Penn Charter claims PAISAA softball championship.

WESTCHESTER>> The Penn Charter softball team captured its third consecutive PA Independent Schools championship by downing the Hill School, 10-5, at Westtown in West Chester.

Faith Fenton and Ava Nicolucci, both from Roxborough, alongwith freshman Anastasia Lewis combined on the mound to keep the Hill School at bay long enough for the PC offense to get rolling and catapult the Quakers to victory and the PAISAA title.

Carrying most of the offensive load was Brigitte Gutpelet, who crushed a three-run homer, and third baseman Abby Quinn, who drove in four runs on the day.

The second- seeded Quakers swept through the tournament field, a task made easier when top-ranked Springside Chestnut Hill Academy got knocked out in the first round by Episcopal Academy.

The Quakers, who are coached by Doc Mittica, finished 2017 with a 22-5 mark and a 66-9 record over the past three years.

To get to the finals, PC had to squeak by a solid Notre Dame Academy team 1- 0 in the semifinals. Faith Fenton and Anastasia Lewis combined to hold Notre Dame scoreless. PC scored the winning run in the sixth as junior Grace Stansfield coaxed a walk and then charged home following an overthrow at first on a ball hit too short by Abby Quinn with two outs. Not surprisingly, two of PC’s losses this year came at the hands of Notre Dame, but the girls were determined to not let it happen a third time.

Senior pitcher Faith Fenton, a graduate of Green Woods Charter School in Roxborough, credited the “growth of the younger players on the team” for PC’s success in the tournament. Case in point, the Quakers had to replace their entire starting outfield fromthe 2016 squad.

Fenton, who plans to attend Drexel University in the fall, also credited the calming influence of team leaders like catcher Grace Stansfield and shortstop Brigitte Gutpelet when nerves would get a bit frazzled.

Fenton also mentioned a motto from Mittica that would help the team focus on the task at hand: “Fear no one; respect everyone.”

SUBMITTED PHOTO — PENN CHARTER CLASS RECORD The Penn Charter softball team celebrates its victory in the PAISAA championship game.

SUBMITTED PHOTO — PENN CHARTER Roxborough residents Ava Nicolucci, Faith Fenton and Celena Militello celebrate Penn Charter’s victory.

Shortstop Brigitte Gutpelet rifles over to first as Penn Charter defeats Notre Dame Academy in the semifinals.

PHOTOS BY RICK CAWLEY — FOR DIGITAL FIRST MEDIA Faith Fenton lays down a sacrifice bunt as Penn Charter defeats Notre Dame Academy in the semifinals.

Coach Doc Mittica talks over strategy with senior Abby Cohen as Penn Charter defeats Notre Dame Academy in the semifinals.

Faith Fenton pitched four innings of shutout ball against Notre Dame in the semifinals.

Freshman Anastasia Lewis got the win in relief in the semifinals against Notre Dame.

Left, freshman Maddie Solow sizes up a waisthigh pitch as Penn Charter defeats Notre Dame Academy in the semifinals.

Notre Dame fireballer Grace Jackson only gave up one unearned run in the loss to Penn Charter in the semifinals.

Grace Stansfield slides home with thewinning run following an overthrow as Penn Charter defeats Notre Dame Academy in the semifinals.

Abby Quinn can’t snag a hot shot past third as Penn Charter defeats Notre Dame Academy in the semifinals.