The outcome of many a championship quest instead bears disappointment and heartbreak. The thoughts and emotions that occupy the minds of players and supporters of a team on such a quest are almost echoed in the timeless line by 19th Century poet John Greenleaf Whittier, "For of all sad words of tongue or pen, the saddest are these 'It might have been.'"

The Pequea Valley softball squad's dream of hoisting a state championship trophy, despite the tremendous will and effort through nearly two dozen games, came to a halt on Thursday, June 10 at Pine Grove High School when Central Columbia defeated Pequea 3-0 in a PIAA Class 3A state quarterfinals game. The Braves ended their season with a 17-6 record.

"What impressed me about this group was their commitment," Doug High, the Braves' head coach, stated. "We would have Sunday practices and 10 or 11 kids would be there. I liked their commitment to the post-season and how hard they worked to get there."

Central Columbia junior Mea Consentino was coming off a three-hit shutout of Palmerton - a game in which she struck out 12 batters. The lefty struck out 18 Pequea batters and was in a jam only once - a two-out rally by the Braves in the sixth inning.

Abby Tobelmann had a bunt single and after Emily Ammon drew a two-out walk, the Braves had a runner in scoring position - poised to tie the score after the Blue Jays had taken a 1-0 lead in the fourth frame.

In their previous two post-season season games - their PIAA opening-round game and the District Three 3A title game before that - the Braves had rallied in the sixth inning both times.

"I was hoping we had some more sixth inning magic," said High.

Consentino, however, worked her way out of the jam with a strikeout. She didn't allow any Pequea batters to hit anything out of the infield.

Pequea pitcher Olivia Ammon recorded nine strikeouts and did not allow a walk. The Blue Jays went up 1-0 on an RBI double by Emmie Rowe, scoring Alyx Flick, who had singled.

High gave credit to the Blue Jays and their ace pitcher while praising his team's effort.

"We didn't beat ourselves; they beat us," he said. "In our last four games, we did not have an error. We have three sophomores in that infield. I felt confident going in and thought we would have a better offensive showing."

Tobelmann and Olivia Ammon are two seniors who will be greatly missed from the starting nine. Ammon finished the season with 265 strikeouts and had nearly a 6/1 ratio of strikeouts to bases on balls.

"Abby Tobelmann in center field," High said. "She and Olivia will be tough to replace - two very talented young ladies.

"But we had a group of sophomores and juniors this season get a year of varsity experience under their belts," added the coach.