Lady Hatters Out-Duel North Penn in Softball, 2-1

There probably are not many teams that would send a freshman pitcher into battle against the powerful state championship softball club from.

But that was exactly what North Penn coach Rick Torresani did when he handed the ball to Jackie Bilotti on Tuesday afternoon.  

Bilotti stifled the Lady Hatters on three hits, striking out four, but one defensive miscue in the outfield was the difference between winning and losing as Hatboro-Horsham squeaked out a 2-1 victory in Suburban One/Continental Conference play.

Coming off their first loss of the season last Thursday, a stunning 9-2 defeat at the hands of Central Bucks South in a first-place showdown at home, and a rain out of Monday's non-conference game at Council Rock North, the Lady Hatters needed to regain some swagger on Tuesday and they did it with a near-perfect defensive game.

"I'm happy with the defense we played," said Hatboro-Horsham coach Joe DiFilippo. "We made all of the plays."

That type of performance was needed, because Lady Hatter senior hurler Maggie Shaffer was not at her sharpest on a cold, windy afternoon.

Shaffer pitched a seven-inning complete game, allowing three hits and four walks, with five strikeouts, but struggled with command.

But any time that she got into any trouble, her teammates picked Shaffer up.

"There are a lot of times when Maggie has picked us up," said DiFilippo. "Today, the rest of the girls picked her up."

The tightly-played game turned in the fourth inning after second baseman Jackie DiPietro beat out a bunt to third for a base hit and was sacrificed to second by third baseman Chrissy James.

North Penn (7-4 overall, 5-2 in conference) had decided beforehand that it wouldn't let powerful shortstop and clean-up hitter Val Sadowl beat it, so Bilotti walked Sadowl on purpose to bring center fielder Heather Lutz to the plate with two outs.

Lutz rifled a shot deep to left field that glance off the glove of one of the fielders, allowing DiPietro and Sadowl to score for a 2-0 Hatboro-Horsham lead.

In the bottom of the inning, North Penn cut that advantage in half when Michele Holweger led off and slammed a Shaffer pitch over the fence in left for a home run.

Alexa Gable followed with a single, but was stranded on third by Shaffer, who also pitched around trouble in the fifth and sixth. 

But Bilotti, who reminded many observers of a young Shaffer, with her pinpoint control and a change-up that kept the Lady Hatters off balance, matched zeros with her older foe the rest of the way.

James and Edwards stroked singles during the game, but Hatboro-Horsham couldn't come up with a key hit to add to its lead. 

"That was a very good ninth-grade pitcher," said DiFilippo. "She did a good job of keeping the ball down. Come playoff time, I wouldn't want to face her." 

But Hatboro-Horsham (10-1, 6-1) still found a way to beat the youngster.

"These girls need to be challenged," said DiFilippo, "and they responded today."

It was a tough day for the Lady Hatter JVs, who were held to one hit and just three other base runners in a 15-0 loss to North Penn.

Catcher Mara Witsen ripped a single leading off the second inning for the lone Hatboro-Horsham hit, but was stranded at second base after a stolen base.  

Lexy Campbell had a first-inning walk, Maggie Leisch drew a base on balls in the third and stole a base and Emily Wallace was hit by a pitch in the fifth for the only other offensive threats for the Lady Hatters, which fell to 3-8 overall and 1-6 in league.

Both Hatboro-Horsham teams will be back in action on Thursday at 3:30 p.m. for conference games against Quakertown.