(Photos and Video by James Quinn, Colleen Claggett & Lennie Malmgren)
BY: JOHN KNEBELS
PHILADELPHIA – If Springside-Chestnut Hill and the Episcopal Academy softball teams met in a seven-game series . . .
Yes. If only.
Since such a scenario will never happen, players and coaches from both juggernauts must accept a share of this year’s Inter-Academic League championship, albeit somewhat begrudgingly.
Both finished 11-1. Against each other, Episcopal defeated the Blue Devils, 2-0, in a game shortened after five innings on April 14.
Then, on May 10 . . .
In the season’s most improbable comeback, Springside-Chestnut Hill erased a 2-0 deficit when senior catcher Marissa Wolff cleared the bases with a two-out, game-winning, walk-off double in the bottom of the seventh. The 3-2 loss was defending champion Episcopal’s first league defeat in two seasons.
“I was very nervous when I was up to bat because I was running through the different scenarios that could happen,” said Wolff. “I knew I had to get on base somehow, but make sure I didn’t pop up or ground out because it would’ve most likely resulted in the game being over with a loss. I knew I had to do whatever I could to help the team win and have the chance to be in first place for the Inter-Ac.”
Game winning slam by SCHA's senior catcher Marissa Wolff vs. EA on May 10th. (Video by James Quinn for PSD)
EA had taken a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly by freshman catcher Hanna Mae Legaspi that scored junior centerfielder Riley Spor, who had started the game with a single. The Churchwomen doubled their lead in the fourth when freshman pitcher Maddie Masiko led off with a triple and scored on a single by eighth-grade third baseman Sofia Foulds.
It stayed that way until the home seventh.
With two outs and the bases empty, SCH faced life support when senior second baseman Darby Casey fell behind in the count at 0-2. Casey took two pitches for balls, fouled one off, and then elicited two more balls to draw the walk.
Junior shortstop Faith Scally delivered an 0-1 single to put runners on first and second. On a 2-2 count, senior pitcher Sam Klug (2 for 4) singled to load the bases.
Up stepped Wolff, who had already been 2-for-3 with a double. On a 2-1 pitch, Wolff slammed a ball over the left field’s head, far enough to score a hustling Casey, Scally, and Klug.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Springside-Chestnut Hill had won the game in epic style. The Blue Devil fans went ballistic.
“When it hit left field, I honestly didn’t think it was going to clear the bases but at least get two players home,” said Wolff, who will attend Bucknell University and “hopes” to play softball there.
“When I realized it did clear the bases, I was very happy and excited because I knew that was gonna win the game for us. It was a very memorable experience having everyone run out into the field after a huge win for the team.”
Making the loss excruciating for the Churchwomen was that, before several pitches, they were just one strike away from clinching the league crown.
“Sharing the title with Springside-Chestnut Hill was initially pretty disappointing for us because of how the second game we played against them ended,” said senior second baseman Karen Xiao. “But I don’t think sharing the title takes away from what we’ve accomplished this season at all - both in terms of record and building team chemistry. At the end of the day we both played amazing all season, and a title is still a title regardless of whether or not we share it.”
SCHA vs. EA in Inter-Ac League Game on May 10. (Photos/James Quinn for PSD)
After the season, it was certainly no surprise when SCH pitcher Klug was named the league’s Most Valuable Player. In 12 Inter-Ac contests, Klug surrendered a grand total of four runs – all in the two games against Episcopal. She issued shutouts in all of the other 10 games.
It could be argued, however, that despite her nearly flawless pitching, Klug’s most important contribution occurred in the aforementioned 3-2 win when she singled to load the bases and then scored the winning run from first on Wolff’s walk-off double.
“I was extremely happy and I felt very honored after being named MVP,” said Klug. “I definitely would not have been able to accomplish this if it wasn’t for my catcher, Marissa Wolff, calling the pitches and the defense behind me.
