St. Hubert reigns again as Catholic softball champ

St. Hubert received a masterful one-hitter from Melissa Robinson and bunched three of its seven hits in the top of the seventh inning Thursday en route to a 1-0 victory over Lansdale Catholic and its third straight Catholic League softball championship.

Playing at Arcadia University, Robinson and the Crusaders' Mary Kate Scott hooked up in a pitchers' duel, just as they had in the teams' league opener back on March 26.

The Crusaders prevailed in that one, 1-0, scoring the run on a passed ball.

Thursday, the Bambies (17-5) scored on sophomore Jessica Mishinski's two-out infield hit, which drove in freshman Erica Ragazzone. Ragazzone had led off the inning with a single to center field. She moved to second on Jessica Grzywna's sacrifice, and took third on Sam Coyle's groundout.

Just before Mishinski stepped to the plate, coach Dave Schaefer took her aside.

"He just told me to hit the ball, put it in play," Mishinski said. "I hit the ball and just ran. I didn't look to see where it went."

She just beat the throw to first base, allowing Ragazzone to score.

The Bambies' Jess Ibarra followed with a bunt single, but Scott got Lisa Robbins to line out.

"I was hoping we could put something together to get a run in the seventh," Robinson said. "I was feeling a little tired, but that run perked me up."

Robinson struck out 12 and issued only one walk. The only runner to reach second base for Lansdale Catholic (15-5-1) came as the result of an error.

Robinson issued her lone walk in the bottom of the seventh with two out. But she retired Megan Martin on a ground ball to begin the Bambies' celebration.

"My screwball was working very well," said Robinson, who never faced more than four batters in an inning. "I threw it anytime Coach called for it."

Crusaders coach Paul Suber noted that in the four times the two teams have met since Lansdale Catholic joined the league, three of the games have been decided by one run. The other was a 2-0 outcome in 13 innings.

Both teams will play Thursday at La Salle University for District 12 honors.

St. Hubert will meet the Public League's Girls High for the Class AAAA title. Lansdale Catholic will face Franklin Towne Charter for the Class AAA crown. The winners will advance to the PIAA state playoffs.

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WP: Melissa Robinson. LP: Mary Kate Scott.