Late inning explosion gives Villa Maria District 1 softball title

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WHITEMARSH >> Trailing 2-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning of the PIAA Class AAA District 1 softball championship final Thursday, top seed Villa Maria knew they were running out of time to mount a comeback against No. 11 seed Bishop Shanahan.

Villa Maria head coach Nikki Hartshorn said, “We [coaches] keep telling our girls not to panic, to be patient when you’re behind, not to give up. But as a coach you wonder if they’re going to believe your philosophy. When you see the girls not give up and come through, it’s euphoric.”

The Hurricanes exploded for five runs in the bottom of the fifth, then tacked on three more in the sixth, to defeat Shanahan, 8-2, at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School, capturing their second straight PIAA Class AAA District 1 title.

And, after the game, they were euphoric.

Villa Maria second baseman Bri Wright, whose triple scored the first Hurricane run in the fifth inning, said, “This is an indescribable feeling. Everyone’s so energetic on this team, keeping each other’s back up.”

Hurricane catcher Sarahrose Jonik, who blasted a three-run triple in the sixth inning, said, “It feels like being on Cloud Nine. This is absolutely incredible, a two-peat for us. This is great for the freshmen who are winning it for the first time, and for the seniors, it’s really special.”

Winning pitcher Maddie Abbot, who pitched a complete-game four-hitter, and broke the state career strikeout record in the second inning (more on this feat later), said, “This feels great. There was so much energy and cheering on the bench during the game.”

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Villa Maria center fielder Marissa Bruder got the rally started when she was hit by a pitch with one out. Wright came to the plate, and on a 1-0 pitch, ripped a shot down the third base line into the outfield for a triple, and the players on the Villa bench led the cheering.

“Bri’s hit was the one that got everyone going,” said Hartshorn. “We’re so full of energy, and we’re as one – no individuals. … There is no giving up on this team.”

Wright said, “I was feeling a little down after the top of the inning because I had just made an error that gave them a run. But Sarahrose said to me as I was going to bat, ‘Come on, you can do it.'”

Hartshorn said, “Sarahrose is the momma of the group – she keeps everyone together.”

With the score now 2-1, Villa left fielder Lisa Becker banged a single to left to tie the score. Jonik hit a single to left, and then with two outs and runners on first and second, Villa first baseman Elizabeth D’Ascenzo blasted a long shot to left on a 2-2 pitch – but the ball landed foul. On the next pitch, she singled to left, scoring Becker to give Villa a 3-2 lead.

Villa third baseman Fran Delviscio came to bat, and on the first pitch blasted a two-run triple to center to make the score 5-2.

“It was a high fastball,” said Delviscio. “I was so excited – I knew I had to [come through] for my teammates. … Winning the district championship is an amazing feeling.”

Hartshorn said, “Fran is one of our hardest workers – she stays after every practice to work on things.”

In the bottom of the sixth, Abbot led off with a single, Bruder got an infield hit, Becker walked and Jonik cleared the bases with a three-run triple to right.

“It was an outside pitch, it looked like a curve,” said Jonik. “I told myself to relax and go with the pitch. It felt good off the bat and then I just kept running.”

Abbot entered the game needing two strikeouts to break the state career strikeout record held by Meghan Wimmer of Chichester. In the top half of the second inning, Abbot got her second strikeout to end the inning, and Villa Maria players surrounded the senior pitcher on the bench to congratulate her, but there was no ceremony yet – that was planned for after the game. At the time, Villa trailed 1-0.

“I was relieved when I broke the record,” said Abbot. “But the important thing was winning the game. Winning the district championship feels great, to re-peat. There was more energy, more cheering in this [championship final] – last year, we won 1-0 and it was tight all the way.”

Abbot finished with four strikeouts Thursday. After each team received their district championship game medals following the game, Hartshorn stood near home plate and announced to the sizable crowd that Abbot had broken the state career strikeout record, and the senior pitcher was presented with a bouquet of flowers and a commemorative plaque.

Villa Maria started Thursday’s game with some aggressive base running. In the first inning Bruder led off with a walk and stole second. Wright lined a single to center, and Bruder tried to score, but Shanahan center fielder Anne Weyand nailed the runner at the plate with a great throw. Later that inning, a Villa Maria baserunner was tagged out trying to score on a bunt.

“We hadn’t played Shanahan before, and I wanted to see [early] what they had,” said Hartshorn in reference to the aggressive base running.

Shanahan, which advanced to the championship game by defeating No. 2 seed Upper Merion, 10-0, in the district semifinal, made things interesting early by taking a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning when Weyand cracked a double to left field to score Marley Weston.

In the top of the fifth, Shanahan right fielder Hannah Keiper led off with a single to center, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by left fielder Miranda Bedics, went to third on an infield hit by catcher Katy Newton, then scored when Villa unsuccessfully attempted to pick off Newton.

Shanahan freshman pitcher Devon Miller shut down Villa Maria for the first four innings, escaping a bases-loaded jam in the third.

Shanahan head coach Ron Savastio said, “I’m so proud of these kids – we’re a very young team, and we lost to a really good team today. [Miller] was disappointed after the game, and I told her, ‘Don’t feel bad, you’re only 14 years old and you carried us all the way here, to the district championship game. We rode your back to get here.’

“Our girls are ready to go in the state tournament. The Ches-Mont League is so tough – we played 4A teams all the way this season, and faced lots of great pitchers.”

Bruce Adams

Bruce Adams
Bruce Adams is the Sports Editor at Main Line Media News.

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