Hatboro-Horsham's DiFilippo, Souderton's Hughes named The Inquirer's softball co-coaches of the year
Hatboro-Horsham had key players back from last season, when it reached the PIAA Class AAAA softball semifinals, but contract issues with the teachers union meant the Hatters would start the 2011 season with a new coach.
Hatboro-Horsham had key players back from last season, when it reached the PIAA Class AAAA softball semifinals, but contract issues with the teachers union meant the Hatters would start the 2011 season with a new coach.
On the other hand, Souderton wasn't expected to be much of a factor in the Continental Conference of the Suburban One League, where Hatboro-Horsham, talent-laden Central Bucks South, and an improved North Penn were expected to hold sway.
But Joe DiFilippo guided the Hatters to their second PIAA Class AAAA championship in four years after taking over for Kelly Crier. And Courtney Hughes breathed new life into a Souderton program that had fallen on some lean years.
For their efforts, DiFilippo and Hughes have been named The Inquirer's co-coaches of the year for Southeastern Pennsylvania.
"We set out three goals at the beginning of the season," DiFilippo said. "Win the SOL Continental Conference championship, win the school's first District 1 championship, and win another state championship. We accomplished all three."
DiFilippo, a veteran travel-team coach, had never coached at the high school level before this season. He took over at Hatboro when Crier was forced to make a choice about coaching when the teachers' union found itself in a contract dispute with the school district. DiFilippo's Hatters, with daughter Danielle playing first base, finished the season 26-2.
Hughes, a graduate of Souderton, took the Indians (18-6) to the PIAA playoffs for the first time since 2006. Hughes got a remarkable year from senior pitcher Liz Parkins as the Indians grabbed the fifth and final spot from District 1 in the state playoffs.
Surprise player
Parkins won this award hands down. The senior righthander came out of virtually nowhere to lead the Indians to the PIAA playoffs, where they shocked heavily favored Central Dauphin, the District 3 champion, in the first round. Souderton eventually lost to state runner-up Pennsbury. Parkins finished with a record of 16-5.
Upsets of the year
The early losses by Central Bucks South and Nazareth Academy in the District 1 Class AAAA and AAA playoffs, respectively, were shockers.
At the beginning of the season, the Central Bucks South Titans were heavy favorites to make another deep run into the state playoffs. They had virtually everyone back from the 2010 team that finished runner-up to Mount Lebanon in the state playoffs. But South didn't even make the state playoffs this season, bowing to Downingtown West in the second round of the district tourney.
As expected, Nazareth won its fifth straight Athletic Association of Catholic Academies crown and appeared a sure thing to repeat as Class AAA district champ. But it lost to Pottsgrove in the opening round.
Year of the sophomores
Pennsbury's sensational sophomores Jess Greenwald, Suzanne Swanicke, Christine Boscara, MacKenzie Obert, Michelle George and Val Buehler aren't the only 10th graders who made people take notice this season. Make sure to check out Hatboro-Horsham's Heather Lutz and Maria Spinosa, Phoenixville's Meghan Loughery, Neshaminy's Lauren Quenze, and Council Rock North's Dominique Pinto next season.
The Inquirer TOP 10
FINAL SOFTBALL
Team Record
Last week's rankings in parentheses.
1. Hatboro-Horsham (1) 26-2
2. Pennsbury (2) 23-4
3. Neshaminy (3) 20-4
4. Souderton (6) 18-6
5. Owen J. Roberts (4) 19-5
6. Spring-Ford (5) 19-7
7. Bishop Shanahan (7) 15-3
8. Downingtown W. (8) 15-7
9. Nazareth Acad. (9) 17-2
10. North Penn (10) 14-8
- Don Beideman
EndText