One Round to States

The Hatboro-Horsham Lady Hatters' softball team advanced Thursday to the semifinals of the PIAA Class AAAA postseason by thrashing fourth-ranked Williamsport 11-0 in a game that was shortened to six innings by the mercy rule.

Hatboro-Horsham ace Maggie Shaffer rebounded from a mediocre outing against Governor Mifflin, in which she allowed five runs over seven innings. Against Williamsport, she was dominant, pitching five scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, and striking out four. She gave way to relief pitcher Nicole Casagrand, who hurled a scoreless sixth inning to complete the shutout.

At the plate, Shaffer contributed with a two-run single. Center fielder Melissa Spinosa collected a trio of hits, as well as three runs batted in. First baseman Danielle DiFilippo added two hits, two runs scored, and two runs batted in, and teammate Val Sadowl provided a two-run home run in the sixth inning.

With the victory, the Hatboro-Horsham Lady Hatters clinched a spot in the state semifinal, where they will take on the first-seeded Neshaminy Redskins on Monday.

A victory would vault the Lady Hatters into the state championship game against the winner of the Pennsbury-Latrobe game. The state championship game will be held next Friday at Penn State University.

Just two more victories will give the Hatboro-Horsham Lady Hatters their second state championship in the last four seasons.