Peck-ture Perfect: Sophomore hurls perfect game past Garnet Valley, Spring-Ford into states

ROYERSFORD >> Almost exactly one year ago, Garnet Valley’s softball team visited Royersford on a late-May afternoon and prematurely ended host Spring-Ford’s season in the second round of the District 1 playoffs.

So when the two squads met up again in this year’s quarterfinals, everyone on the side of the 22-0 Rams agreed a win would be the ideal way to qualify for 6A states.
Bri Peck made it the perfect outcome.

The right-hander struck out 15 Jaguars and didn’t allow a single baserunner in Spring-Ford’s 8-0 win to send the Rams back into the PIAA 6A Championships for the first time since 2017.

With Peck’s perfect game, the Rams got their revenge on the Jaguars while firmly establishing themselves as district favorites this year and burying last year’s bad memories once and for all.

“Last year we weren’t playing our best ball at the end of the season,” said Spring-Ford coach Tim Hughes. “This year, no matter whether it’s Garnet Valley or anyone else, our motto is to show what we can do, give them our best.”

The Rams, who now stand at 23-0, move on to host a District 1 6A semifinal Tuesday with Downingtown West, a winner over Conestoga Friday.

Talk to enough athletes — high school or otherwise — and you learn to tell the difference between false modesty and the real thing. Bri Peck’s team-first mentality belongs in a category all its own.

“I don’t even keep track or worry about (personal achievements or stats) because it doesn’t mean much without my team,” Peck said. “I just concentrate on throwing my pitches and playing our best game as a team.”

For the record, it’s the sophomore standout’s third no-hitter of the 2019 season, but the first perfect game.

Peck was equally unimpressed with her own first-inning tape-measure home run to left-center field, which gave the Rams a 2-0 lead and all the runs they would need on this day.

“It was a good pitch, but I was looking for (that pitch),” she said. “I was just happy to get us off to a fast start.”

Garnet Valley wouldn’t put the ball in play until their second out of the third inning, a fly ball to left fielder Bridget Sharkey. Peck speared a liner hit back her way in the fourth and sprinted over into foul territory to snare a pop up in the fifth.

But it was first baseman Ashley Della Guardia (2-4, 2B, 3 RBIs) who made the defensive play of the day with one out in the 6th inning, extending for a hit down the first-base line by Garnet Valley pitcher Becca Harford to preserve the perfect game.

“Offensively, we’re a strong team, but we can play defense too,” said Della Guardia.

After Peck’s first-inning home run, Maddy Walsh’s RBI single scored Jules Ryan to make it 3-0 Rams after one. Della Guardia’s single to right scored courtesy runner Karissa Potteiger in the third to expand the lead, and Noelle Reid’s fourth-inning RBI made it 5-0 Rams.

After the first inning homer, Garnet Valley showed little interest in pitching to Peck the rest of the way. The Rams made them play, pounding out 12 hits punctuated by Della Guardia’s booming 6th-inning double to plate the day’s final two runs.

“She got me (on a changeup) before, and I knew I’d see that pitch again,” said the junior first baseman. “The defensive play (in the previous inning) gave me back my confidence, and I was able to sit back and get the runners home.”

Meanwhile, it was Peck, mowing down the Jaguars inning after inning, finally sealing the perfect game on a fly ball to right fielder Reid.

The strikeout-heavy portion of Peck’s outing came primarily in the early innings — 11 K’s in the first four frames — before the rest of the Rams’ defense got involved. Sharkey corralled a tricky, wind-blown fly ball in the sixth right before Della Guardia’s play on the line drive. Peck registered her 14th and 15th punchouts before Lindsey Hunt’s fly ball to Reid ended it.

“Whether it’s the PAC Championship, districts, states — doesn’t matter. We go out there to play our game, show what we can do, and if a better team beats us so be it,” said coach Hughes.

It’s not the end of the road for the 19-4 Jaguars, who will travel to Conestoga for a playback game next Tuesday. The winner will join the Rams in 6A states, while the loser will be done for 2019.
Becca Harford battled through all seven innings for Garnet Valley, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on 13 hits with four strikeouts.

“You have to tip your cap to (Peck) and Spring-Ford after a performance like that,” said GV coach Alie Alkins. “This stings, obviously, but we do live to play another day. We’ll bounce back quickly and be ready to go Tuesday.”

Friday’s start time was pushed up to noon due to Garnet Valley’s prom, scheduled for Friday night. That was more than OK with a Spring-Ford squad who’d been waiting an entire year for the contest.

“We’re just working so well together right now,” said Peck. “And there’s still more to accomplish — we’re not done yet.”

It’s been a great spring on the diamond for the 23-0 Rams. On Friday, their pitcher made it perfect.