Sister act: Among Ryan's Ostaszewskis, Sarah is the alpha

At the Ostaszewski house in the Chalfont neighborhood of Northeast Philadelphia, there's no doubt about who is in charge.

At least not according to the family's two youngest members: Emily and Kate.

"Sarah is the boss," Emily said through laughter, when speaking about her older sister. Kate would later agree with the sentiment.

The same goes for the Archbishop Ryan softball squad, where Sarah, a two-year captain, is often referred to as the "team mom."

On the field, Sarah - a catcher - calls the pitches for the Ragdolls, led the team in batting last season, and has an impressively accurate arm.

"Talk about a five-tool player," Ryan coach John Kidwell said. "She's our coach on the field."

Off the field, Sarah is in charge of the remote.

On Violet Drive, Sarah, 18; Emily, 16; and Kate, 15, share a room. They have shared a room for the majority of their lives (save for when Kate was an infant), with the two younger siblings sharing a bunk bed; Emily is on the top bunk.

Whether the question is what show they watch on television - if the TV is on at all - or whether the light is off, the final decision is Sarah's, according to Emily and Kate.

When they were younger, their beige room was adorned with trophies from the various sports they competed in growing up - all three play on the Ryan basketball team, previously swam, and did cheerleading.

Now, though, the trophies are gone from the shelves, as the girls decided they were too old to look at them anymore.

Shame, too, as the Ragdolls (4-0) have only accumulated more of them since the Ostaszewskis first put on the black-and-red jerseys.

"The worst part is that we have to give them up eventually," Kidwell said. "Having those three in the lineup is a big help. They are so versatile, I can move them around - they can do whatever."

That's the recurring theme with the Ostaszewskis: Wherever the team needs them, they go.

"They can handle it because they are really good players," Kidwell said. "They play year-round softball and have a lot of experience. They are athletic enough that they can adapt to another position maybe they haven't played before."

As a freshman, Sarah was tasked with playing shortstop for the first time in her career. Now a senior, the St. Joseph's recruit is coming off a .560 season and never balks at throwing out runners from behind the plate who dare to challenge her.

Emily, a junior, is in her second season starting at shortstop, even though when she got to Ryan, second base was her primary position. Now she loves it, and her growing confidence in her abilities at the position is obvious.

Kidwell threw Kate in at third base as a freshman because the team lost its starter to graduation. This season, as a sophomore, she's back at her normal position - the outfield - while batting second in the lineup.

"I think softball brings us closer because it is something we can always talk about with each other," Emily said. "I can always count on them. When something is wrong with me or I'm having a bad day, with softball I can always go to them. Having sisters on my team is a lot better than just having a friend there."

Sarah wakes up first in the morning - 6:45 - followed by Emily and Kate at 7. The group leaves for school around 7:20 - as Sarah says, they only live two minutes away, "without traffic."

They pile into the black Explorer with all of their bags. Q102 or 94.5 is usually on the radio - it would be Fetty Wap if Emily had her choice - and the sisters sing along.

They do it again on the ride home.

After games, the focus isn't on the contest itself, but rather what's next, what's for dinner.

"They are my best friends," Sarah said, with a familiar and wide grin.

Sure, Sarah is usually the decision-maker, the one with the final word, but on this they can all agree.