LINGLESTOWN — Mackenzie Stake (pictured above) picked a perfect time to produce her best pitching performance of the season.
The Chambersburg freshman limited Central Dauphin to just 3 hits Friday afternoon to lead the Trojans to a 2-1 victory that clinched the Mid Penn Commonwealth Division softball championship.
Chambersburg scored two runs off Rams ace Sam Gress in the top of the 6th inning, with the eventual game-winner coming off the bat of Hailey Privett.
The Trojans are 13-6 overall and 11-2 in the division, with one game left (at Mifflin County) on Monday. Both the Huskies and CD (13-5) now have 4 division losses.
The win also put Chambersburg into the Mid Penn tournament, which begins Tuesday. The Trojans will play the winner of Saturday’s game between James Buchanan and Shippensburg, which will determine the Colonial Division winner. Tuesday’s game is at Big Spring at 5:00.
“To go through Cumberland Valley (Tuesday), Mifflin County (Thursday) and CD in four days is an unbelievable accomplishment,” Chambersburg coach Chris Skultety said. “Especially to finish off a four-game week at CD against the best pitcher in the conference in Sam Gress.”
Gress also allowed only three hits, but the Trojans scrapped for two runs in the sixth. Taylor Myers led off with an infield single, then Kirsten Johnson bunted for a hit. Gress walked Haiden Brookens to load the bases, then plunked Brooklyn Miller in the helmet to bring in the first run.
Kara Neidigh grounded out to Gress, who got an out at the plate. Then Privett stepped up and looped a single into left field that scored Johnson with the eventual game-winning run.
Stake and her defense did the rest. She walked none and struck out five and the Rams’ only run came on a bloop hit, a sac bunt and another bloop hit that fell between 3 fielders in the second inning.
Skultety said, “That was the best Mackenzie’s looked all year. She mixed her speeds and moved the ball inside and outside.”
The Trojans were right behind CD in the District 3 power rankings in Class 6A, and might vault past the Rams into sixth.
Skultety said, “There haven’t been many times in my three years that I’ve not had plenty to say after a game, but today was one of those times. I was at a loss for words and got choked up.
“These girls have been doubted all year. We lost eight seniors from last year and were picked to finish fourth. You can’t measure the heart these girls showed. Proud doesn’t even come close to how I feel as a coach. It’s all about them and they deserve it.”