The Hatters, who lost to Shaler, 3-0, two years ago in the state championship game, scored all of their runs in the sixth inning at Shippensburg's Robb Field. The big blow was a run-scoring triple by senior third baseman Rachel Gieringer. She also had a key role in the Hatters' defensive play of the day.

With her team having pushed across one run to break up a scoreless pitching duel between Sadowl and Wildcats ace Alexa Bryson, Gieringer sent a shot to right center for her triple. She scored on Heather Hannum's ensuing single.

" 'We got one run. Let's make it two,' " Gieringer said she told herself as she stepped to the plate against Bryson. "My adrenaline was flowing."

One reason the adrenaline was flowing was because of the defensive play she participated in two innings before.

The Wildcats loaded the bases on a pair of infield hits, one off the glove of Sadowl and another one on which Hatters second baseman Katie Wambold made a diving stop but couldn't get the ball to second in time for a force out. Latrobe's Emily Fenton was safe at first when ump Susan Wallace ruled Hatters first baseman Heather Hammum was off the bag. The two had bumped as they came to the bag.

Some discussion about interference ensued with the umpires, but nothing came of it.

Megan Kozusko then lofted a fly ball toward left that Megan Kelly caught at her knees. Lauren Taylor, who was on third base, tagged up on the catch and headed for home.

"I was trying to throw home, but it was not a strong throw," Kelly said. "Fortunately, Rachel was able to cut it off."

Gieringer turned and threw home to get Taylor at the plate.

Latrobe coach Bob Kovalcin said he would send Taylor home again under the same circumstances.

"They had to make two perfect plays - the catch and the throws home - and they did," he said.

Sadowl said she has put her trust in her defense all season, and it certainly didn't let her down yesterday.

"Last Monday, we had the same thing [no-out, bases loaded] in our win over Owen J. Roberts and got out of it," Sadowl reminded the crowd surrounding her after the game.

The Hatters end with a record of 26-2. Latrobe is 22-3.

The Wildcats' Bryson, headed to Robert Morris next year to play, lived up to her impressive credentials. Coming into the game, she was 20-2 with 306 strikeouts. She added 10 strikeouts yesterday and had given up only one hit, a double by Katie Wambold, through five innings. The Hatters' other three hits, all solid shots, came in the sixth inning.

"We didn't know much about her until we got to the finals," said Sadowl, "but we felt we had something to prove."

"That's the best-hitting team we've seen all season," said Kovalcin.

And now they are state champions.

Hatboro-Horsham 000 003 0 - 3 4 1

Latrobe 000 000 0 - 0 3 2

WP: Amanda Sadowl. LP: Alexa Bryson. 2B: H–Katie Wambold. 3B: H–Rachel Gieringer.

or dbeideman@phillynews.com.