SCHA senior pitcher Samantha Klug in game vs. Agnes Irwin. (Photos/ Lennie Malmgren for PSD)
“In our win over Episcopal, when I got up to bat, I knew I just had to put the ball in play and things would work out. When I got to first, I realized I was the winning run and on a hit I was going to run as fast as I can. I remember rounding second and looking at Coach Mill (SCH coach Stephanie Mill) waving her arm for me to go home, and that is when I realized we just won the game and split the Inter-Ac with EA.
“I am not disappointed about sharing the title. Sharing the title is a huge accomplishment, and I am so proud of how hard the team worked this year.”
SCH shortstop slugger Scally labeled Klug and Wolff “the backbone of our team for sure.”
“It’s easy to feel relaxed playing behind a pitcher like her,” said Scally, “but especially with her being my best friend, she makes the field comfortable.”
Until the last week of the season, Episcopal had also been dominant. The Churchwomen had allowed only 17 runs in the first 10 games, but in the final two, Germantown Academy and Baldwin School both gave EA a battle before losing 11-10 and 10-6, respectively.
EA in Inter-Ac League Title Game vs. Baldwin. (Video/Colleen Claggett for PSD)
On paper, at least, both co-champions’ immediate and distant future appears very bright. Episcopal loses senior starters Xiao and outfielder Nyah Legette; SCH loses Klug, Wolff, and Casey.
When the all-Inter-Ac team was announced, a combined 11 players from both teams dominated the list and suggested that a two-squad battle for league supremacy would continue.
For SCH, first teamers featured MVP Klugg (pitcher), Wolff (catcher), Scally (shortstop), and junior third baseman Courtney Oliver; second teamers included Casey and sophomore first baseman Kamaha’o Bode. For EA, eighth grader Foulds (third base) joined freshmen Legaspi (catcher) and Masiko (pitcher) on the first team while Spor (center field) and Xiao (second base) made second team.
“I think the program has a ton of potential moving forward,” said Xiao. “Next year specifically, I’m passing the captainship off to three incredible juniors: Rylie Spor, Liv Cella, and Evie Aldridge. All three of them contribute immensely to the team in their own special ways, and I know they’ll be fabulous captains.
“In terms of our underclassmen, we’ve been incredibly grateful to have so much young talent on the team. Maddie Masiko is brilliant on the mound and Hanna Mae Legaspi is equally incredible behind the plate, but what is special about our team is that all the other underclassmen can switch between positions with ease.
“For example, (freshman) Anna Gallagher plays shortstop and (sophomore) Alyssa Sterner plays first base, but both girls were able to work together to hold down the mound in our last game against Baldwin for the championship. Similarly, Sofia Foulds, who is only in eighth grade, primarily plays third base, but can also play catcher when we need it. I have no doubts that the program is in great hands and can’t wait to see what they accomplish.”
Xiao won’t be playing softball in college, and although she may play for a club or intramurals, she will miss everything the sport has offered.
“I’ve been playing softball for my whole life and the thought of not playing anymore is definitely bittersweet, but this season was honestly the perfect ending to my softball career,” said Xiao.
Episcopal Academy in game vs. Baldwin. (PSD photos by Colleen Claggett)
“I’ve never played with a team that has so much genuine love and support for each other, and while I’m incredibly proud of our team for winning the Inter-Ac championship this year, I’m more just grateful to have had the chance to get to know and play with this amazing group of girls.”
*** On May 26 at Arcadia University, Springside-Chestnut Hill Academy ended the season in spectacular fashion, a 1-0 victory over Shipley. Klug saved the best performance of her marvelous scholastic career for her last. She allowed only one hit and two walks and struck out 12 on 93 pitches.
The Blue Devils scored their lone run in the second inning. After Wolff (1-for-1, 2 walks, RS) led off with a single, Bode doubled and junior Emma Blaszczak bunt singled to load the bases. After two outs, Oliver worked a walk to score Wolff.
As is usually the case with MVP Klug, that was all the Blue Devils needed.
Read more about the Blue Devils’ PAISAA title soon!
(Contact John Knebels at jknebels@gmail.com or on Twitter @johnknebels.)