Asked who the Pittsburgh Steelers were going to draft in the first round Thursday night, Thomas Jefferson softball coach Heidi Karcher just laughed.
“I don’t even know. I don’t know anything,” she said. “My husband always says they need someone for the line, so a lineman or a wide receiver is usually what he says.”
While Karcher may not know the inner workings of the local NFL war room, she knows a thing or two about winning softball.
The Jaguars clinched a section crown in a winner-take-all victory over the Highlanders, 6-1.
Mother Nature delivered the drama so that by the time Thomas Jefferson and Baldwin met Thursday following two rainouts and a suspended game after a half-inning, the teams were playing for the Section 4-5A championship.
When the game was stopped last week, TJ enjoyed a 2-0 lead after a two-run homer by Jemma Danko.
When play resumed, the Jaguars added to their lead in the fourth inning on a solo homer by Camdyn Noderer.
Adalina Bracco, the lone senior in the starting lineup, singled home Rylee Mencheck in the fifth inning to make it 4-0 Thomas Jefferson.
Two more runs scored in the sixth on RBI singles by pinch hitter Giuliana Mendel and Rylann Donahue.
The lone Highlanders run came in the bottom of the sixth on a solo home run by sophomore Camryn Temme.
Speaking of sophomores, the Jaguars are loaded with them.
Their starting 10 most games is made up of seven sophomores, two juniors and one senior.
“I was senior heavy last year, but I knew what these sophomores had the potential to do if they were given a chance,” Karcher said. “I knew having Aubrey (Shaffer) back too was a nice constant when you have your two-year starting pitcher back.”
Shaffer wasn’t dominating but was very good in getting Highlanders hitters to pop up or fly out eight times.
“It’s been a long season, and she has pitched every game for me,” Karcher said. “She’s a fighter through and through. She does her job and works really hard at it.”
She allowed one run on only three hits with one walk and nine strikeouts.
The Jaguars have a solid pitcher and heavy hitting offense, but their calling card might be on defense.
“I’m a big proponent of defense,” Karcher said. “The girls know I expect 150% effort. I want them hustling, I want them communicating, and they have to give me everything. I love their gritty attitude.”
The Jaguars offense hammered out 12 hits, with most of the damage coming off the bats of the heart of the TJ batting order with hitters 3, 4 and 5.
Bracco, Danko and Noderer were a combined 8 for 12 with two home runs, four runs scored and four RBIs.
“They have their hitting lessons they go to religiously, so they are working at our practice and outside as well,” Karcher said. “We worked hard at situational hitting and manufacturing runs when we have to.”
The loss is the second straight for Baldwin. The Highlanders fell at home to Trinity on Wednesday, 4-0.
They finish in second place in the section at 10-2 and are now 13-3 for the season.
Melina DeFilece suffered the loss, allowing four of the six runs on nine hits with no walks and five strikeouts.
Thomas Jefferson wins the section with an 11-1 record and has now won six straight to improve to 12-2 overall.
“I just told them the work starts now,” Karcher said. “Now you are one and done. There is no more, ‘We’ll get them next time.’ This is when it gets hard.”