WINDBER — Chambersburg’s softball program has found no way — yet — to get around the roadblock set up by Hempfield Area.

In the last 11 years, the Trojans have qualified for the PIAA Class 6A tournament eight times. In five of those eight years, Chambersburg has been put in the same bracket as Hempfield, a perennial District 7 power. All five times, the Spartans have eliminated the Trojans.

Issie Slimmer

That includes this season. On Thursday afternoon at Windber Softball Complex, Hempfield pitcher Jade Varhola handcuffed Chambersburg on 3 hits, 2 walks and 11 strikeouts and the Spartans knocked out the Trojans with a 4-0 victory.

Chambersburg finishes at 19-5, while Hempfield (26-1) will face Central Dauphin (23-1), which edged Souderton 4-3, in a semifinal on Monday.

“We just couldn’t solve their pitcher (a James Madison commit),” Trojan coach Chris Skultety said, “especially all the riseballs she threw. I think’s she’s better than their pitcher a year ago.”

Kylee Perry secured two hits for Chambersburg and Marley Onomastico had one. Skultety said Hensley Brookens and Kendall Flory hit the ball hard. Flory, the catcher, also threw out 3 baserunners at second base.

“Our 7-through-9 hitters, and our 1-and-2 were 0-for-15 total, with 10 strikeouts, and you can’t win with those numbers at this level,” Skultety said. “She was throwing in the 60s.”

Chambersburg also hurt itself with errors made on three bunts.

“We did that recently, so we’ve been working on it in practice, but it didn’t help today,” Skultety said. “Our defense was great all year, but was a little shaky in the playoffs.”

Issie Slimmer (17-5) took the loss, allowing only 5 hits and 2 walks, and fanning 2.

The Spartans scored on an error in the second inning. In the fifth, Abby Magill singled in a run to make it 2-0. In the sixth, Ella Berkobile walked and Jaylynn Luft hammered a home run to left.

“Issie made only one mistake pitch and that was a curveball that stayed up on that home run,” Skultety said. “I think a big key to our success this year is Issie developing her changeup. She worked hard on it in the offseason and it definitely kept batters off-balance against her.”

Skultety said his five seniors (Erissa Varner, Abby Gsell, Onomastico, Slimmer and Sanay Jones) had a huge impact this season.

“I think we overachieved this year,” he said. “With the situation we had at the beginning, I have to give credit to the seniors. They wanted to leave their own mark on the season and they did. They had the ability to never give up.

“Everyone stuck together — even the girls said that about the team. We really enjoyed the season.”