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SOFTBALL: Penn Charter Continues Unbeaten Path Despite Strong Surge by Springside Chestnut Hill

By Dan McCarty (photos & video by Dan McCarty), 05/03/19, 2:00PM EDT

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Penn Charter Continues Win Streak Dispite Strong Comback From Springside Chestnut Hill Academy

PHILADELPHIA- The score kept growing when the Springside Chestnut Hill Academy Blue Devils’ softball team hosted the William Penn Charter Quakers on Tuesday, April 30, 2019. After four innings, Penn Charter held a substantial 9-0 surplus but SCHA did not get the least bit discouraged and fought back. The Quakers ultimately walked off of the field with an 11-8 victory.

“It could have ended quickly,” said SCHA head coach Steph Mill. “The energy was up. They battled back.”

Penn Charter entered in to this game knowing that it was taking on two-time defending Inter Ac champion as well as 2018 PAISAA champion. The Quakers dropped a decision to the Blue Devils in last season’s state title game. Nevertheless, it played as a team with a lot of effort on this day.

“We really analyze ourselves and try to really think about what we needed to do to win the game,” said center fielder Maddie Solow who belted a grand slam as well as a two-run homer. “Everything comes before the game. All the work comes in during practice.”

With this outcome, Penn Charter remained undefeated for the season. 

“Last year, we faced them in the championship,” said SCHA first baseman Katie Reagan. “We wanted to come out with a lot of fire and a lot of energy.”

The first two innings came and went with a score of 0-0. The Quakers gradually settled down in the third. Abigail Brown was walked and Solow hit a home-run to make it a 2-0 ball game.

Solow enjoyed her next big moment in the sun when she hit her grand slam that brought home Averie Schnupp, Brown and Kamryn Koslosky and it was 9-0 in the fourth.

The following inning things started to shift for the Blue Devils. Marissa Wolff was walked as was catcher Erin Fennessy with Trinity Smith as her courtesy runner. Reagan singled to load the bases with nobody out. Mo’ne Davis was hit by a pitch to bring home Wolff. Colebe Oliver walked in another run. Rebecca Arnold singled in two runs to cut Penn Charter’s lead to 9-4 changing some of the momentum.

“I just really wanted to do something for my team,” said Arnold. “That’s how we work. We pick each other up. We didn’t give up. We did our best right there.”

PC's Schnupp led off the sixth inning with a single. Emily Spencer ran for her and scored. Abigail Manion drove in Solow extending the lead to 11-4.

The Quakers got out of the sixth inning, but the Blue Devils proved that it was not over in the seventh. Oliver singled as did Sam Klug to load the bases with one out. Wolff walked in a run. With two outs, Penn Charter wanted to end it right then, but Reagan hit a bases-clearing triple cutting the Quakers’ lead in half. Although SCHA was fighting, PC made its final out to call it a match.

PC's Maddie Solow talks about her game strategies (video-Dan McCarty)

Game video by Dan McCarty

SCHA's Katie Reagan talks about her game lifting swing (video-Dan McCarty)

PC'S Anastasia Lewis talks about her teams mantra going into each game. (video- Dan McCarty)

SCHA freshman pitcher Sam Klup talks about her teams energy during the game. (video-Dan McCarty)

Winning pitcher Anastasia Lewis recorded a total of 13 strikeouts. She could not have done it without her teammates.

“It was a big win for us,” said Lewis. “It’s a team effort. We came around on the bats today. The gloves behind me kept working, kept fighting. We played our game. That’s the most important thing.”

Klug pitched the entire game and fanned four batters.

Penn Charter resumes Inter Ac League play today, hosting the Academy of Notre Dame at 4:00.

In more league action, Springside Chestnut Hill Academy travels to take on Episcopal Academy Tuesday, May 7, at 4 p.m.