Pennsbury Falcons Souder-Up For Quarterfinal

As numerous schools in the Bucks County area let students out early due to the exceedingly hot weather, the Pennsbury softball team still had practice; but they were inside.

The Falcons are set to take on Souderton Thursday in a PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinal at Spring-Ford High School. The projected forecast… a steaming, scorching, blistering 96 degrees. That's not cold.

“Both teams have to play, I just hope that all of the kids remain safe,” Pennsbury softball coach Frank McSherry said. “I spoke with our AD, we’ve looked into moving it, but it doesn’t look like there’s a convenient time or place. It just hasn’t worked”

“Everything revolves around where they can charge. It’s a state game, they need a field where there’s only one access. They can charge people as they’re coming in.  It looks like we’re locked into 3 p.m. tomorrow.”

Souderton finished second behind Hatboro-Horsham in the Suburban One League Continental Conference.

Pennsbury lost to Hatboro-Horsham 8-5 less than a week ago in the District Final.

“They (Souderton) are a quality team," McSherry said. “We’re going to have to play our very best game. We can’t play like we did against Hatboro-Horsham that’s for sure. They’re in a tough league. They finished second to Hatboro-Horsham. Five of the teams from that league made the District One playoffs.  That just speaks volumes of how tough that league is.”

Coach McSherry is hoping the Hatboro-Horsham loss motivated his club.

“We’ll find out tomorrow. That’s certainly what we’ve talked about, and it’s how the kids feel. Whether that translates onto the field we’ll see,” McSherry said.

First League All-catcher and South Florida signee D’Anna Devine left school early on Wednesday due to a stomach illness.

Any chance she misses the game?

“Unless she’s in a hospital bed on a gurney she’ll be here,” McSherry said.  “Hopefully she’ll be fine. She never misses a practice."

During the early stages of the season, star right-fielder Savanna Grantham partially tore her ACL. It looked like her senior season concluded before it even started. 

Due to patience, perseverance and following a precise rehabilitation regimen, the future East Stroudsburg star returned to the diamond a few weeks ago.

“It’s a miracle,” Grantham said. “My doctor told me I’d be out all season, two months at least. He just told me to kick my feet up, rest and stay off my feet. Do a little bit of exercises to strengthen my leg back up. I went back for a check-up and they told me I was ready to play.”

Grantham spoke about her rehabilitation.

“Just simple things. Just being able to straighten my leg and holding it for more than 15 seconds, moving it side to side, nothing major." 

“She has a great arm, great speed, even with the bum leg. She always comes up with big hits when we need it,” McSherry said.

“Going into each season we have three goals,” McSherry said. "To win our league, to win our district and to win states. Winning states is certainly the pinnacle, and you normally don’t reach that. That’s one thing about this program; those goals are obtainable.”

The District Championship fell by the wayside, but a state title is still in the realm of possibility.

“I’m pumped,” Grantham said. “I think everybody on this team wants it bad. I’m hoping we come out with a lot of intensity, and play the way we know how to.”

The Falcons are searching for their first state crown since 2007.