Spring-Ford handles unfinished business, wins PAC championship over Methacton

ROYERSFORD >> For a team riding a streak of 20 consecutive victories to start the 2019 softball season, Spring-Ford came into Thursday night’s Pioneer Athletic Conference championship game with more than their share of unfinished business.

After similarly running through the PAC regular season undefeated a year ago, the Rams were locked in a scoreless league semifinal with Methacton when the skies opened. They didn’t close for a full week, forcing the cancellation of the Final Four and causing Spring-Ford to settle for a Liberty Division championship.

The weather earlier this week caused two straight days of rainouts, but once the Rams were able to take to the field they settled all unfinished business, putting a bow atop their 21-0 regular season with a 5-0 PAC championship win over Methacton Thursday night at Ram Park.

Final: Spring-Ford 5, Methacton 0, PAC championship softball. 3 hit shutout by Bri Peck pic.twitter.com/OZ0oGwsRcQ

— Austin Hertzog (@AustinHertzog) May 17, 2019

Sophomore sensation Bri Peck twirled another shutout, mixing in 10 strikeouts in subduing the powerful Methacton offense, while seniors Julia Heine and Bridget Sharkey contributed early RBI singles to provide the margin of victory.

It’s the second PAC title in four years for the Rams, and the fourth this decade for head coach Tim Hughes’ program. Spring-Ford also claimed top honors in 2010, 2013, 2016 along with last year’s Liberty Division title.

“Honestly, it’s simple — I get great kids and great parents,” Hughes responded when asked for the key to his program’s consistency.

“This is not a showcase — we win and lose as a school. We have fun and that’s what it’s all about. Sure, it’s easier when you’re 21-0, but I really believe that even if we were 0-21, this group would be out here every day, working hard and getting better.”

Methacton head coach Cathy Miller has seen her share of strong contenders over 38 years and 500-plus victories at the helm for the Warriors. After two encounters during the season, Miller knew the Rams would provide the season’s stiffest challenge.

“We knew coming in we’d need to keep things tight,” she said. “But their pitcher (Peck) is very good — she kept us off-balance early. I have a team that can hit, too. We needed to keep things tight, and probably needed to be a little better on defense.”

Miller admitted her goal was to make the powerful Rams play small ball and not allow Spring-Ford to put their trademark “crooked numbers” on the board in any inning.

The Rams did just that early, chipping away with single scores in the second, third, and fourth innings. Senior third baseman Jules Hughes led off the second frame with a single, and moved up to third on sacrifice hits from Maddy Walsh and Ashley Della Guardia. With two strikes, second baseman Heine was able to stay back on a changeup from Methacton’s Caroline Pellicano, punching it to left for a 1-0 SF lead.

“I just waited on it and put my bat on it — I hoped it would land somewhere in the green,” said Heine, who serves as one of the team’s captains. “It turned out to be a key moment.”

Senior center fielder Maddy Little reached second on a throwing error to lead off the third, then advanced to third on a wild pitch. Methacton elected to throw home after fielding Noelle Reid’s bunt, but Little beat the throw to double the host Rams’ lead.

In the fourth, Bridget Sharkey plated Della Guardia with a two-out single to expand the lead to 3-0 — more than enough for Peck, who was only seriously threatened in the sixth, when she walked Kelci Cost to start the inning and Abby Penjuke followed with a one-out single. She limited the Warriors to three hits and a walk, retiring the side in order in four of their seven turns at bat.

“I always know my teammates have my back, so it’s easy to go out and just play my game,” said Peck. “Last year we didn’t get to finish the game against (Methacton) — it was important to go out and show what we could do tonight.”

Spring-Ford would tack on two more insurance runs in the sixth, with Della Guardia hustling around from first on a Methacton throwing error and a fifth run scoring on a dropped third strike. Peck put the Warriors down in order in the seventh and the celebration was on.

“I have 20 kids on this team, and I’m sure some of them would love to be playing more,” admitted Hughes. “But look at them now — they’re celebrating together, all happy. They all play their roles perfectly and they’ve been fantastic all season.”

As for Methacton (15-5), Caroline Pellicano pitches the first 5 2/3 innings before giving way to Paige Deal for the final out of the sixth inning. Pellicano scattered seven hits and struck out one, forcing the Rams offense to work for each run.

Abby Penjuke, Caraline Newman, and Nicole Timko had Methacton’s hits. The Warriors will be the No. 10 seed in District 1 Clas 6A, scheduled to host No. 23 William Tennett Monday afternoon.

“I think making the third round of districts is a great goal,” Miller said. “From there, even if you lose it’s a 50/50 chance of making states.”

For the newly crowned champions, it’s onto the next piece of unfinished business when the District 1 6A playoffs begin next week. A year ago, the second-seeded Rams watched their season end prematurely in an 8-6 loss at the hands of No. 15 Garnet Valley.

Spring-Ford’s unblemished record means they’ll start this year’s tournament as the top overall seed. After enjoying a first-round bye, the Rams will host the survivor of No. 16 Upper Darby and No. 17 Pennridge on Wednesday. The team has no qualms about the bull’s-eye that top overall seed places on their backs.

“Garnet Valley was better than us — if we get beat by a better team, so be it,” said Hughes. “But I’ll take these girls against anybody in the district.”
Heine took it a step further when asked for the team’s goal. “We want to make the state championship,” she said.

This year, all five Spring-Ford seniors — Heine, Sharkey, Hughes, Little, and Logan Bonewitz are serving as team captains. Ironically, the state championships are scheduled for June 13 and 14. The 14th is Spring Ford — and Heine’s — graduation day.

“Doesn’t matter,” the senior responded. “I plan to be at both.”