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SOFTBALL: Flawless Cardinal O'Hara Rolls to PCL Championship After Semifinal Triumph

By John Knebels, 05/21/19, 11:15PM EDT

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By: John Knebels

 

PHILADELPHIA –There is a concept called ‘Murphy’s Law,” where everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. There’s also an opposite notion known as “Yhprum's Law” – the backward spelling of “Murphy” – where everything that can go right, goes right.

Ask the two teams that met in the Catholic League softball semifinal May 20 at La Salle University which model applied. Expect completely different answers.

Cardinal O'Hara wraps up 12-0 win over Archbishop Ryan:

Behind a textbook approach to hitting and brilliant pitching, Top-seed and undefeated Cardinal O’Hara defeated four-seed Archbishop Ryan, 12-0, and will meet St. Hubert for the Catholic League championship May 22, again at La Salle.

“We really work as a team always, because that’s really what it’s all about,” said senior Alyssa Daly. “We’ve all been playing together for such a long time.”

Of O’Hara’s 10 starters, seven are seniors. All contributed heavily. Over four innings, the Lions sent 33 batters to the plate and amassed nine hits and 10 walks. Nine different players scored runs, and six knocked in at least one. A seven-run third inning ended any possible suspense.

On the mound, senior Jenna Smith was dominant. She allowed five hits and walked one while punching out five. In the first inning, a two-base error, a single, and a stolen base placed runners on second and third, but Davis mowed down the next three with a strikeout, a soft grounder to second, and a comebacker to the mound.

In the fifth, Ryan put runners on second and third with one out, but a strikeout and grounder from senior shortstop Julia Kush to senior first baseman Allison Ahern ended the game because of the 10-run mercy rule.

Asked how important it was for her to maintain the shutout, Smith responded emphatically.

“A lot,” she said. “I’ve been trying for this for four years now. We would be the first to get (a softball championship) at O’Hara. It’s never been done before.”

Two Lions belted multiple hits. Leadoff batter and centerfielder Maggie Loomis, who doubles as Smith’s back-up pitcher, sliced four singles, scored three runs, and knocked in another.

A “wow” moment occurred in the fourth when Loomis scurried from first base all the way to third on a wild pitch. It epitomized the game-long hustle by O’Hara.

“Why take one when you can take two?” said Loomis. “I saw third open and saw her going after the ball, so I took advantage of it.”

The sole junior starter, Loomis recognizes the importance of tomorrow’s championship against Hubert. Her sister, 2017 O’Hara graduate Emily, lost in the championship in 2016, the only other time O’Hara reached the league final.

“After seeing what (the seniors) have been through and my sister went through, they all want it really bad,” said Loomis. “So do we. Not only do we want it for ourselves, we want it badly for them.”

Kush appreciates that. She has also put the semifinal victory in the rear mirror.

“Everyone is feeling great about the win, but we are now focused on the final championship game,” said Kush. “Our whole team is very excited because we want to make history at O’Hara and win the first PCL for our school.”

 

(Contact John Knebels at Jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)

Pitcher Jenna Smith kept Archbishop Ryan scoreless:

Catcher Lexi Galli talks about her pitcher and what it means to advance to the finals:

Maggie Loomis' four hits and game-long hustle aided Cardinal O'Hara:

Alyssa Daly lauds O'Hara's team-wide contribution: