Souderton’s rally thwarted by Great Valley in District 1-AAAA quarterfinals

FRANCONIA — There will be a new PIAA softball state champion this year in the Class AAAA division.

The defending state champion, Souderton, fell to Great Valley by a score of 8-7 in District 1-AAAA quarterfinal action at Souderton High School on Friday evening.

The loss ended the Indians’ season. With the win the Patriots qualified for states and advanced to the District 1-AAAA semifinals where they will play Owen J. Roberts next Tuesday.

“It’s indescribable,’ said Great Valley coach Jeff Cellucci. “This is a very young team that hasn’t experienced any of this in years. There are a couple seniors who, when they were freshman went 0-20, so this is for them.’

Great Valley a 20th seed in the playoffs came in with hot bats after defeating Springfield-Delco in its previous contest by a score of 11-1.

The Patriots kept their bats rolling to start Tuesday’s contest. Using two walks and two hits Great Valley jumped on top of the fifth-seeded Indians 3-0 in the first inning.

After two scoreless innings, the Patriots offense exploded again in the top of the fourth. Two errors in the inning and an RBI double by third baseman Emilee Kirk left the score at 6-0 heading into the bottom of the third.

Souderton was not ready to fold over however. In their half of the inning, the Indians responded with three runs of their own. Following two, two-out hits, Indians’ first baseman Katie Kehler drove in two runs with a double and scored the next play on a Great Valley error.

“It knocked us down a little bit, but our team is very good at coming back from leads whether they’re big or small and we’ve always done that well,’ said Souderton coach Steph Rummel. “So, there was no doubt we were going to keep battling with the bats.’

Pitcher Alex Scheeler worked a one-two-three top of the fifth and Souderton struck once again in its half of the inning. Led by their 3-4-5 hitters, the Indians grabbed three more runs in the inning.

The trio of Morgan Yoder, Dayna Shelly and Kehler batting in those spots combined to go seven for 11 with three doubles in the contest scoring all seven of Souderton’s runs.

“They definitely stepped up,’ Rummel said. “I don’t think they were thinking much in the batter’s box. They were just stepping up to the plate and hitting the best way they knew how and it worked out for them.’

In the top of the sixth, the Patriots showed they were a resilient bunch as well. With two outs, Great Valley centerfielder Sarah Schubert was able to extend the inning by advancing to first on a dropped third strike.

The next batter, pitcher Morgan Orlowski, knocked in Schubert with a double to put her team up by one. An error on the next play allowed Orlowski to cross home and made the score 8-6 in favor of Great Valley.

“They don’t quit,’ Cellucci said of his team. “We have not quit all year long. We’ve had some growing pains in between but ever since these playoffs started we’ve been swinging the bats with no fear and not quitting whenever adversity has faced us.’

The score stood at 8-6 heading into the bottom of the seventh. While Great Valley had a two-run lead, Souderton had its order right where it wanted with Scheeler leading off then Yoder, Shelly and Kehler following.

Orlowski, a sophomore, was able to retire Scheeler before hitting Yoder with a pitch. Shelly reached on an error and Kehler grounded back to the pitcher for a fielder’s choice at home.

The next batter, third baseman Missy Wiley, reached on an error plating Shelly and putting the tying run at second with two outs.

That’s when Orlowski bared down. She struck out the next hitter on four pitches and sent her team to states and the district semi-finals.

“That’s a sophomore who is only going to get better and better,’ Cellucci said. “That just shows character and fight. I just love every single one of these kids. They’re amazing me. I’m just amazed. I’ve been doing this 26 years and this team is amazing the heck out of me.’