Springside Chestnut Hill Academy - 2022 PAISAA Softball Champions - PSD Photo by Zack Beavers
Photos/Videos: Jake Gabel & Zack Beavers
By: Jake Gabel
GLENSIDE, PA – After ending the regular season as co-Inter-Ac League softball champions back on May 17, culminating an 11-1 league record, it would seem as though Springside Chestnut Hill Academy completed its list of spring accomplishments.
Think again.
On May 26 at Arcadia University, the Blue Devils had one last item to check off, and that was coming home with a PAISAA state title.
A pair of aces were dueling in the championship game, leading to a low scoring affair, as Springside Chestnut Hill defeated the Shipley School Gators 1-0. On the mound for Springside Chestnut Hill was senior Samantha Klug and Shipley senior pitcher Isabella Purdy was dealing as well.
Klug was dominant all game, pitching a complete game shutout. She did not allow a hit until the fifth inning and finished with an absurd stat line of 12 strikeouts, one hit and two walks. Purdy went stride for stride with Klug however, throwing 14 strikeouts, and allowing one earned run, four hits and six walks through six innings of work.
“(Klug) stepped up because we had to play this tournament in three days,” said Springside Chestnut Hill head coach Stephanie Mill. “So, she pitched Tuesday, she pitched Wednesday and she just was motivated to push through, go in and go strong today. For her to be able to dominate like that is pretty amazing.”
Like most of the game, it was a quiet first inning. Klug would shut down Shipley 1-2-3 with one strikeout in the top of the inning. Then in the bottom half of the inning, Purdy would walk one batter, Blue Devil senior Darby Casey, and then strikeout the three others she faced.
2022 PAISAA Championship Highlights - Springside Chestnut Hill vs. Shipley School - PSD Video by Jake Gabel
SCH senior Samantha Klug talks about her championship performance on the mound – PSD Video by Jake Gabel
The second inning was the most action-packed of the championship. In the top of the inning, Klug would send all three batters packing, adding three more strikeouts. In the bottom half would be where the Blue Devils would secure the only run of the game.
SCH senior Marissa Wolff hit a leadoff single, which was followed by a double that would hit off the wall by sophomore Kamaha’o Bode, advancing Wolff to third. A bunt to third base by Casey would load the bases, as Shipley’s third baseman Maddy Ewald elected not to throw to first in order to hold the runner at third.
With the bases loaded and no outs, it looked like Springside Chestnut Hill was in for a huge inning. However, Purdy would strikeout the next two batters, keeping the bases loaded with two outs.
SCH junior Courtney Oliver came up to the plate and managed to work a walk, which would allow Wolff to score. Purdy would then strikeout the next batter she faced to end the inning.
It would be more of the same for the next few innings until the top of the fifth. Klug’s no-hitter was finally broken-up by freshman Izzy Burgess who notched a double into left field. Later in the inning, Burgess would steal third as well. Ewald would walk and pinch runner Abby Feinberg would replace her and immediately steal second. However, the runners would stay stranded for Shipley as Klug would get a strikeout to finish the inning.
2022 PAISAA Softball Championship Gallery - PSD Photos by Zack Beavers
That would be the last bit of significant offense for the remainder of the game. Klug, a West Chester University commit, would go 1-2-3 for a final time in the seventh inning, striking out the last batter of the game to win the PAISAA Championship.
“I was hoping we were going to be able to get a couple more runs to give us a cushion and we weren't able to,” Mill said. “But our defense really stepped up, Sam (Klug) on the mound got strikeouts when it was crucial, and we were able to hold the lead."
All boxes checked.