Chester County Falls Short of Finals

PHILADELPHIA - “Failure is not an option” said Pottsgrove junior Jessica Kurtz, who shrugged off the effect of a bruised knee from Monday’s action. Kurtz helped lead the Chester County all stars to two consecutive wins, eliminating two squads on Wednesday morning.

It wasn’t failure that ended the Chester County team hopes of a Carpenter Cup championship.

Heat, fatigue, a hard-hitting Lehigh Valley squad and perhaps most of all, ghost runners, which were the culprit that put an end to the day for Chester County.

After back-to-back wins to start the day, Lehigh Valley had an eight run first inning and put the brakes on Chester County’s roll to the finals in the 9-3 loss.

In international and Carpenter Cup play when a team has a player missing, it must take an out for the missing player's spot in the batting order. The rule is meant to prevent sand-bagging and the stacking of teams. However, on this day, it was too much to overcome in the sweltering heat.

“It sucks to have to give up six to eight outs a game,” said Chester County manager Brooke Tymeson. “In a tournament of this caliber, every out is so important, to have to give up any of them is hard enough. But, it cost us 12 outs in the first two games, which we were able to overcome and still win the games.” 

Kurtz and Falcons teammate Taylor Robinson combined for a 3-for-6, run, 2RBI performance in a 5-1 win over the Philadelphia Catholic League all stars. They continued to shred the ball in the second game leading the Chester County to a 3-2 extra inning win to eliminate Berks County.

It takes more than the bats to carry a team to a Carpenter Cup title. It requires some lights out pitching against the best the area has to offer, which Owen J. Roberts junior Maddie Galdi was happy to supply.

In the first wins of the day Galdi was unhittable as she pitched in both contests recording 6 K’s and allowing no earned runs, while also not allowing a base hit in seven innings of work.

Galdi, who had an opportunity in regulation to win the Berks county game, scored the game winner in the bottom of the eighth inning as she stole third and raced home as the throw got by the third baseman.

“I wanted to make up for striking out with the bases loaded," said Galdi. “I was so glad to be able to score the run there for us to win. I stole because the catcher bobbled the ball a little but then when she threw the ball away the third basemen was on top of me at first. I had to move her off of me and score the run."

Even though the group fell short of its goal to make it to the final three, it did not dampen the spirits of the head coach.

“I have coached in every Carpenter Cup and have had many teams,” said Tymeson. “This is by far the best team I have ever coached here. To win this many games against the quality of opponents here and give away a third of our outs is incredible. They have made it a point to tell us how much fun they have had and believe me when I say it has been my privilege and pleasure to work with these remarkable young women.”

It may be remembered as a case of what might have been, as Chester County could not catch a break with one player having the flu and another suffering an injury. The ghost out situation was the biggest bullet left out of the Chester County gun.

“I am so excited to be a part of this,” said Pope John Paul II catcher Patsy Murphy. “Of course it’s tough playing a lot of games in one day, but we all love to play softball. We all have built confidence in each other and really have gotten to know and respect each other for travel ball coming up and next season.”

Schedule for Championship Day

9 a.m. - Game #29 - Mercer County vs. Lehigh Valley

11 a.m. – Game #30 - Winner of Game #29 vs SOL American and Continental

1 p.m. – Game # 31- if necessary the same opponents as game #30

Wednesday's Results

9 a.m. Game

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Phila Catholic

0

0

0

0

0

1

0

1

3

1

Chester County

1

0

1

0

3

0

X

5

10

1

11 a.m. Game

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

R

H

E

Berks County

1

0

0

1

0

0

0

0

2

7

2

Chester County

0

0

0

2

0

0

0

1

3

7

1

3 p.m. Game

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

R

H

E

Chester County

1

0

0

2

0

0

0

3

7

1

Lehigh Valley

8

0

0

0

0

1

X

9

7

0