalese was roughed up against Mercer, giving up eight runs on 13 hits in six innings this past Saturday, but she came on to pitch well in relief on Sunday against Corning, allowing just two hits and striking out three in three innings against the Red Barons.
 
Heimberger has pitched the third-most innings, throwing 37.1 so far this season. She is 4-1 in eight appearances with a 5.06 ERA, making four starts. Heimberger has given up 36 runs, 27 earned, on 51 hits, with 16 strikeouts and 16 walks. Batters are hitting .321 against Heimberger so far this season. Jill has picked up three of those wins in her last five appearances. She set her season-high in strikeouts with five after pitching all seven innings against Olney Central back on March 3^rd. She gave up nine runs, but only three were earned. She picked up a complete game win against Morris on March 18^th, giving up four runs on eleven hits in a 6-4 Lackawanna victory. She pitched three scoreless innings of relief against Hudson Valley CC on March 20^th to pick up the win, giving up just one hit and striking out a batter. She went seven innings against Corning in her last outing on Sunday in game one, giving up eight runs on eleven hits and striking out four for the win.
 
The head coach for the Falcons is Jeff Pittsman, entering his 14^th season in charge of the Falcons. Pittsman has 275 wins in his career, the most in program history. He won a region championship in 2017, and he has helped the Falcons get to the Region XIX playoffs in eight straight seasons. Pittsman took over the program in 2012, having to piece together a roster from non-scholarship athletes and limited numbers. The team saw massive improvement in year two, winning 13 more games, and Pittsman steadily built the Falcons into a winner, winning 25 games by 2016. Lackawanna hasn't been below .500 since. Before coming to the Falcons, coach Pitt coached travel softball from 2006 to 2013 in Northeast PA, helming the Impact Panthers and Northeast Stars in his time. Before that, he was an assistant football coach with his alma mater, Mid Valley HS, from 1989 through 2001, and then Riverside HS from 2003 through 2004.
 
About Brookdale CC
The Jersey Blues (12-4) are the #5 team in the latest NJCAA Division III polls. After winning seven in a row, Brookdale has gone 2-3 over its last five games, splitting a doubleheader with Salem CC on March 21^st in its last pair of contests. Game one saw Brookdale fall behind 5-4 after one inning, then put together six more runs and total 23 hits on the day, overcoming six errors for the 10-5 win. Brookdale blew a 3-1 lead in game two, allowing the Mighty Oaks to score three runs across the third, fourth, and fifth innings and eventually come away with the 4-3 win.
 
As a team, the Jersey Blues are hitting .386 and have a combined .981 OPS. Brookdale averages 9.3 runs per game this season and has compiled 43 extra-base hits, which includes 28 doubles and nine home runs. The Jersey Blues have drawn 64 walks and struck out 49 times, while stealing 66 bags on the year.
 
As pitching staff, the Blues have a collective 3.39 ERA between their two pitchers. In 95 total innings, they've given up 74 runs, 46 earned, on 84 hits, striking out 79 batters and walking 64. Opponents are hitting .284 against Brookdale this season.
 
The Blues have committed 43 errors and have a .902 fielding percentage this season, defensively. They've caught two runners stealing.
 
Anthony Pacillo is the head coach at Brookdale, now in his second season in charge of the Blues. Pacillo took over for longtime softball coach and Region XIX Hall of Famer, Bo Scannapieco. Pacillo, before starting at Brookdale, was a full-time law enforcement officer, but had been coaching at club and travel softball for over a decade before taking over at Brookdale, coaching his daughter Antonia along the way. She is now his assistant with the Jersey Blues. Pacillo guided the Jersey Blues to an 18-17 overall mark last season, winning 12 games in conference and making the Region XIX DIII championship contest, before falling to Gloucester. He is 30-21 overall in his time at Brookdale.
 
About Frederick CC
The Cougars (5-16) come into the weekend looking for some consistency. Most recently, Frederick split a doubleheader at home with Howard CC, dropping game one by a 25-14 margin, before winning in game two, 11-10, to stop what was a three-game slide. In game one against the Dragons, Frederick gave up ten runs in the first inning to quickly fall behind. After a ten-run bottom of the third, however, the Cougars were within a run at 14-13. Howard quickly hit the accelerator over the next three innings, however, scoring a combined eleven runs, while holding Frederick to just one, to clinch the run-rule victory in five innings. In game two, the Cougars scored in every inning, to build a 9-5 lead heading into the seventh, only to see the Dragons score five runs in the top frame to take a late 10-9 lead. Frederick responded in the bottom half, putting runners on second and third with one out, then scoring the game-tying and game-winning runs on back-to-back wild pitches to walk it off. Frederick had a combined 34 hits across both games, which included nine extra-base hits.
 
Offensively, the Cougars are hitting .348 this season, compiling a .883 OPS. They have scored 130 runs, averaging 6.2 runs per contest. Frederick has 56 extra-base hits, which includes 43 doubles and nine home runs. The Cougars have 44 walks and have struck out 90 times this season, while stealing 18 bases.
 
In the circle, Frederick has a 9.92 ERA as a staff, allowing 209 runs, 154 earned, on 231 hits in 108.2 innings. They have struck out 59 batters and walked 77, while allowing 15 home runs. The opposition is hitting .429 against the Cougars this season.
 
Defensively the Cougars have 32 errors and a .931 fielding percentage. They've caught three runners stealing this year.
 
The head coach is Shawn Harbaugh, now entering his second full season and third overall year in charge with the program. Harbaugh took over the Cougars with six games remaining in the 2022-2023 campaign. Harbaugh, before coming to Frederick, served as the head coach for the Heartbreakers 18U Elite softball squad based in Frederick, MD. He was elected as the president of the organization by his coaching colleagues. He also served as the assistant coach for the Fairfield HS softball squad, where he had been for seven seasons. In his time at Frederick, Harbaugh is 22-39.
 
