Council Rock North earned a remarkable come-from-behind 5-4 win over North Penn in a playback game of the District One 6A Tournament to earn a berth in states. Photos provided courtesy of Keith Clemens Photography...CLICK HERE to go directly to the SOFTBALL Gallery.
#1-6 COUNCIL ROCK NORTH 5, #1-5 NORTH PENN 4
As Taylor Amazeen walked off the field after her final postgame interview, the Rock North senior was greeted by coach John Engelhardt.
“That’s as clutch as I have ever seen,” the Indians’ coach told Amazeen, who was the very definition of clutch in Thursday’s must-win playback game.
The Indians – thanks to the senior captain’s seventh-inning heroics – are bound for states for the first time in Rock North history.
With a pair on board, two outs and the Indians trailing by two in the top of the seventh, Amazeen – down to her last strike – roped a double into the right center field gap. Both runners scored to tie things up 4-4, and the Indians weren’t finished yet.
Jenna Khantzian also came up big when it mattered most, lining an RBI double down the left field line that plated Amazeen with the go-ahead run, sending the Indians’ bench into a frenzy.
“I got a little nervous because I knew there was a runner on base – it put a little pressure on me, but I’m glad I made it work,” Khantzian said.
The Indians’ sophomore hurler retired the Knights in the bottom of the seventh, and the improbable win was in the books for the Indians, who trailed 4-2 heading into the seventh and didn’t so much as have a base runner with two outs.
“I was shocked at the heart that we had,” Amazeen said. “They put their heart and soul into this, and they didn’t give up for one second.
“They knew how much it meant to the seniors – me and Sabrina (Crane), and it also meant a lot to them. This is their chance. It doesn’t happen every year that you get to go to states.”
It didn’t look as though it would happen this year when Bri Battavio – who had allowed just five hits through six innings – retired the first two batters she faced in the top of the seventh.
But Taylor Briggs lined a two-out single to center, and Juliana Shields followed with a bloop single over second. Suddenly, the Indians had life, and when Amazeen stepped to the plate, she represented the go-ahead run. She had just one thought – ‘Don’t get out.’
“I was really hoping I wouldn’t get out,” Amazeen said. “I was 0-for-3 for the day, so I was pretty nervous.
“I just went up there, and I was looking for my pitch, and she gave it to me – it was kind of mid-thigh, inner half of the plate. I just saw it, and I went for it.
“I was kind of frustrated. I didn’t like a pitch the umpire called. I was all flustered, and I was like, ‘All right, now I’m angry.’ I did my best, and it worked out. Then Jenna came up and drove me in. It was really great. I’m really proud of everybody. They worked really, really hard for this and they deserve it.”
There was absolutely nothing to suggest that the game would have such a dramatic conclusion. As a matter of fact, the game was devoid of emotion as the Knights stranded 10 runners through the first five innings while the Indians committed five errors in that span.
“I definitely felt at first we were very flat,” Khantzian said. “I could tell some people were getting down on themselves, but towards the end, once it started getting close, balls were hit in the gaps, we really got pumped up, and our attitudes changed.
“Rather than being flat, we were cheering a lot more. Definitely the sixth inning going into the seventh, I don’t want to say I was giving up, but it was definitely – this might be our last game, this might be our last chance. I think that played into our heads a little more in the last couple of innings.”
Earlier, the Knights plated a run in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on singles by Emily Groarke and Elia Namey as well as a two-out error by the Indians. The Indians got that run back in the top of the second when Elena Calibeo lined an RBI single off the shortstop’s glove.
North Penn took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, thanks to an Elia Namey RBI that plated Groarke, who singled. It was a 4-1 game after Groarke picked up her third single, this one plating Jamie Beer, who also singled.
In the top of the sixth, Rock North pinch hitter Abby Seiple delivered a two-out single that scored Shields, trimming the Knights’ lead to 4-2 and setting the stage for the you-had-to-see-it-to-believe it seventh.
“That first inning they scored one on us and then we came back – we fought,” Amazeen said. “They came up again and scored another run, and I feel like we deflated.
“We realized what was at stake. The coaches and the team have been so passionate about this year. This has been our goal all season. Sabrina and I have been wanting this since freshman year. It’s a different feeling as a senior getting to go to states. It’s our last year, it’s pretty crazy. I think once we realized what was at stake, (we) found a way.”
“I’m so excited,” Khantzian said. “I don’t think this has happened for the North softball team forever, at least before the split. I’m so excited to be able to say we’re going.”
For the Knights, who stranded 10 runners through the first five innings, it was a heartbreaking ending.
“With two outs, they got the hits,” coach Rick Torresani said. “Bri pitched a good game, pitched it where it should have been.
“It’s a tough one though. We had it and we let it go. You have to give them credit. They didn’t give up, and they got the clutch hit. We had the possibility of scoring a lot of runs, but we didn’t do it. We just didn’t get the hit. It’s a shame because we did have our chances.”
Reaching states is the goal of every team, and the Indians are no exception. They are going because Amazeen and company weren’t quite ready to see their season end.
“It sounds like a broken record and cliché – when we walk off this field, we want to feel like we left it all here, and I felt like our energy today wasn’t what it was the last 10 games,” Engelhardt said. “I know this team doesn’t quit, and I know that they got heart.
“When there’s still a ball in play, I feel like we have a shot. Did I expect that? I don’t know. You want your senior to get up in that spot, whether she strikes out or hits a double that scores two runs. I couldn’t be happier for her. This kid has been an incredible leader. For her to come up big in that spot, that’s a close play at the plate, and then Jenna steps up.
“This team has it – they’ve come together as a team. These aren’t individuals. It’s exciting.”
Shields (2-for-3) and Khantzian (2-for-4) led the Indians while Groarke (3-for-4) and Jordan Pietrzykoski (2-for-3) led the Knights.
While North Penn (18-6, 10-2 SOL) saw its season come to an end, Council Rock North (17-6, 8-4) will face District One champion Avon Grove in Monday’s opening round PIAA Class 6A contest.
Council Rock North 010 001 3 5
North Penn 110 110 0 4
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