Central Dauphin edges North Penn in 11-inning pitcher’s duel in PIAA 6A quaterfinals

BETHLEHEM >> Fresh off a one-hit, complete game shutout against Whitehall in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A softball tournament, North Penn pitcher Mady Volpe looked to continue her dominance in the quarterfinals against a tougher foe, Central Dauphin.

With Volpe leading the charge in the circle, the Knights have been outstanding all season, only accumulating two losses through 24 games. The Rams, though, were similarly impressive. In fact, Central Dauphin entered with an identical 22-2 record along with one of the finest pitchers in the state — Sam Gress.

Thursday’s matchup projected to be a pitchers’ duel as Volpe and Gress started in the circle for their respective teams, and the duel lived up to its billing.

In an extra-innings thriller that lasted for 11 frames, both pitchers went the distance, but it was Gress and Central Dauphin who ended victorious as the Rams used a two-RBI double from Tyler White to win 2-0 at Moravian College’s Blue and Grey Field.

Prior to the 11th, each team was held scoreless. But starting in the 10th, a runner was placed on second for each side in an effort to draw some runs in. A runner finally crossed home in the top of the 11th. With Abby Henson occupying second, Volpe walked the leadoff batter Hailee Beaver and a hard grounder from Bella Culp loaded the bases. Gress had the opportunity to give herself some run support, but Volpe came through in the clutch, striking out her counterpart on a full count.

Volpe’s magic eventually ran out, though. Facing Tyler White, Volpe gave up a double that drove in two runners.

“It was an 0-2 count, and it was fast ball,” said Volpe of the pitch White doubled on. “I mean, it happens, if you see a batter four or five times, that is going to happen. And that’s why you got to keep battling and mixing up your stuff. You can’t throw the same pitch to every batter because they’re going to know what’s coming.”

The Rams had the opportunity to extend their lead with only one out and runners on second and third, but Volpe buckled down, finding the next two outs to keep her team firmly in contention.

Unfortunately for the Knights, they could not flag Gress for any runs. Sophia Collins started at second, and a bunt from Victoria Juckniewitz advanced her to third, but that was all North Penn could muster as Gress found the other outs to secure the victory, propelling Central Dauphin into the PIAA 6A semifinals, where it faces Hempfield Monday.

Despite pitching 11 full innings and striking out 18 batters, Volpe felt like she still had more in the tank.

“Honestly, I think I could have pitched another game,” the sophomore said. “I’ve been there before with the CB West game and pitching in Colorado or Atlanta where it’s super hot. This is just another game for me.”

From the get-go, Volpe immediately dazzled, recording three straight strikeouts to kick off the contest. Gress was not outdone, though, striking out two in a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the first. It was the same outcome in the second frame as each pitcher saw three batters and downed three batters.

Volpe was lucky to get out of a logjam in the top of the third. The sophomore’s first blemish on an otherwise spectacular afternoon came as she walked Jillian Kendra. That leadoff walk turned into much more for the Rams as a bunt by Beaver put runners on first and third due to an error at first base. With runners on the corners and only one out, senior captain Jamie Beer made a diving catch at third base to record the second out. And after Gress was intentionally walked to load the bases, Volpe escaped without allowing a run by striking out White.

North Penn received its first real scoring chance in the bottom of the fourth. Juckniewitz led off with a bunt and beat the throw to first. A blooper by Jordan Pietrzykoski put runners on first and second with no outs. Unfortunately for the Knights, they failed to drive in a run as Gress put the clamps down. The senior struck out two, and Juckniewitz was caught stealing third to end the inning.

Both teams traded 1-2-3 innings in the fifth, setting up the sixth frame. There another glimmer of hope for Central Dauphin as leadoff batter Bella Culp reached first on a hard grounder. Culp subsequently stole second. Volpe then turned it up, striking out the next two batters and forcing an easy fly ball from cleanup batter Figueroa to get out of trouble. 

The next few frames saw Volpe and Gress continue to dazzle in the circle. Gress — a senior committed to North Carolina State — left the Knight bats befuddled all afternoon long. While North Penn would occasionally have a runner reach base, Gress denied the Knights at every turn and always found a way to get out of trouble.

“We talked about hitting the ball at the right time,” said North Penn head coach Rick Torresani after the game. “And this game we didn’t do it.”

“Her changeup got a lot of our girls today,” said Beer.

In the ninth, Volpe notched another 1-2-3 inning, and in the bottom of the frame, North Penn saw its best scoring opportunity go to waste. With a Knight on first and two outs, Elia Namey hit a single through the middle to put runners on the corners. It was at this juncture that Beer came to bat. In a 17-pitch at-bat that featured 13 foul balls, Beer walked, loading the bases.

“Honestly, I was just trying to put the ball in play and score those runs for my team,” said Beer afterward. “Every pitch, I was like, ‘This is the one,’ and then I would foul it off again, and then I’d be like, ‘All right, this is the one.’ I wasn’t really looking for a walk, I wanted to hit the ball, and I was not prepared to give up. And I think [Gress] knew that.”

Though she lost out on that marathon at-bat, Gress retained her composure and struck out the next batter, Carley DiGiuseppe, in three pitches to hold the Knights scoreless.

North Penn’s season ends without the two titles that they sought — the District 1 crown and the PIAA championship. Still, the Knights completed a phenomenal season and have much to look forward to in the coming years, especially with Volpe having two more years on the team. Beer and Volpe reflected on their amazing season.

“This season — by far — out of my four years, was the best one,” said Beer. “The girls were just so nice to be around. And with our winning record, that was always run.”

“It’s really hard because these seniors are such good leaders, and it’s really heart-breaking to see them go,” said Volpe after the game. “But I think that the junior and sophomore class can hold this team together and do the same thing.”