Methacton captures Pioneer softball crown

"What am I supposed to do with this?" an ecstatic Megan Stauffer asked her Methacton softball teammates about the championship plaque she was holding.

Although the righthander didn't quite know what the protocol was for handling postgame hardware, she sure knew what to do in the circle and inside the batter's box for the Warriors.

She pitched a complete game, allowing only four hits, and went 3 for 3 at the plate, helping the Warriors win the team's first Pioneer Athletic Conference championship in a 5-3 victory over Owen J. Roberts at Spring-Ford High.

"The whole game was kind of suspenseful," Stauffer said. "But I like the tight games."

The Warriors (16-4) jumped on the Wildcats (16-6) right away, starting the game with five straight hits. RBI singles from Emily Harris and Paulina Lowery, as well as an RBI double from Sarah Rambo, put Methacton up, 3-0, after the first inning.

"It was tough that we didn't score later in the game, but the early lead we got really put us over the top and held us through the whole game," Harris said.

It was a cushion that Stauffer was grateful for, and the Warriors' lead only got bigger as a two-run double by Harris in the second inning put Methacton up, 5-0.

Roberts wasn't going away, though, as the Wildcats started chipping away at the Methacton lead. A hit here, a Warriors error there, and some good baserunning helped the Wildcats get back in the game.

"Being here for four years, this is what I have wanted my entire time in the PAC-10: to come out and win," Harris said. "To do it my senior year is great. I'm so happy that I had the hit that put us ahead."

The final out was a long fly ball to right field. As soon as it hit her teammate's glove, Stauffer knew what to do.

She ran to her catcher, Harris, and jumped on her so hard they both tumbled to the ground.

Owen J. Roberts 001 100 1 - 3 4 1

Methacton 320 000 x - 5 10 4

WP: Megan Stauffer. LP: Kylie Glenn.

2B: M-Emily Harris, Amanda Kulp, Sarah Rambo. 3B: OJR-Sam Garritano.