Lady Hatters Win First Playoff Game

Most coaches would be more than a little concerned if their hitters failed to produce a run through the first five innings against a powerful Upper Darby squad in the Suburban One tournament.

But not Lady Hatters' head softball coach Joe DiFilippo. Hatboro-Horsham had stranded runners in almost every inning, and DiFilippo knew that it was only a matter of time for his team to break through and get a couple of runs.

"When we started with the short game, we just couldn't execute it," DiFilippo said. "But once it started to fall into place, I knew we'd be fine. You load the bases up and one ball in the gap is scoring three runs, and that's exactly what we did."

His faith was rewarded when the Lady Hatters loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning. One out later, sophomore Kelsey Koelzer laced an outside pitch to right center field for a bases-clearing triple.

"We weren't playing to our full ability," Koelzer said. "But we have enough confidence in each other that we know we can get the job done ... Before the at bat, I was telling myself to just stay in and get my timing right. I knew if I just put my mind to it, I could hit the ball anywhere I wanted."

After Koelzer's triple provided the Lady Hatters with a 3-1 lead, pitcher Maggie Shaffer was hit by a pitch, and replaced with pinch-runner Melissa Spinosa. DiFilippo called for the suicide squeeze but that didn't work. He then called a double steal, which worked to a charm. Spinosa stole second. When the catcher threw to second, Koelzer darted for home, sliding in safely. As Koelzer headed home, Spinosa swiped third, the third stolen base for the Lady Hatters without a pitch. The triple steal for the Lady Hatters gave them a 4-1 lead heading into the seventh.

"I gave the signal to the runner on first, but heading home from third is Kelsey's decision, and nine times out of 10, she's going in that situation," DiFilippo said. "That's just the kind of player she is. She's got that ice hockey mentality."

Shaffer had pitched a brilliant game, allowing just a single unearned run in the top of the third, by virtue of a throwing error. She headed to the pitching circle in the top of the seventh to close out Upper Darby. A strikeout, pop up, and line out later, and Hatboro-Horsham had pulled out a stunning victory. With the win, Shaffer improved her record to 18-2 on the season.

The Lady Hatters will play the winner of the South-Downington West game on Friday at 4 p.m. at Hatboro-Horsham's field. The winner of that game is assured a berth in the state tournament. The loser enters a loser's bracket and can still qualify for the state tournament.