North Penn’s offense does it all in state semifinals

MECHANICSBURG >> North Penn doesn’t need to do much offensively with Mady Volpe throwing shutout after shutout in the circle, but the Knights bats flexed their muscles in Monday’s 10-0 win over Canon-McMillan in the PIAA-6A state semifinals at Mechanicsburg Area Senior High School.

The Suburban One League Colonial Division champs needed just four at-bats to score 10 runs. They reached double digits in the bottom of the fourth inning and didn’t need to bat in the fifth after the 10-run mercy rule went into effect.

The Knights offense found success in a variety of ways. They totaled 11 hits, five walks and one hit-batter.

Four of the hits were bunts, including back-to-back bases loaded two-out bunts by Rachel Lowry and Julia Shearer to make it a 10-0 game in the bottom of the fourth inning.

North Penn also showed it can hit with power. Sophia Collins got the scoring started in the second inning with a two-out, two-run home run over the left field fence. In the third, Gianna Cimino had an RBI double.

“Sophia gets the two-run homer and everybody starts hitting,” North Penn coach Rick Torresani said. “Our small-ball game worked too.

“Rachel’s bunt, Julia’s bunt – that’s how we scored the last two runs. Can’t beat it if you can play small ball and also get a two-run homer.”

Every batter from 1-to-9 in the Knights lineup contributed in the state semifinals. Everyone reached base at least once, seven different girls scored runs and seven different girls tallied an RBI.

“One through nine everyone can hit on this team,” Volpe said. “It doesn’t matter what position we’re in. We can just produce.”

The offense got a boost from the bottom of its lineup. The last four batters went a combined 4-for-10 with six RBI, three runs scored, a walk and a hit-batter.

“Our top of the lineup is really strong,” Collins, the No. 8 hitter, said. “When they get on base we have to bring them around.”

Canon-McMillan made sure that North Penn’s No. 5 hitter Bri Wilmot didn’t beat them. The Big Macs intentionally walked Wilmot twice with one out and runners on second and third to load the bases for Volpe. The first time Volpe grounded to third, but the catcher couldn’t handle the throw home and a run scored. The second time Volpe singled in a run.

“Mady was batting fourth for us for the longest time,” Torresani said. “We decided to give her a break, put her down a little bit so she could concentrate on pitching. If they don’t throw to Bri they’re going to throw to you so you’re going to get some good pitches. That’s what she did today and she was able to get the hits.”

“I felt bad for Bri because I know she wanted to hit,” Volpe said. “I just, like coach said, make it hurt, make them pay. I think it did.”

The Knights offense, which scored seven runs in their first-round victory over Northampton and four runs in their quarterfinal win over Penn Manor, will look to stay hot for one more game. They face Haverford in the state championship game Thursday at 4 p.m. at Penn State University. In two games against Haverford this season, North Penn is 1-1 with four total runs scored.