Pius X’s softball team dazzles at districts

By John Knebels

POTTSTOWN — They might not have won a state championship, but once again, they finished the season with some impressive hardware.

After losing to Brandywine Heights in the second round of the state softball playoffs, St. Pius X of Pottstown was quick to point out that when you get as far as the Winged Lions did, that has to count for something.

Assessing its 12-11 overall record, the victory that comes to mind isn’t the 12-0, first-round state win over Masterman because that was pretty much over before it began, thanks to a 5-0 blitz in the first inning.

No, the win that made the Winged Lions’ hard work significantly worthwhile was the 1-0 triumph over Villa Joseph Marie in the District 1 Class AA championship.

It was St. Pius X’s fourth consecutive district title, and perhaps its most impressive, given the tight, nail-biting nature of the contest played before a large crowd at Norristown High School.

Then again, those who remember the Winged Lions’ amazing 3-2 championship victory over Christopher Dock back in 2006 might beg to differ, since that contest lasted 17 innings.

But for this year’s Winged Lions, winning districts put a positive punctuation mark on a season that, while including a memorable victory over Pioneer Athletic Conference champion and Class AAAA state championship finalist Owen J. Roberts, resembled an elevator ride.

“We definitely needed to win districts,” said Pius X shortstop Morgan Sauermann. “It would have been a disappointing season if we had lost, even getting to the finals. But we got the run we needed and then Jess took it from there. She really came up big.”

Sauermann was referring to St. Pius X pitcher Jess Killoran, who arguably pitched the game of her life against the Jems.

While Villa pitcher Jamie Kloss was just as dominant, allowing only two hits, one walk, and one unearned run, Killoran surrendered only three hits and one walk while striking out six.

Killoran said her game plan was simple. She said she wanted to stay away from free passes and allow her defense to make the necessary plays.

While both teams’ respective leather provided several acrobatic stops on the field, the defensive play that made the biggest difference — and was later termed “huge” by Pius coach Kevin Keifrider — was turned in by Sauermann.

After the Winged Lions had taken a 1-0 lead in the second inning courtesy of Kate Harvey’s infield hit that scored Sauermann, the game moved rather rapidly until the fifth inning, when Villa loaded the bases but was unable to capitalize.

Then came Sauermann’s heroics in the sixth inning.

A walk and two bunts landed Breanna Pletnick on third base. Lauren Coates, who earlier had provided one of her team’s three hits, then slammed a shot that seemed headed for center field before Sauermann reached out and grabbed the line drive to avoid any damage.

While St. Pius X’s dugout went ballistic, Villa Jo’s was left visibly despondent.

Later, showing what a great teammate she was, Sauermann credited St. Pius X second baseman Morgan Birtch because, according to Sauermann, Birtch had advised her to move closer to the middle of the field.

“It would have been a hit if I hadn’t moved,” she said.

But she did move, and largely because of that, St. Pius X became district champion.

John Knebels can be reached at jknebs@aol.com.