Perfection.
It’s almost impossible to attain, but for one glorious afternoon, Hatboro-Horsham Maggie Shaffer did just that, tossing a perfect game and leading the Hatters to a 6-0 win over Souderton.
The sophomore hurler, however, had no idea she’d retired 21 in a row until she was mobbed on the mound after picking up a strikeout for the game’s final out.
“I was surprised – they attacked me,” Shaffer said. “I didn’t know what was going on until they said I threw a perfect game.
“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff. I just focus on the pitch – one at a time.”
On Wednesday, Shaffer – who fanned 14 - had every pitch working.
“I throw a lot of pitches,” she said. “They were just all at their spots.”
Shaffer has pitched a perfect game in travel ball but this is her first in high school.
“She pitched a wonderful game,” coach Kelly Krier said. “She looked good from the start.
“She didn’t get too deep in the counts. I only recall one hitter having three balls, and she ended up striking her out. It was really exciting.”
Interestingly, the no-hitter could have ended in the first inning had Hatter catcher Chelsea Edwards not elected to pounce on a bunt by the Indians’ number two batter.
“It didn’t go foul, and their runner slowed up,” Krier said. “Our catcher picked it up and rocketed it to first base and got her out. Looking back now, that was a huge play.
“At the time, we just thought it was a heads-up play by Chelsea. It turned out to be pivotal in Maggie’s perfect game.”
By the fourth inning, Krier and assistant coach Erika Lee knew Shaffer was onto something special.
“Erika said, “Maggie’s doing a great job,’ and we both kind of looked at each other like – we’re not going to talk about this anymore,” Krier said. “Maggie is very stoic.
“You don’t know any of her emotions. She’s a perfect pitcher because she does not show anything – nerves, excitement, anger. She just goes out and does her job.”
Centerfielder Megan Kelly came up with a shoestring catch in the sixth inning to preserve the perfect game.
“Erika and I jumped like it was a game-winning catch, and we have a few freshmen on the bench, and they looked at us like – what’s going on,” Krier said.
Appropriately, Shaffer took care of business herself in the seventh, fanning the side and setting off a giddy celebration.
“I was surprised because I had no idea, but I was happy,” she said. “It’s really exciting.”
Two days earlier, Shaffer fanned 11 and allowed just two hits in the Hatters’ 2-0 win over Lansdale Catholic.
“She’s done real well,” Krier said.
Offensively, Valerie Sadowl delivered the game’s big blow – a three-run home run in the top of the third. All told, she had four RBIs in the game. Freshman designated player Heather Lutz was a perfect 3-for-3 with a double. She scored three runs. Julie Wambold was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
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