PHILADELPHIA - The memories will last forever, even longer than the shine on the trophies that adorn the hallways of the respective schools that captured baseball and softball league championships this past spring.

     Whether as a star or a reserve, every player contributed to the glory of garnering gold in both the Catholic League (Neumann-Goretti and Bonner-Prendergast) and Inter-Academic League (Penn Charter and Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy).

 Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy seized its first-ever outright league title when it overwhelmed Germantown Academy, 20-0, to mathematically eliminate every Inter-Ac competitor with one game still remaining on the schedule.

     Although the Blue Devils appeared business-like as they shook hands, they recognized what they had just accomplished.

    “There are two plays from this past season that I remember and will continue to remember very vividly,” said junior third baseman Rachel Kazlauskas. “The first was the first play of our second game against Baldwin, when their leadoff hitter hit a hard ground ball up the middle that should have gone through, but our second baseman, Steph DeAngelis, dove to her backhand side to stop the ball and quickly threw from her knees to first base. It was such an amazing play, and it really set the tone for the rest of the game. 

“The game that won us the Inter-Ac title was our second victory against Germantown Academy. With a 20-run lead going into the bottom of the seventh, I remember walking out onto the field with a huge smile on my face. Looking around me, I could see the other girls smiling as well.

     “One of the first things you learn playing any sport is that the game isn't over until it's over, so you should never celebrate too early, but I couldn't help it, and neither could the rest of the team. We knew that we were three outs away from the Inter-Ac title. All we had to do was maintain a strong defense behind freshman Alysa Akins, our relief pitcher. But when GA was down to their last out, we didn't need to make a play. Alysa had struck out the last batter, and the game was over.

     “I remember feeling such joy in that moment as we all ran to the first base line to shake hands with the other team. Afterward, when we had our team meeting, assistant coach Jack Parks and freshman Becca Arnold sprayed us all with silly string in celebration. It was such a happy moment for everyone, and I wish I could go back to that day and feel it again.”

     Junior pitcher Kayla McTamney remembers the Blue Devils’ experience in Orlando, Florida, during spring break as they played at the Wide World of Sports.

“For me, the last out (that clinched the championship) was different, I came out of pitching when it was 12-0 so my excitement was in the middle of the game rather than the end of the game. However, the feeling of solely winning the league for the first time at SCH was a goal we set and accomplished.”

     Junior left fielder Lucy Lamb pointed to a season-opening triumph over Penn Charter as “the best start to the season” because it avenged a bitter 4-3 loss against Penn Charter in the final of the PIASSA tournament the previous season,

     “It set the tone for the year,” said Lamb. “Nothing will compare to us all throwing our gloves, jumping, and cheering when we got the final out in celebration.”

The Catholic League softball title could not have been more different. Bonner-Prendergast edged St. Hubert, 3-2, surviving a nail-biting finish that included the tying run stranded on third base.

     “I will definitely remember our playoff run,” said junior third baseman Kaitlyn Martin. “We were underdogs in the playoffs, the sixth seed. We played the third seed, our neighborhood rival O’Hara in the quarterfinals. We jumped out to an early lead, and played outstanding team defense to clinch a 4-0 victory. Shortstop Caroline Manfre made a diving catch of a line drive and doubled the O’Hara runner off second base to end the game.”

Martin said she was in “shock” after junior pitcher Meg Sullivan ended the game with a strikeout.

But winning the Catholic League title was much sweeter.

     “We were all pumped up for the championship game,” said Martin. “St. Hubert’s had beaten us, 5-4, during the regular season when the winning run scored in the bottom of the seventh inning. But in the championship, we hung on and celebrated as Catholic League Champions.”

Penn Charter shut out Germantown Academy, 9-0, and clinched the league title with one game left.

     “The team this year developed a mental toughness and confidence that we had lacked in previous years, which allowed us to win a lot of close games, including beating Malvern Prep twice by a score of 1-0,” said Gabor. “Those two games would be the moments that I will remember the most from the season. A consistent winning attitude defined the team this year and led to us having such a successful season."

   Neumann-Goretti flicked aside a 3-0 deficit to dispatch Archbishop Wood, 6-4, to win its second straight crown and sixth in the past nine years.

     “The first playoff game of the playoffs defined our team,” said senior pitcher and outfielder George Mascuilli. “We were down 2-0 the entire game against Father Judge. Our energy was not up and we were playing like we were never in a losing position. It came down to the last inning for a shot to move on. We settled our emotions down and battled back to win 3-2 on a walk off hit by Aidan Baur. After that win, we all said to ourselves, ‘We are never losing again,’ and we didn't. That game showed everyone how we do whatever it takes to win.

     “What I remember most about the last out of the championship game was our will to win that game. Joe Messina came in to relieve and was making us bite our nails a little, but again, there was that feeling that losing was not an option. He came up with big strikeouts the innings before the last, but walked the first two in the last. We got two really quick, big outs after that, but I have to say those last three straight strikes he struck the last batter on defined our whole season – us going out 1,2,3 to win the Catholic League, city, and state championships with heart.”

“What I remember most about the last out was looking towards my second baseman (Steve Pizza) and remembering the pact with each other saying that after our last out, we will make the handshake we share after each game be our best and also our last. Well, that handshake turned into a jumping hug that I will remember forever.”

(John Knebels can be reached at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)