West Chester East defeats Hatboro-Horsham in District 1-AAAA first round

HORSHAM >> There’s no such thing as a good or timely error. By definition it’s a mistake. Throughout the season Hatboro-Horsham has been a team that has been pretty solid defensively, but when it does make errors, they are usually costly.

The Hatters’ defensive lapses cost them again. While only committing three errors and only directly costing them one run, it cost them in intangible ways as it was a factor in the 4-2 District 1-AAAA first round loss to West Chester East Tuesday afternoon.

“They kill us,” Hatboro-Horsham coach Joe DiFilippo said of the errors. “Why you would pick a ball up there and throw it over my third baseman’s head when you have no play I can’t figure that out but these kids are young.”

Originally scheduled for 4 p.m. Monday afternoon both coaches admitted the 24-hour delay had at least a marginal effect on the game especially for the traveling Vikings who made the nearly 40 mile trip Monday only for the game to postponed.

The delay didn’t seem to hurt the Vikes that bad as it got on the board with a pair of runs in the first inning aided by an errant throw from a Hatboro-Horsham player helped lead to their first run.

“It was tough because we came up here and by the time we got home it was quarter to five so we couldn’t really practice so that was a wasted day for us,” West Chester East coach Bobby Swier said. “These girls were focused and ready to go and I know they’re excited and ready to play tomorrow.”

West Chester East was certainly adequate on offense, but the game was won with its pitching and defense. The defensive effort was led by shortstop Leah Ritchey, who made a couple nice running catches and started a beautiful double play in the bottom of the second.

“We got a good jump early on with our bats,” Swier said. “Our shortstop, Leah Ritchey, had that double play and even out outfield was moving around backing things up and knocking balls down so everybody as a whole team did a great job and it was great team effort today.”

Kristen Fuertes was the beneficiary of the stellar defense of Ritchey and company. The senior pitcher tossed a complete game, allowing seven hits and two runs with the two runs and three of the hits coming in her final inning of work.

The Vikings did commit one error in game and it came in the bottom of the fourth. The error loaded the bases for the Hatters, but they were unable to make West Chester East pay for its mistake.

“I don’t know where that pitch was at,” DiFilippo said of the questionable pitch that Brittany Hubler struck out on to end the threat. “She tells me she couldn’t even reach it. I scream at her because she doesn’t swing at a pitch that’s close but she said ‘Coach Joe it wasn’t even close.’”

As if the way the bottom of the inning was enough of a morale killer for Hatboro-Horsham, the top of the next inning saw West Chester East start the inning with two straight hits.

The next batter Kelsey MacLaughlin hit a line dive off the knee of Hatters pitcher Taylor Sciubba. Sciubba exited the game and did not return. West Chester East scored two runs in the inning giving it a 4-0 lead, as the runs would stand as the difference.

“Yeah (I think they were a little rattled),” DiFilippo said of the Sciubba injury. “Don’t forget they’re young.”

Up next for the Vikings is a date with No. 3 seed and Suburban One National champ Neshaminy Wednesday afternoon at 4 p.m.

“We were fixing some things and right now I do think we’re playing our best ball,” Swier said. “(We’re) excited. I’m going to do a little homework tonight on Neshaminy and see what they’re all about. We’ve got seven seniors on this team and they’re excited to continue playing.”

For Hatboro-Horsham its season ends but with a lot of promise. The Hatters took the field with four freshman and two sophomores Tuesday afternoon and getting some district playoff experience should bode well for the Hatters next season.

“They had a great year in a tough conference,” DiFilippo said. “Every game they battled. There were games that we lost that we shouldn’t have lost, there were games that we won that we shouldn’t have won. It kind of goes both ways. I give them credit because they never gave up.”