For a hot minute Chambersburg’s softball team — one of the most storied programs in all of District 3 — was floundering.
The Trojans started the season with a 1-2 record, with one of those losses coming to another district powerhouse: Cumberland Valley.
Coach Chris Skultety’s Chambersburg outfit has found its footing since that opening stretch, with the Trojans dominating its competition over the course of a six-game winning streak.
Chambersburg, bursting with confidence and playing a superior brand of softball, is now ready to kick off the second half of its season. The Trojans’ first opponent is none other than the Eagles, who have yet to taste defeat.
Expect a playoff atmosphere on Thursday evening, when the Chambersburg travels to New Kingstown to take on Cumberland Valley. We’ve selected this matchup of district powers as our Game of the Week.
In the weeks and months to come throughout the high school sports season, we plan on spotlighting multiple teams and sports with our Game of the Week. Any big upcoming games we should know about? Send suggestions to Andy Sandrik via email at [email protected].
Chambersburg at Cumberland Valley
First pitch: Thursday, at Cumberland Valley, 6:30 p.m.
Records: The Trojans enter this contest with a 7-2 overall record, which includes a 4-2 mark in the Mid-Penn Commonwealth Division. Cumberland Valley comes in at 7-0 overall and 6-0 in the Commonwealth.
Last game: Chambersburg dusted Mechanicsburg by a 12-2 score, while the Eagles are coming off a 6-1 victory over Central York.
Last meeting: Cumberland Valley defeated the Trojans 7-5 in the Commonwealth Division opener on March 24.
Meet the Trojans: After a 1-2 start to the season, Chambersburg has found traction in the form of a six-game winning streak, with the Trojans outscoring their opponents 60-10 over that span … With coach Chris Skultety at the helm, Chambersburg checks in as the No. 4-ranked squad in the District 3-6A power rankings … The Trojans are led by 2B/OF Breanne Paetow, whose numbers at the plate have been otherworldly this spring. Paetow, who is on a season-long hitting streak, is batting .611 (22 for 36) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 16 runs, and five RBI, to go along with 17 stolen bases … Chambersburg’s offense has also been fueled by the bats of Malia Cramer (.444), Karley Skultety (.433), and Addison Gsell (.352), who leads the Trojans with four home runs … Expect to see Kori Leedy in the pitcher’s circle for Chambersburg. She’s worked 46 innings and has a 1.98 ERA with 42 strikeouts … Issie Slimmer (9 inn., 3.88 ERA) and Sanay Jones (4 inn., 0.00 ERA) have also pitched for the Trojans … Chambersburg is angling for a return to the district postseason, where it finished fourth and qualified for states a year ago.
Meet the Eagles: Coach Gregg Williams’ Cumberland Valley squad has trampled nearly every team it has faced this season, with the Eagles outscoring seven opponents by a combined 56-18 score … Only one team, Chambersburg, has been able to stay within two runs of CV this spring … Leading the charge for the Eagles are a trio of returning Commonwealth Division All-Stars in First Teamers Sydney May and Annika Shearer, and Second Teamer Emma Stroup … May, the defending Player of the Year in the Commonwealth and a Fordham University recruit, plays the middle infield and pitches for the Eagles. She struck out 11 Trojans in her team’s season-opening win over Chambersburg … Shearer (2B/OF) and Stroup (3B) also provide potent bats in the lineup, while pitcher Lauren Richardson has been a high-volume strikeout artist for the Eagles … Cumberland Valley, the No. 1-ranked team in District 3-6A, is aiming for a return trip to the postseason after finishing as district runner-up last spring.
Sandrik’s prediction: Trojans by 1.
