Check back Monday morning for a preview of the Central Bucks South/Governor Mifflin game.
(1-4) Hatboro-Horsham vs. (7-1) Mt. Lebanon
PIAA Class AAAA Semifinal
Monday, June 14, 12 noon, at Shippensburg University
Chelsea Edwards never doubted that her Hatboro-Horsham softball team had a chance to be good this season. Still, the senior co-captain wasn’t sure the Hatters would be good enough to be one of four Class AAAA teams in the state still standing when the 2010 season reached its final week.
“In the beginning of the season, I really didn’t know what to expect,” Edwards said. “As soon as we played our first couple of games, I was like, ‘Wow, we’re good.’
“We kept going, and I was like, ‘Wow, we’re really good,’ and as the season progressed, I was like, ‘Wow, we are extremely good, and we can do some damage in this league.’”
The Hatters certainly did some damage, rolling to a 23-3 record and a spot in the Monday’s state semifinals. Two of their losses came at the hands of a Central Bucks South squad that will face Governor Mifflin in Monday’s other semifinal (6 p.m. at Pates Park in Allentown). The other came after the Hatters’ first loss of the season to South when they were upset by Central Bucks East in their next game.
“After the South game, we were pretty upset that we lost, and I think we underestimated East,” Edwards said. “After that, our attitudes were like, ‘Let’s never underestimate anyone.’
“I think that’s when it all flipped around after that East game.”
In Monday’s semifinal, the Hatters will face a Mt. Lebanon squad that boasts a 21-3 record and is coming off a 1-0 win over Shaler in the state quarterfinals. The Blue Devils – the WPIAL and District 7 champions – are led by Robert Morris-bound pitcher Geena Badolato, who tossed a four-hit shutout and fanned nine in the quarterfinal win.
Interestingly, in the 2008 state title game, the Hatters faced another Robert Morris-bound pitcher in Latrobe’s Alexa Bryson, who boasted some dazzling stats but found herself on the short end of a 3-0 score to the Hatters, who clinched their program’s first ever state title.
Junior shortstop Tess Apke is the big bat in the Blue Devils’ lineup. It was Apke’s solo blast in the fifth inning that proved to be the game winner in Mt. Lebanon’s win over Shaler. The home run was her sixth of the year.
“I have heard they’re a good team, and at this point, that’s what you expect,” Hatboro coach Kelly Krier said. “But we’re there too for a reason. We’re playing really well right now, so if we continue to play the solid defense that’s gotten us here, we’ll be in good shape.
“From the sound of it, we need to be patient, put the ball in play and make the adjustment to a lefthanded pitcher – we haven’t seen a lefthanded pitcher in a long time – and take advantage of opportunities when they’re there.”
Krier admits that advancing to the state semifinals with a squad that boasts just two seniors on its roster – Edwards and Megan Kelly – is something quite special.
“This is amazing,” the Hatters’ coach said. “The ’08 season was special, and (assistant coach) Erika (Lee) and I had a conversation on the bus ride home the other day that in ’08 we said, ‘We have to soak this in because we may never be back, and if we do, it could be a while’ because we were losing a lot of players.
“Now here we are two years later with a group of girls who people knew they had potential, and everyone thought – including myself – we’d have a successful season and make a run, and not that it was a rebuilding year, but they were young, and we’d make the most of what we had.”
According to Krier, things started to click for the Hatters several weeks into the season.
“Young players started to mature and fall into new positions,” she said. “We had some changes.
“Chelsea and Megan have just done a fantastic job as senior leaders. It’s just special. It’s kind of fairy tale.”
Despite the pressure playing in one high stakes game after another, the players have been relaxed and loose.
“Our team – we go out there and we try and have fun,” Kelly said. “Of course, we want to have solid defense and solid hitting, but our coaches don’t try and stress us out.
“They know it’s more important to become a better person from playing softball rather than becoming a better player. With that in mind, we try and have more fun and make it a positive experience. We still work on our skills, but our coaches are more concerned about making sure we become better people.”
That approach seems to work for a Hatboro squad just two years removed from a state title, and the players apparently take their cue from their coaches.
“We’re relaxed, and we don’t give off that super over-the-top intense feeling, so I think they feed off of how we are, and that’s helped us over the course of the season,” Krier said. “It’s not like they don’t know – it’s just that they’re all business.
“The bus ride home from the Shanahan game (a 3-0 win) was the first time I saw a kind of celebration when some of them started to realize, ‘This is really happening.’”
It’s happening because the Hatters not only boast talent but also have been a study in consistency. On the mound, sophomore Maggie Shaffer has been unflappable behind her dark sunglasses.
“She’s very poised,” Krier said. “She’s just so focused on getting the job done. Maggie is a fantastic student – she pushes herself in the classroom too. I think that’s part of who she is. She wants to do well, and she appreciates the team she has playing behind her.”
The sophomore hurler and Edwards – her batterymate - have developed a special relationship.
“Me and Maggie have a fun love-hate relationship,” Edwards said. “I’ll be like, ‘Mags, I love you,’ and and she’ll say, Love you too, Chels,’ and roll her eyes and give me some kind of look. It’s always fun, and obviously, we’re just kidding. It isn’t anything serious.
“I think us having a good relationship and good chemistry allows everything to fall into place. I just feel like she’s a lot more confident when we get along. Nothing really gets to her. We’re a good duo.”
Beyond the Hatters’ battery is an infield that has been rock solid with Danielle DiFilippo at first, Chrissy James at second, Val Sadowl at shortstop and Jackie DePietro at third base.
“They are the part of the team that has really come together nicely,” Krier said.
Offensively, Kelly and Edwards are the undisputed leaders, finishing the regular season with averages of .459 and 458 respectively. Freshman Kelsey Koelzer has been a pleasant surprise at designated hitter. It was her first ever varsity home run – a grand slam – that propelled the Hatters to a big win over Downingtown West.
When Kelly – who bats leadoff - gets on base, James has consistently laid the bunts down out of the number two spot, setting the table for the Hatters’ big bats of Sadowl, Edwards, DePietro and Koelzer.
“Chrissy’s job is a very selfless job because she’s asked to bunt quite a bit,” Krier said. “Bunting-wise she’s the best bunter on our team, and we moved her from the sixth spot to the two spot. When needed, she can hit for power.”
The Hatters’ outfield is anchored by Kelly in center and Melissa Spinosa in right and freshman Heather Lutz in left.
“To be honest, I really didn’t think we could go this far,” Kelly said. “I knew we had a lot of talent on our team, and I knew they would go (far) at some point in time, but I did not think it would be this year.
“I thought, ‘No, they won’t do it while I’m still playing for Hatboro-Horsham.’ I am surprised, but when I look at the team, I’m like, ‘We got it. We can do this.’”
For Kelly and Edwards, Monday’s game will be the preface to their graduation ceremony later in the day, but ask either one what they’re most looking forward to on Monday, and graduation is a distant second.
“I’m really looking forward to the game,” Kelly said. “I’m nervous about making graduation on time, but I’m really excited for this game.
“I don’t know what to expect from Mt. Lebanon. I think as long as we keep doing what we’re doing and hit the ball, we’ll be fine.”
Krier echoed those sentiments.
“We know how difficult Monday’s game will be, but we know we have played a lot of tough teams this year,” the Hatters’ coach said. “If you do what you need to do and take care of what’s in front of you, you’ll find success. We still have the idea we believe we can win.”
In other words, nothing’s changed from the 26 games the Hatters have played before this season.
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