(Photo by Henry Gray) JESS FINE: Pitching ace Jessica Campisi of the Alabama Crimson Tide fires a pitch last Friday in the Tide’s 9-2 win over the UCLA Bruins in the majors division championship game of the Princeton Girls Softball Association (PGSA). Campisi piled up 13 strikeouts in the victory.

Displaying Perseverance and Clutch Play, Crimson Tide Wins PGSA Majors Title

Bill Alden

It didn’t take long for the Alabama Crimson Tide to get rolling in the Princeton Girls Softball Association (PGSA) majors division championship game.

Playing at Community Park on June 13, the Tide jumped out to a 2-0 lead over the UCLA Bruins after two innings.

But then the skies opened up as a thunderstorm followed by a persistent downpour put the game on hold.

With rain continuing to deluge the area, the Tide had to wait six days to resume their title chase.

As the teams hit the field last Friday to pick up the game in the third inning, Tide manager Joseph Campisi was concerned about the impact of the delay.

“There was illness rifling through school and I was concerned for both teams,” said Campisi.

“I didn’t want it to be unfair where one team was missing three players and the other had everybody. I was also concerned about the effect on the momentum of the game, the second start takes that away.”

The Tide’s momentum rested largely on the right arm of Campisi’s daughter, ace pitcher Jessica, a rising eighth grader at the John Witherspoon School.

“Jess found a groove on Saturday and I didn’t know whether she would have that on Friday,” said Campisi.

Notwithstanding his misgivings, Campisi liked what he saw from his team as it warmed up last Friday.

“They seemed like they were into it, although it is hard to tell with a bunch of 12-year-olds,” said Campisi with a chuckle.

“I tried to keep them focused; I told them to play the game they are capable of.”

Picking up where it left off, the Crimson Tide rode the hitting of Campisi and Mary Sutton to score two runs in the bottom of the third off of UCLA ace Sarah Eisenach to build its lead to 4-0.

After the teams traded runs in the fourth, the Bruins narrowed the gap to 5-2 on a run by Cathleen Stanley in the top of the fifth.

In the bottom of the frame, the Bruins got some insurance as hits by Stephanie Wu and Breyana Greats sparked a four-run outburst.

In the sixth inning, pitching star Campisi lost her rhythm, walking the bases loaded with one out, causing some anxious moments for her dad.

“Jess was throwing well; but then she got shaky in the top of the sixth,” recalled Campisi. “I was beginning to think that she might not get through it.”

Showing mental toughness to go along with her pitching stuff, Campisi fanned the next two batters to end the threat and wrap up the title marathon.

Noting that his daughter had been on the losing side in two previous title games, manager Campisi savored the moment of victory.

“I was so happy for her,” said Campisi of Jessica, who ended the game with 13 strikeouts. “She has taken pitching lessons this year, she has really worked for this. When I saw the smile go across her face after the last strike, that was great.”

In Campisi’s view, it was his team’s collective work ethic that led to a great season that saw the team end up with a final record of 11-2.

“When I looked at our lineup in the beginning of the season, I saw that three girls had never played and that another had only played one season,” said Campisi.

“The one critical thing is that they wanted to be there. We had extra practices and usually 10 of 12 would come. I think the extra work and attitude made the difference; the girls really wanted to play. I think eight of them have already signed up for fall ball.”

And those girls won’t soon forget how they endured a rainy spring and a tough foe to end up with a championship.

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