Chambersburg wraps up division title

May 06, 2005|by DAN KAUFFMAN

With the regular season winding down (West Virginia softball teams have already started playing sectional tournament games), here are a few things worth noting:

· Under the guidance of coach Harvey Staver, Chambersburg's softball team just keeps on keeping on. The Trojans clinched their 18th consecutive division title, wrapping up the Mid-Penn Commonwealth crown with a 10-0 pounding of second-place Cumberland Valley on Wednesday.

No. 2 Chambersburg - which reached the PIAA Class AAA state championship game last year - couldn't ask for a better way to prepare for this year's playoffs than the task that awaits it next week. On Tuesday, the Trojans (12-2) meet Shippensburg (14-3) in a rematch from April 9, when Chambersburg won, 6-0. On Wednesday, it may get even tougher as the Trojans step to the plate against No. 1 Greencastle (16-1).

Sarah Signore got the best of Chambersburg in a 2-0 victory last season, but her health is in question after she was hit on her pitching hand by a line drive during Wednesday's 5-1 victory over Boiling Springs. Signore's absence hurt the Blue Devils in a loss to No. 4 James Buchanan on Thursday.

· A quick look at the hitting statistics submitted by area softball coaches reveals an immediate trend - Brunswick batters dominating the upper altitudes.

The No. 5 Railroaders (13-2) - whose only two blemishes this season have come at the hands of No. 3 Catoctin - boast the top three hitters by average in the area, and four of the top five.

They are led by Carly Epley, who is 33-for-51 with five doubles and three triples. In addition to her .647 average, she has stolen 11 bases.

Melanie Kozak (16-for-27 in 11 games, .593, two doubles, two homers) and Megan Epley (27-for-47, .573, six doubles, four homers, nine steals) are second and third in the area, while Hillary Remsburg (29-for-53, .547, nine doubles, eight steals) is fifth. Brunswick is averaging 8.6 runs per game.

· The same story is true on the baseball side of the equation, though not to the same degree. No. 4 Williamsport can lay claim to the top two hitters in the area, Phil Jordan (31-for-52, .596, six doubles, six steals) and Tyler Beard (35-for-61, .574, nine doubles, 22 RBI, 10 steals).

In a 14-3 victory over Boonsboro last Friday, Jordan and Beard combined to go 9-for-10 with six RBI.

The Wildcats have reached double figures in runs 12 times in 17 games, and they have scored at least five runs in every game.

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