Towamencin – Performing even close to perfection is not easy. Hitting your spot with every pitch and getting great defensive play behind the mound is something rare to see. Not so rare, though, for Senior Mady Volpe. Volpe came within 2 outs of her 7th career no hitter and 2nd perfect game. A walk and hit did spoil that accomplishment, but she finished off the complete game and sealed a North Penn Lady Knights 4-1 win over Haverford. Volpe sat down 15 hitters on strikes in a motivated performance, after not living up to her own standard in the past couple outings. 

“The past few games have not been my best,” Volpe said. “I came out and hit my spots today. Just trying to give a good performance for my team.” 

The offense produced a 3 run 4th inning, sparked by Senior Carley Diguessipe driving in 2 runs with a double, giving the Lady Knights the lead. Junior Sophia Collins followed up in the next at bat with a hit of her own, driving in Digiuseppe. Head Coach Rick Torresani knew how big it was to adjust and get the bats moving after a slow start offensively. 

“You want a senior to come through for you, and Carley has done that this year,” Torresani said. “When runners get on you have to drive them in. They’ve been doing that well.” 

The game started with a very slow pace, as through the first 3 innings, both teams combined for only 2 hits, with North Penn accounting for both. Third Basemen Sophomore Anabelle Smink made a great play on a bunt attempt in the 4th inning and threw out the runner at first. It was her first of three total assists in the field. Being only a sophomore, Smink has impressed Torresani with how quick she is coming along.

“She’s a sophomore, so she is still learning, but she is a great player,” said Torresani. “She will get better as the season goes and experiences the pressure of high school softball.”

Volpe and Sophomore Bri Wilmot got things started in the bottom half with back to back singles. Freshman Gianna Cimino got a single in the next AB, but Haverford threw out a runner while heading home. With runners on 2nd and 3rd, Diguessipe stepped in and lined a double, allowing both runs to come home. 

“With 2 outs, I wanted to get some support for Mady,” Diguessipe said. “I really didn’t want to leave the runners on base and give us the lead.” 

Collins came up to the plate and drove in Digiuseppe from second on a single. The Lady Knights ended the big inning with a 3-0 lead and a huge momentum swing in their favour. Feeding off the newfound energy, Volpe forced a groundout to Smink and then retired the next 2 hitters on strikes. 

North Penn kept applying pressure into the bottom of the 5th. After a leadoff single by Sophomore Julia Shearer, a fielder’s choice by fellow Sophomore Sarah Sabocsik allowed for Shearer to advance to second. Carrying over her phenomenal play in the field, Smink got a ball into the outfield that scored Shearer, pushing the lead to 4-0.

Volpe entered the final inning in the midst of a perfect game. After sitting down the first hitter on strikes, Volpe did allow a walk that broke up the perfect, but left a no hitter intact. Another strikeout followed, but then an RBI single broke up the no hitter. A lineout to short ended the game and Volpe, while coming short of another milestone, did pitch a complete game gem and got the win, which is all that matters to her. 

“It’s in the back of my mind that I’m throwing a no hitter or perfect game,” said Volpe. “I just use it to motivate me and even though it didn’t end up being one, I’m glad we got the win.” 

The Lady Knights (8-1, 5-0) have bounced back swiftly, winning back to back games, after the first loss of the season to Pennsbury. North Penn looks to continue their winning ways Monday at Central Bucks South.