Villa Maria pitching ace Abbot is new PIAA Class AAA state softball strikeout queen

Malvern – When Villa Maria Academy senior pitcher Maddie Abbot struck out Bishop Shanahan right fielder Hannah Keiper to end the second inning of the PIAA Class AAA District One title tilt at Plymouth Whitemarsh June 2, the entire Hurricane squad and fans erupted for good reason.

Abbot’s strikeout of Keiper was a record-setting one for the Lebanon Valley recruit, who set the Pennsylvania Class AAA state record of 757 strikeouts, surpassing the record set last year by Meghan Wimmer of Chichester.

“I wasn’t really thinking about the record,” Abbot said. “I just wanted to get out of the inning. The main priority of the game was to win because I knew I would be able to get another strikeout in either that game or the next.”

With hopes of achieving of a re-peat district title for her team, Abbot buckled down and held a talented Shanahan team in check over the last five innings yielding only one run while watching her team do what they have done best lately which is come up with a late offensive onslaught to turn a 2-0 deficit into an eventual 8-2 victory and a second consecutive PIAA District One Class AAA title.

“It felt absolutely incredible to be part of Maddie getting the career Pennsylvania strikeout record,” said senior catcher Sarahrose Jonik, who caught during her freshman year before giving way to May Cate Butler for two years before returning behind the plate this year. “We started out together freshman year getting the hang of each other and to come back our senior year and see her get the record and win the district championship game seems like it was meant to be.”

Abbot added, “Sarahrose and I started out as a pitching/catching duo in our freshman year, so it’s cool that the year we are reunited is the year that we have the chance to break the record and go out with a bang. I am really happy that I get to share this once-in-a-lifetime experience with Doc. He is the reason I pitch the way I do, so I am excited for not only myself but also him and all his hard work.”

The gentleman Abbot affectionately calls ‘Doc’ is Dr. Bill Miller, who coached Abbot when she first began pitching at age nine and has followed her career while also running a successful private Internal Medicine program located at Lankenau Hospital before turning the practice over his daughter.

With Miller having more free time, Villa Maria first-year softball coach Nikki Hartshorn asked Miller to join her staff as a pitching coach.

“Villa Maria struck gold when he said ‘yes’ to being our pitching coach,” said Hartshorn. “His pitching strategies blow my mind. His faith in Maddie left no doubts as they conquered team after team with their game plan. Doc’s dedication is one to model. I was blessed to watch a coach come full circle with one of his prodigies. I look forward to seeing what Doc, Bobby (Cucinella) and I can get out of next years roster. I am going to miss watching Doc, Maddie and Sarahrose master this game together. I am confident we will carry on the legacy these fine seniors have worked so hard to provide.”

“I have to say I never expected this opportunity to join the Villa Maria coaching staff,” said Miller. “I told Maddie this was like the Grateful Dead farewell Tour with every game possibly being our final game and every strikeout being a milestone that means a whole lot. To see Madeline accomplish her personal goal in the same game she achieved her team goal meant so much.”

While Jonik bookended Abbot’s career behind the plate, former standout Mary Cate Butler had the opportunity to share in Abbot’s success sophomore and junior years as her battery mate helping foster Abbot’s continued progression.

“It means a lot to watch Maddie accomplish this goal,” said Butler, who was at the PIAA Class AAA District One title game after returning home from her first year at the University of Delaware. “I still keep in touch with Maddie so to see her make history in a way is very special because of the way I saw her work through some frustrating times. To see her work hard through long practices and achieve a personal and team goal is special.”

With the strikeout record behind her and a second consecutive district title in the team’s possession, Abbot and the rest of the Hurricanes unfortunately saw their season come to a disappointing finish as they fell 3-2 to Lampeter-Strasberg, the third seed from district three in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAA state playoffs in a game held at Spring-ford High School.

“I have to say it’s been a thrill and an honor to work with this team,” Miller said. “Nikki offers the right combination of motherly love and discipline for this team and I hope to have the opportunity to be back next year and work with the next generation of Villa pitchers.”

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