HEGINS – Marian’s softball team took one on the chin - and any other place you can think of - on Wednesday against powerful Tri-Valley.

The Fillies - who are enjoying an outstanding season - were no match for a Tri-Valley team that should contend for another PIAA Class 1A State Championship this season.

The Bulldogs hung a 15-0 Schuylkill League loss on the Fillies in three short innings of work.

It was one of those days.

Marty Shade, the highly successful Tri-Valley manager who is in his 32nd season, said the mercy-rule victory wasn’t what he was expecting.

“They’re a better team than they showed,” he said about a Marian squad that fell to 8-3 on the season.

The Bulldogs rolled to the win despite top-notch West Chester bound hurler Emma Maurer not playing. Maurer took a facial hit during the pregame and the trainers couldn’t stop a nose bleed.

But in stepped Libby McGrath, a hard-throwing junior who completely took command, allowing a second-inning single to Anna Grabosky for the only hit.

“It was a nice game for Libby,” Shade would say afterward. “I thought she spotted her pitches well, and I thought our defense did a great job behind her.”

McGrath threw a total of just 28 pitches in her three-inning stint.

As for the Tri-Valley bats, shortstop Gianna Poletti - who is headed to Auburn this fall - led a unit that is powerful from top to bottom. Poletti was perfect in four trips to the plate. In all, the Bulldogs collected 13 hits.

Marian committed three errors in the first inning, and Tri-Valley pounced on the miscues to score seven runs.

“Marian’s (usual) starting pitcher didn’t throw today, so we told our kids they needed to have good approaches,” Shade said referring to the fact that Morgan Kelly didn’t make an appearance in the circle for the Fillies.

Tri-Valley poked out six hits in the first-inning uprising. It then came back to score five more runs in the second, getting three timely hits while taking advantage of three bases on balls and an error. Grace Header, Poletti and McGrath all singled in the rally.

Tri-Valley, which improved to 9-0 on the season, ended the contest in the third inning, erupting for the final three runs of the game, with Poletti driving in the last two runners.

“I’ll be honest with you, we’re going to see them in the District 11 tournament, They’re a very good team, so don’t look at this score,” Shade said about Marian.

ONE OF THOSE DAYS

… The Fillies didn’t field the ball well, which was critical.

A DAY OFF

… Marian coach Joe DeAngelo held back on his top pitcher, Kelly, saying he didn’t want to start her. “She’s thrown a lot of innings for us, so I thought it would be a good thing to rest her,” he explained.”

RUN BABY RUN

… Not only is Tri-Valley a talented softball team, but it’s a heady one too. The Bulldogs are well-schooled on how to play the game.

TOP NOTCH BACKUP

… McGrath did a superb job pitching for the winners. She would be the ace for just about any other team in the league.

Marian 000 – 0 1 4

Tri-Valley 753 – 15 13 1

Karlick, Letcher (2) and Grabosky; McGrath and Price. W – McGrath L – Karlick.