Behind Balint’s 17 K’s, Avon Grove wins Ches-Mont National Division title after W.C. East falls
WEST GROVE — Heading into Monday’s regular season finale, Avon Grove had Maggie Balint on the mound, needing a win and some help to clinch the Ches-Mont National Division title.
The Red Devils got both.
Balint had a marvelous performance with 17 strikeout, no-hit performance as Avon Grove supported it with two runs on eleven hits in a 2-0 win over West Chester Rustin compiled with a West Chester East’s 1-0 loss to West Chester Henderson to clinch the Ches-Mont National Division title for the second straight season.
“Winning the Ches-Mont National for the second time is something that this team deserves,’ Avon Grove coach Julie Hatfield said. “Not only have they worked hard, they have worked together and proved that they have what it takes to get the job done. I couldn’t be more proud of all of them, and to win the Ches-Mont for the second time in a row, makes a statement for Avon Grove softball.’
Officially, the game will go down as a no-hitter though Rustin has a valid argument why it should be different.
Down one in the fourth with Anna Steinmetz on first, Caela Abadie hit a ball to the right side of the infield. After the ball passed second baseman Courtney Coppock, it struck Steinmentz, who had set a path behind Coppock to avoid an interference call as Coppock was charging toward her.
By rule, once the ball passed an infielder other than the pitcher, the ball should have remained live. Steinmetz should have been allowed to remain at second, with Abadie on first with an infield single.
But after a conference, the umpires ruled Steinmetz out for being hit by a batted ball. Abadie would then be ruled to have reached base on a fielder’s choice.
“But make no mistake, Maggie is a great pitcher, and facing her headed into the postseason will not hurt,’ Rustin head coach Bruce Dudley said. “I told them after the game it’s not likely we’ll see anyone as good as her the rest of the way. Even with the loss, we’re still in a good position. We won our division, and we’re going to districts. These girls battled right to the end, and have nothing to feel bad about.’
The Devils notched a run in the first and the fifth, with RBIs going to senior catcher Alyssa Herion and Rachel Butler, who had a double in the fifth.
“We’re playing really well right now, and our hitting especially is coming on,’ said Herion. “I think everyone in the lineup got on base for us today, and the way Maggie has been pitching, we’re not going to lose if we have an early lead.’ Even with Avon Grove winning back-to-back division titles, winning the National was not the team’s goal this season. The Red Devils have a much larger goal in mind, a state championship.
“That’s the great part of playing in this league, it can all come down to one game,’ Hatfield said. “So that only helps you in the postseason, when you really can only focus on winning the game you’re playing, and not thinking about what comes next.’
