WARMINSTER, PA- John W. Hallahan entered Thursday’s game against Archbishop Wood as the No. 7 seed in the PCL Softball Quarterfinals, but their pitching overwhelmed No. 2 seed Archbishop Wood.
Hallahan’s Danielle Shields drove in the winning run of a 1-0 win in extra innings, but it was the team’s starter that tossed a gem.
Hallahan’s ace pitcher Maddy McBride hurled a 10-inning shutout, tallying 13 strikeouts and only giving up one hit in a 1-0 shocker at Wood’s home field in Hatboro.
McBride allowed three runners to reach second base before extra innings. Via the international tie-breaker rule, a runner may start at second base to open the inning in order to accelerate the game.
Thursday wasn’t an anomaly for Hallahan. Pitching throughout the season has fueled their success.
“It’s actually been like this all year,” said Hallahan co-coach Matt Rizzo. “Every game we’ve held every opponent, except for one game to four runs or less and most of our games have been 1-0, 2-1 games. We have all the confidence in her [McBride].”
Hallahan's Maddy McBride pitches 10-inning shutout against Archbishop Wood (PSD photo)
Wood would have had two extra singles if it had not been for having base runners being thrown out at third two times after balls hit to left field.
Starting pitcher Marisa Browne had the team’s lone hit with a triple, but didn’t touch home plate. Browne fanned 11 batters and let up only one hit, but took the loss.
Hallahan will face Cardinal O’Hara on May 23 in the semifinal round of the PCL Softball Championships.