Schick to the script: Unlikely hero gives Hampton a dramatic 1st-round PIAA win

By: Giustino Racchini
Monday, June 2, 2025 | 6:27 PM

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Hampton advanced to the second round of the PIAA softball playoffs off the bat of an unlikely hero at the bottom of the lineup.

Ashley Schick sent a no-doubt walk-off home run over the left-center field fence to give Hampton a 1-0 victory over Punxsutawney in a Class 4A first-round game Monday at North Allegheny.

“Our coach always wants to win the game and have a great time doing it,” Schick said. “Not having a lot of pressure and the support of the team was really helpful for me.”

Schick entered the game in the fifth inning, taking the place of No. 9 hitter Emily Maloy. Her bat may have won the game for the Talbots, but it was her glove — and arm — that gave Hampton a chance.

In the top of the seventh, with a runner on third base and one out, Schick caught a fly ball in left field and laced a bullet to the catcher Katelyn Dubee at home to complete the double play and end the inning.

“I was just throwing it to get it in,” Schick said. “I definitely wanted to get her out and was just praying for the best.”

Hampton coach Katie Hedderman now advances to the second round of the PIAA tournament in her second season at the helm. Last year, Hampton fell to St. Mary’s in the opening round.

“They stayed in it the whole game,” Hedderman said. “We’ve talked about battling and fighting back, and we knew when you get to the playoffs, the best of the best have got here and there are no more gaps.”

Hampton got out to a slow start against the District 9 champions. Marissa Snyder had to work out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning.

In the second, Punxsutawney had two more hits with two outs, but Snyder was unfazed and was able to escape the situation.

She settled in through the rest of her start, making judicious work of the Chucks lineup, giving the Talbots a shot at winning their first-round contest.

Snyder finished with a complete game to go along with eight strikeouts and a pair of walks and hit batters.

The Chucks only had two more hits the rest of the game after having five baserunners in the first two innings.

Hampton’s offense did not help their pitcher out initially. The Talbots were not able to get a hit off pitcher Makenna Gola until the sixth inning when Teresa Fritsch sent a single into left field.

Gola finished with the loss but only gave up the two hits. She had three walks and five strikeouts in her final pitching performance of the season.

“We were chasing too many pitches, and we were maybe anxiously swinging at pitches,” Hedderman said. “She was moving the ball around a lot, and so even when we made contact, they had a solid defense with no errors.”

Hampton will take on Fort LeBoeuf, a 10-6 winner over Elizabeth Forward on Monday, in Thursday’s quarterfinals.

Tags: Hampton