Donatucci and Episcopal cap turnaround with state title

Before the first pitch was thrown in the Pennsylvania Independent Schools Athletic Association state softball championship on Saturday, the home plate umpire had a question for Episcopal Academy's senior catcher, Gabby Donatucci.

Was she ready?

Boy, was she ready.

It was a game she had been waiting to play in for four years, but considering that the Churchwomen finished just 2-13 during Donatucci's freshman year, it was also an unlikely place for Episcopal to end up.

What a difference three seasons can make.

Since Donatucci's difficult first year, the Churchwomen (15-2) have developed into one of the best teams in the Inter-Ac, building rivalries with Penn Charter and Agnes Irwin.

Progressively improving season by season, Episcopal won the program's first Inter-Ac title and captured the Independent Schools championship, also a team first, this year.

"That's the best part," said Donatucci, one of only two seniors on the team. "We have set this program up for a while, and to be a part of something so much bigger than myself is amazing."

Episcopal's rightfielder, Elizabeth Capper, didn't join the Churchwomen until she was a sophomore, after her family moved from Florida. While she heard the stories of the previous year, she could already tell the squad was well on its way to success.

Donatucci, Capper, and Episcopal coach Terry Coyne credit a shift in mentality, more players on travel teams, and greater discipline with the drastic improvement.

Coyne said in years past, players would ask if the team had to practice that day. That lack of commitment doesn't happen anymore, he said.

"I think we were just all really focused," Capper said. "We wanted to win Inter-Ac and then we won the Inter-Ac. No one gave up and then we kept going. This was our second goal and we got that, too."

What made Saturday's 1-0 title win over Agnes Irwin even sweeter was that Donatucci, Capper, and the rest of the Churchwomen got to celebrate on their home field. Rain delays and scheduling conflicts had moved the contest from Villanova.

Still wearing her shin guards, Donatucci handed the championship plaque off to another teammate and looked around as if to get one last look at the field she called home for the last four years.

Exams are this week and seniors are done, so Donatucci won't be back.

"I love this field," Donatucci said. "I'm thinking about stealing home plate."