To say that Ava Dill will never forget her 16th birthday is an understatement.
Before an energetic crowd May 23 at Arcadia University, the Cardinal O'Hara first-team All-Catholic sophomore blasted the seventh pitch of a tantalizing at bat over the right-center-field fence for a three-run homer.
An inning later, Dill and her teammates celebrated the program's first-ever Philadelphia Catholic League softball championship, a 7-0 victory over two-time defending champion Conwell-Egan. In the evening, Dill would celebrate her Sweet 16 with family and friends.
"It was definitely something special," said Dill, referring to her seventh homer of the season. "I woke up nervous, but I feel like going into the game, the vibes with all the girls were already high. I feel like those vibes definitely helped us jump on them in the first inning. The home run was honestly just the icing on the cake.
"At first, it being an opposite field hit, the first thing in my head is to be aggressive on the bases and to take as many extra bases (as) I can because their outfielders are definitely talented and can close the gaps. I knew the pitch was in my zone and it felt good off the bat."
The offense of Dill (3-4, two runs scored, four RBI) and junior Hayden Reale (3-4, two-run double in the first inning) proved more than enough for Cardinal O'Hara senior pitcher Hayden Sissons.
The PCL Most Valuable Player who next year will play softball and major in nursing at Widener University, Sissons struck out 11 while allowing seven base runners. She refused to buckle whenever Conwell-Egan threatened, especially when escaping a bases-loaded situation in the sixth.
Accustomed to her constant dominance, Sissons' teammates felt extremely confident that they would be able to avenge their only PCL defeat - a 2-0 decision on April 24.
"With a pitcher like Hayden, most teams are so behind on her because of her amazing speed," said third-baseman Reale. "We felt like we could settle in because of the three-spot in the first inning. Against a team like Egan with two slappers, though, I definitely still had to remain on my toes and be ready for anything."
O'Hara first-team All-Catholic junior catcher Emily Dill, sister of the birthday gal, has mastered Sissons' repertoire of pitches.
"Catching Hayden is amazing, I have no words," said Dill. "She's one of the hardest working pitchers that I have caught for. She throws many pitches well, and with us being close friends, it definitely helps us be on the same page."
O'Hara coach Danny Yohey lauded his star pitcher.
"She's not only a great pitcher, but she's a great teammate," said Yohey. "She's there to lift up any girl on this team."
Before the season, Sissons established high individual expectations. Though winning a PCL title stood chief among her goals, she also wanted to reach 500 career strikeouts and be named PCL pitcher of the year.
Having whiffed a 500th batter six weeks ago, Sissons shortchanged herself in the strikeout department. She has already hurdled the prestigious 600 club and figures to add more when the PIAA Class 5A state tournament begins Monday, June 2.
The Lions advanced to the state tourney by beating Franklin Towne Charter, 10-0, in the District 12 championship on May 27.
"There is definitely pressure when it comes to being in the circle," said Sissons, who graduated from Our Lady of Angels Regional Catholic School in Morton and is a parishioner at Our Lady of Fatima in Secane. "But along the lines of separating my own performance from the team's, I do not think it's very difficult. We all put everything out on the field."
Sissons had company when envisioning a PCL championship.
"That was a goal we all set in the beginning of our season," said Ava Dill. "I think after the Archbishop Ryan game (8-0 win on April 30), I saw something in our team I haven't seen before. I got a realistic view on how bad our team actually wanted it.
"I knew that if we brought that much drive and aggression onto the field for more games to come, we'd be tough to beat."