Redskins Playing for State Gold

Neshaminy will face District 7 champion Canon-Millan in Friday’s PIAA Class AAAA title game at Penn State University (12:30 p.m.)

By Mary Jane Souder

It had been two years since Neshaminy fell to Hatboro-Horsham 2-0 in the state semifinals, but Diana Palombara hadn’t forgotten the heartbreak of falling one game shy of playing for the big prize.

“Definitely my sophomore year, I felt the seniors’ pain,” she said.

The Redskin senior and her teammates effectively erased memories of that loss in one unforgettable afternoon on Tuesday when they held on for a 3-2 win over North Penn to earn a berth in Friday’s PIAA Class AAAA title game against District 7 champion Canon-McMillan at Penn State University.

For LaPalombara, whose bunt with the tying runs on base was turned into a game-ending double play in that season-ending loss against the Hatters, Tuesday’s win was especially sweet.

“Making that last out – popping up that bunt – was the worst feeling in the whole world,” she said. “I never want to feel like that again.

“Coming out and playing in (Tuesday’s) semifinal game, I knew I was not going to let that happen. Regardless how I played, I knew the team would come together and be the team I knew that we could be.

“This was definitely redemption in my own mind. Being a senior, it was like, ‘Breathe.’ All game I was choked up, and finally, I could breathe."

The Redskins found out the hard way that talent does not necessarily equate to postseason success when – despite their lofty second seed - they lost to Central Bucks East in a second round district game last season.

“I think we did everything we could this season,” senior Julia McGovern said. “Our mindset was take one game at a time because we knew we had something special. If you have something special, you have to keep working hard. You can’t just rely on talent.

“We worked so hard to get here. I’m just speechless. I can’t even think of what to say. Everything paid off – every ball you hit, every practice you went to. Everything you missed (to play softball) paid off at that moment.”

The Redskins are playing in the state tournament because they have received contributions from everyone in their lineup. When rightfielder Molly Garrigan went down with a broken collarbone, Jen Walker stepped in and filled her spot. When sophomore catcher Sam Offenback was sidelined with mononucleosis, McGovern moved from third base to behind the plate and Selina Alicea stepped in at third.

“We’re very versatile,” senior Lauren Quense said. “Let’s just say that. We have many people who can play anywhere.

“Everyone on the team – if you ask them to step in and do something, they’re going to try their best. That’s all you can really ask for. All together, everyone knows how to play the game, and we play together well. We’re all best friends.”

The Redskins entered the season with the burden of lofty expectations, and they have lived up to those expectations. On Friday when they take the field, they will play for the state’s biggest prize.

“Those kids have grown so much as players and individuals,” coach Dave Chichilitti said. “The goal of our season was to win the last game. We gave ourselves a chance (Tuesday). We took a big step. North Penn fought us. We want to come out Friday and take that last step.”

The Redskins will face a Canon-McMillan squad that hasn’t lost since April 5 when it fell to Hempfield in a game that saw neither team use their starting pitchers.

 “This is what we have worked for since my freshman year,” LaPalombara said. “It’s incredible to see our hard work pay off – to be given the opportunity to win the last game, as we love saying.

“From the playoffs on, it’s a totally different season. Our goal is to win that last game.”

“Our goal is to win the last game,” McGovern added. “This team has a lot of heart. We play for each other. It’s a family thing. We want to win for each other. That’s the biggest thing, and that’s something that doesn’t always happen, and I’m lucky to be a part of it. I can’t wait for Friday.”

District One has won the last two state titles with Central Bucks South capturing last year’s crown and Hatboro-Horsham earning gold in 2011. District One teams have won nine of the last 12 state titles. The Redskins won the state crown a decade ago in 2003.

[1-2] NESHAMINY vs. [7-1] CANON-McMILLAN at Penn State University (12:30 p.m.)

