Conwell-Egan captures Philadelphia Catholic League softball title

ASTON — The momentum had swung entirely over to Archbishop Ryan and the thought that Conwell-Egan might lose in the Philadelphia Catholic League softball title game for the third straight year was definitely not out of the question.

"Oh, yeah, they had the momentum for sure," said veteran Conwell-Egan head coach Sandy Hart, when asked what the feeling was when the Ragdolls put up three runs in the top of the fourth to slice deeply into an Eagles lead.

"But then Katey came up big for us like she always does."

Ain't that the truth.

The big blast

With one swing, Katey, as in Katey Brennan, the reigning PCL MVP, belted a two-run homer on the first pitch she saw in the bottom of the fourth inning over the fence in right at Bruder Field on the campus of Neumann University to all but end things.

Yes, her blast only made it 6-3, which would turn out to be the final score, but it was much more than that. All of the momentum swung back to the Eagles as soon as the ball cleared the fence. It was Brennan's fourth home run in the last four games to go along with eight RBIs.

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Father knew best

"My dad texted me before the game and said that if I saw a first-pitch strike, I needed to swing at it," said Brennan, a Seton Hall commit, who drew over 20 walks in PCL play alone this season.

"It was a pitch I could hit and I'm just glad it went over the fence. This is just a great feeling and I'm so happy for everybody."

The victory gave the Eagles, who were the PIAA Class 2A runners-up a year ago, their first PCL title since 2007.

"This has been a big goal of ours since the start of the season," said Conwell-Egan senior pitcher Ahlana Sesar. "After we lost last year (to Archbishop Wood) we didn't want it to happen again.

"Losing last year gave us more drive for this season. This was our first priority and now we need to take this momentum to states (the PIAA tournament)."

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PIAA run up next?

The Eagles will have to beat Philadelphia Public League representative Philadelphia Academy Charter in the May 30 PIAA District 12 Class 3A final, which they will be favored to win at home, to again qualify for the PIAA tournament.

Last year's run to the PIAA final marked the first time a PCL softball team, regardless of classification, made it that far.

"We wanted this (the PCL title) and we want to win the state title," Brennan said. "We know that won't be easy, but everybody on this team gives everything they have and we have each other's backs and we'll be ready to go."

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Game highlights

The Eagles jumped out to what would be an insurmountable lead in their first at-bat by scoring four times with the key hit being a two-out, two-run single by sophomore Amariah McKnight.

Both teams flashed plenty of leather and there was only one error in the game. The Ragdolls' roster features just two seniors.

"Both teams played well and we knew they would be tough," said Hart, who upped her PCL title total to 11. "And I couldn't be happier for our kids.

"They work so well together, and care about each other, and really wanted this one and went out and got it."

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Drew Markol: dmarkol@theintell.com; @dmarkol

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Conwell-Egan upends Archbishop Ryan to earn PCL softball crown