About Sussex County CC
The Skylanders (1-9, 1-7) had dropped their first seven games in a row before splitting a doubleheader with Raritan Valley CC back on March 18^th. They lost their last two games, 15-2 and 20-0, to Mercer County CC this past Tuesday, March 25^th. Across both games, Mercer had eight extra-base hits and 33 total, building big leads early and winning in five innings each time.
 
Sussex averages .182 at the plate this season, as a team. The Skylanders have scored 25 runs, a 2.3 runs per game average, and have nine extra-base hits on the year, eight of which have been doubles. Sussex has 31 walks and 50 strikeouts on the year, and the Skylanders have five stolen bases.
 
As a pitching staff, Sussex had a collective 12.00 ERA going into the games with Mercer. The Skylanders have given up 148 runs on 130 hits, walking 56 and striking out 29.
 
Defensively, Sussex has 20 errors and a .895 fielding percentage, catching one runner trying to steal.
 
The head coach is Jamie Lee Borger, now in her sixth season in charge of the program, and fifth full season of competition. Borger has been with the program since joining as an assistant in 2017 under then head coach AJ Agnor. Borger came to Sussex after spending time as the head coach at East Stroudsburg North HS. She is a native of Boyertown, PA, and a graduate from East Stroudsburg University, where she played collegiately for the Warriors. She has experience coaching travel, rec, and high school softball, while also holding trainings for groups and individuals. Borger graduated with a bachelor's degree in Public Health from ESU, then earned a master's degree in Sports Management from California University of PA. She also serves as the Coordinator of Women's Athletics and the Student Success Coach in the Advising and Counseling Center at Sussex County CC. Her best year was a 17-13 mark in the 2023 season, earning the Skylanders a Region XIX DIII first round appearance in the playoffs. The Skylanders moved up to Division II last season. She has 34 wins in her time at Sussex.
 
SUNY Corning
The Red Barons (6-8) are the #6 ranked team in the latest NJCAA Division III rankings, and, coincidentally, they have not played a game since splitting their doubleheader with Lackawanna on Sunday, March 23^rd. The Falcons took game one on a walkoff single to short to win, 9-8, then Corning got revenge in game two, hanging on for the 6-5 win to split the twin bill.
 
The Barons are hitting .362 as a team this season, with a collective OPS at 1.065. Corning has scored 149 runs in 14 games, averaging 10.6 runs per game this year. The Barons have six games where they've scored ten or more runs this year. Corning has 20 doubles, ten triples, and 17 homers on the season for 47 extra-base hits. The Red Barons have drawn 76 walks and struck out 68 times, while stealing 32 bases on the year. Corning has also been hit by 17 pitches this year.
 
The pitching staff has a 9.62 ERA this year, giving up 134 runs, 115 earned, in 83.2 innings on 186 hits. They've struck out 30 batters and walked 41 this season. Opponents are hitting .438 against the Red Barons this year.
 
In the field, Corning has made 20 errors and has a .949 fielding percentage. The Red Barons have turned four double plays on the year and have caught one baserunner stealing.
 
The head coach for the Red Barons is longtime mentor Stacy Johnson, now in her 28^th year in charge of Corning. Through her tenure, Johnson has won Region III coach of the year ten times, and MSAC coach of the year 14 times. She has coached 45 NJCAA All-Americans and eleven region player of the year candidates. She's won eight region championships with the Red Barons. Johnson is an Ithaca College grad, where she earned a bachelor's degree in physical education, and she holds a master's degree in management from Keuka College. In her time at Corning, she is 712-260.
 
The Match-Ups
Lackawanna is 3-7 against Brookdale since 2022, having dropped the last five games to the Jersey Blues. Lackawanna's last win was an 11-5 victory on the road in March of 2023. Last season, the Falcons were swept at home, 4-2 and 9-8, by Brookdale, which came back from down 8-6 in game two to win it late.
 
Lackawanna is 3-0 against Frederick in recent history, taking a dominant win in March 2023 down in Myrtle, and then sweeping the Cougars last year in late April, winning 11-4 and 8-0 on the road.
 
The Falcons swept Sussex last season, winning by scores of 8-0 and 12-3 at home against the Skylanders in early April. Lackawanna had a combined 22 hits across both games and hit four triples in the doubleheader victory.
 
Lackawanna is 3-2 against Corning since 2022, splitting the doubleheader with the Barons less than a week ago at home.
 
All the action starts on Thursday, March 27^th, when the Falcons will travel to take on Brookdale. First pitch of the twin bill is scheduled for 3:30pm ET at the Brookdale CC softball field in Lincroft, NJ. The doubleheader will have a video livestream via the BrookdaleTV YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Then, on Friday, March 28^th, the Falcons will host Frederick in a non-region doubleheader at Scranton HS softball field. First pitch is scheduled for 3:00pm ET. There will be a pay-per-view video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE.
 
On Saturday, March 29^th, Lackawanna College will play its Region XIX DII doubleheader at home against Sussex. First pitch of the pair of games is scheduled for 12:00pm ET, and both games will have a pay-per-view video livestream available via the Lackawanna College Athletics Network at lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE.
 
Finally, on Sunday, March 30^th, the Falcons will be at Corning for another doubleheader. First pitch is set for 12:00pm ET in Corning, NY at the Corning CC softball field. There will be a video livestream available via the Corning Community College Athletics YouTube channel, linked HERE.
 
Lackawanna gets back to Region XIX DII play on Tuesday, April 1^st, when the Falcons are scheduled to be on the road at Salem CC for a doubleheader. First pitch is set for 3:00pm ET in Carneys Point, NJ.