Villa Maria captures District 1-4A championship in 8 innings over Upper Perkiomen

FAIRVIEW VILLAGE >> Ariana Butler says pitching is her favorite part of playing softball.

But she’d had enough of it for one day.

“I mean, I could’ve and I would’ve gone back out there,” said the Villa Maria junior. “But I really didn’t want the game to go another inning.”

Emma Trainer’s walk-off double allowed Butler to take matters into her own hands, racing around from first base with the winning run as the Hurricanes of Villa Maria claimed the District 1-4A softball championship with a 2-1 victory in eight innings over Upper Perkiomen at Methacton on Thursday afternoon. 

“All 20 games we played this year built up to today,” said Villa coach Bill Miller. “I don’t know if we’ve seen a pitcher that tough.”

The pitcher in question was Upper Perk’s lone senior, Shippensburg-bound Madalyn Dyer, the hard-luck losing pitcher who struck out 11 Hurricanes on the afternoon.

But Butler matched Dyer pitch-for-pitch all afternoon, then extended Villa’s turn at bat with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Trainer followed, sending Dyer’s first offering deep into center field and bringing home Villa’s first since 2016 — the last year of the four-classification system.

The win sends the Hurricanes to the PIAA 4A state tournament starting June 5. 

“She [Butler] has so much speed,” said Trainer. “I knew if I put one into the outfield, she had a chance to score.”

“Never,” said Butler, asked if she considered stopping at third. “When I saw it in the air, I picked up my coach at third and kept on going.”

Ironically, a similar play with a different outcome put the game into extra innings.

Upper Perk had the go-ahead run in scoring position with two outs in the top of the seventh when second baseman Darby Gazda singled through the middle. 

But Villa center fielder Ella McHugh fielded the ball cleanly and came up firing with a perfect throw to catcher Anna Stroup to prevent Upper Perkiomen from regaining a one-run lead.

One inning later, Villa was celebrating.

“This has to be one of the top moments of my career,” said Trainer. “I had a walk-off hit in a travel game once, but I’m pretty sure this goes right to the top.”

The winning run momentarily overshadowed Butler’s excellence in the circle. She scattered five hits and a single run over eight innings, striking out three and working five 1-2-3 innings.

It almost wasn’t enough, thanks to the brilliance of Upper Perk’s Dyer.

On a team that features a majority of underclassmen and several freshmen, Dyer provided leadership both by seniority and by example throughout the Tribe’s season.

“I wish every player was just like her,” said Upper Perk coach Dean Sullivan. “She’s our team leader, and she’s the biggest fan of every one of her teammates.

“She’ll be very successful both at Shippensburg and in life because of the way she carries herself.”

Dyer went the distance in the circle, allowing two runs but setting down 11 Hurricanes on strikes.

“I’m just very blessed to be here,” said Dyer. “We’re a young team, and there’s such a bright future. 

“But there has to be a winner and a loser. It’s tough today, but all in all it was a great experience.”

Sullivan credited Dyer for setting the example that allowed such a young team to play with poise throughout 2023, reaching not only the District title game but the PAC championship as well.

“I think taking the challenge, the opportunity to lead allows us to succeed,” said Dyer. “It’s about having a positive attitude. Pressure is a privilege, and that was my attitude all season.”

Dyer plans to major in business management and play softball next year at Shippensburg.

Butler and Dyer each allowed only a single run in the first seven frames. 

UP struck first with Kristina Molnar’s fourth-inning single and back-to-back steals, the second of which drew an errant throw that allowed Molnar to advance home and give the No. 2 seed Tribe a 1-0 lead.

But Villa Maria would answer in the sixth, rallying with two outs with a Grace Wisler single. Wisler moved to second on a wild pitch, and Butler’s speed forced a hurried throw on an infield grounder, allowing Wisler to race home and tie the contest.

Upper Perk catcher Ashley Forrest played a huge role in getting the game to extra innings, firing to first base to pick off a Villa Maria runner in the bottom of the seventh. 

Her heads-up play turned a subsequent fielder’s choice that could’ve ended the game into an inning ended.

But Trainer made the most of Villa’s next opportunity, delivering Butler with the big hit to send the Hurricanes back to states for the first time in seven years. 

“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Butler. “I’m just glad I had an opportunity to contribute.”