By Scott Huff
UPPER MERION – Hatboro-Horsham senior catcher Chelsea Edwards has never heard of the mythical Dottie Hinson – played by Geena Davis - from the 1992 movie A League of Their Own.
“I never heard of that movie,” insisted Edwards. “But I’ll have to watch it someday.”
The tall and graceful Edwards plays the game much like the legendary Hinson. And her skill behind the plate and affection for the game was evident as the Hatters advanced to the PIAA Quad-A state semifinals with a 3-0 victory over Bishop Shanahan on Thursday.
“There is no other place than I would rather be than playing with a team that I love,” smiled Edwards who will attend Lock Haven University next fall and will play softball for LHU in the spring. “We are having so much fun.”
You play games to have fun – but it is no fun losing.
Edwards helped sophomore Maggie Shaffer turn 21 with the win. Shaffer celebrated her 21st – victory that is – with a two-hit shutout.
“The great thing about Maggie is that she never loses her composure,” said Edwards – who has caught all 21 of Shaffer’s wins this season. “She is very consistent around the strike zone, and she is just one (good) pitcher.”
Shaffer gave up just two hits – a single in the third inning and a single on the fifth inning. She also issued only one base on balls – in the fourth inning. Shaffer had a modest six strikeouts.
“When I pitch, I consider every batter to be a good hitter,” said Shaffer. “I respect every hitter, and I work hard to get everyone out.
“It helped a little that we played this team before,” added Shaffer in reference to the Hatters 3-0 win over Shanahan in the PIAA District One Quad-A playoffs. “And I thought that our defense played very well behind me.”
The Hatters played flawless defense behind the diminutive Shaffer. No errors or no passed balls – Shanahan couldn’t boast of the same as the Eagles had a trio of passed balls and a couple of damaging fielding errors.
“When it comes right down to it, in the state playoffs the team that makes the fewest mistakes wins,” said Hatboro-Horsham head coach Kelly Krier. “We hit with two outs, we moved runners along, and we made all the plays in the field.
“We play the game the same way – look for opportunities and try to capitalize on them,” added Krier. “We have the attitude that we are going to score runs, and we refuse to think any other way,”
Hatboro-Horsham scored what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the third inning.
With two outs, Val Sadowl was safe on an error. Edwards and Jackie DiPietro each coaxed a walk to load the bases.
And with Kelsey Koelzer at the plate, Sadowl raced toward the plate on a passed ball and slid home safely ahead of the throw to give the Hatters a 1-0 lead.
Hatboro-Horsham ‘broke the game open’ with a pair of runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Koelzer singled to open the inning and then stole second base. One out later, Melissa Spinoza singled home Koelzer with the second run of the game.
With two outs, Megan Kelly singled Spinoza to third base. And Chrissy James followed with an RBI single to plate Spinoza with what proved to the final run in a 3-0 game.
The victory will thrust the Hatters into the PIAA Quad-A semifinal game on Monday against District 7 champion Mt. Lebanon, which defeated Shaler 1-0 in a quarterfinal game on Thursday. That will mean a long bus ride for the Hatters.
Monday is also graduation day for both Edwards and Kelly.
“Our athletic director is trying to move the game up so that we can get back in time,” said Krier. “A couple of years ago, we had the same problem with a group of eight seniors. We got back for graduation, but I don’t know that the girls got showers.”
“There is no way that I wouldn’t play in the game, and there is no way that I am going to miss graduation,” said Edwards. “Even if I have to graduate in my softball uniform.”
Dottie Hinson wouldn’t have had it any other way.
Bishop Shanahan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 0
Hatboro-Horsham 0 0 1 0 0 2 x - 3
Bishop Shanahan – Freed 3 0 0 0; Ulrick 2 0 0 0; Poppe 3 0 0 0; McHose 3 0 0 0; Roberts 2 0 0 0; Barbaur 1 0 0 0; Lewis 3 0 0 0; Barbaur 2 0 1 0; Donzie 1 0 0 0; Boggle 2 0 1 0. Totals 22 0 2 0.
Hatboro-Horsham – Kelly 4 0 1 0; James 4 0 2 1; Sadowl 4 1 2 0; Edwards 2 0 0 0; DiPietro 1 0 0 0; Koelzer 3 1 1 0; DiFilippo 3 0 0 0; Spinoza 2 1 1 1; Lutz 3 0 0 0. Totals 26 3 8 2.
Bishop Shanahan Inn H R ER K BB
Kate Poppe (L) 6.0 8 3 2 12 3
Hatboro-Horsham
Maggie Shaffer (W) 7.0 2 0 0 6 1
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