Upper Merion’s season ends with 5-4 loss to Villa Maria in District 1-AAA semifinals

LOWER MERION — Hannah Chambers knew how big her at-bat was.

It was the seventh inning of the PIAA District One Class AAA softball semifinals, with nothing less than a district final and a state playoff berth hanging in the balance.

Villa Maria Academy, deadlocked with Upper Merion on the scoreboard, was justthisclose to reaching the district finals and states, but Chambers knew she was going to have to come up big.

The score was tied, but the Hurricanes had the potential winning run at second base with two out. And it was Chambers’ turn to hit.

“I felt I was going to have to make something happen, or nothing was going to happen,’ Chambers said. “Coach (Claire Emplit) said just to take a little breath before my at-bat, and try and look at it as just another at-bat.’

So, kind of calmly Chambers stepped up to the plate.

And within minutes the Hurricanes were dancing the dance of the victors. Chambers smacked a run-scoring single to right field, chasing home MaryCate Butler and propelling Villa to a 5-4 win, ending Upper Merion’s season and carrying themselves into the district final, where they’ll face Chichester, an 8-0 winner over Radnor.

The game is slated for Thursday at an as-yet-to-be-named site.

But Thursday was two days away for the ecstatic Hurricanes, who were content to party hearty – at least at the moment.

“This is a big deal,’ Chambers said. “When I came in as a freshman, we were starting from nothing. But we just progressively got better. And to culminate this rise with a trip to states our senior year is great.'”This group of seniors has really turned this program around,’ Emplit added. “They have grown this program to where it is today, and to go to states in their senior year is terrific.’