• 23-2 overall, 14-0 SOL
• SOL National Conference champions
• Highlights of regular season included sweep of third-seeded Pennsbury
• Only regular season loss came in a non-league game against Nazareth Academy
• The Redskins were the District One runner-up after falling to Central Bucks East in the title game 4-2. The loss snapped a 17-game winning streak.
• Led by Division One signees Lauren Quense (Fordham), Diana LaPalombara (St. Francis) and Julia McGovern (Quinnipiac).

The road to the finals: The Redskins defeated North Penn for the second time in two weeks in Tuesday’s state semifinal game, this time eking out a 3-2 win. Sara Snider-Leonhauser put the Redskins on the scoreboard in the first inning with an RBI double that plated Lauren Quense, who had singled. Sam Offenback’s single made it a 2-0 game in the first. Another Offenback RBI single in the fifth gave the ‘Skins a 3-0 lead before the Maidens scored two runs in the sixth. In last Thursday’s 8-0 quarterfinal win over District 3 third place team Daniel Boone,  Quense threw a perfect game, fanning 15 of the 21 batters she faced. The senior standout also helped her own cause at the plate, delivering an RBI single and a solo home run. Sara Snider-Leonhauser’s RBI double in the first inning spotted the Redskins a lead they would not lose. Julia McGovern and Quense led the Redskins with two hits each. In Neshaminy’s 1-0 opening round state playoff win over District 12 champion St. Hubert’s, Quense tossed a three-hit shutout while fanning nine and walking none. She also drove in the game’s only run with a single off the center field fence that plated senior Diana LaPalombara, who had two of Neshaminy’s three hits.

Canon-McMillan

• 24-1 overall
• WPIAL AAAA champion
• Last loss was April 5 to Hempfield in a game that ace pitcher Alyana Astuto didn't see action.
• Led by senior pitcher Alayna Astuto, who boasts a 23-0 record. Opposing teams are hitting .157 against Astuto, an honorable mention all-state selection in 2012. Highlight of Astuto’s season was a perfect game in a 5-0 win over Hempfield in the district semifinals.
• High-powered offense is led by sophomore Abby McCartney, a first team all-state selection as a freshman after hitting .507 with 12 doubles and a .932 slugging percentage. This year she is hitting .538 with 26 RBIs and 15 extra base hit (.938 slugging percentage).
• Junior catcher Giorgiana Zeremenko, a second team all-state selection last year, has returned to the lineup after sitting out the early part of the season with a shoulder injury. She is hitting at a .440 clip. She was the Big Macs most productive hitter during their district title run, contributing seven RBIs while hitting .667.
• Freshman Linda Rush is batting .530 with 18 RBIs and junior Olivia Lorusso, an honorable mention all-state selection last year, is hitting .448 with a team-high 31 RBIs and 18 extra base hits, which included nine doubles and six home runs. Sophomores Tara Fowler (.393, 11 RBIs) and Maddie Engel (.339, 18 RBIs) also are major contributors.
• In 2012, Canon-McMillan fell to Bishop Shanahan 5-4 in the state semifinals.

Road to finals:  Canon-McMillan ended Pennsbury’s season with a 3-1 win in Tuesday’s state semifinal. Sophomore standout Abby McCartney drove in all three of her team’s runs – spotting her team a 1-0 lead with a two-out RBI double in the first inning. McCartney, who was 3-for-4, broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with a two-run home run, her fifth round tripper of the year. The Big Macs held a 9-6 advantage in hits over the Falcons, who had opportunities but struggled to get the clutch hit. In a rematch of the District 7 title game in last Friday’s state quarterfinal contest, Canon-McMillan defeated North Allegheny 5-0. Pitcher Alayna Astuto fanned six in the shutout win. Yaszmin Kotar led off the game with a triple and scored on a sacrifice fly to give the Big Macs an early 1-0 lead. Freshman designated player Kirsten Rush delivered a two-run home run in the second, and in the seventh, sophomore Abby McCartney added a solo home run. Giorgiana Zeremenko was 3-for-3 while Rush, Kotar and Maddie Engel were 2-for-3. In Monday’s opening round 2-1 win over Hempfield, Olivia Lorusso delivered the game’s big blow, a two-run home run.