As Madalyn Dyer embraced family and friends, the emotions of a season-ending loss washed over her. The lone senior on Upper Perkiomen's softball team, fought back tears while dissecting her final high school game last week.

Madalyn Dyer, center, is consoled by Ashley Forrest following Upper Perkiomen's season ending loss at Methacton High School.

           The Indians fell one win short of qualifying for the PIAA Championships. They lost 2-1 in extra innings to Villa Maria Academy in the District One Class 4A title game.

            Dyer, the team's standout pitcher, surrendered the game-winning hit in extra innings on Thursday, May 25 at Methacton High School. Emma Trainer's double in the bottom of the eighth inning lifted the Hurricanes to the title. 

"We made a good run," Dyer said. "We did well with what we had."

            Kristina Molnar and Erin Gray each recorded two hits for the Tribe, which had six hits in its first appearance in the district title game since 2018. Molnar, a ninth-grader, scored the team's only run.

            Head coach Dean Sullivan lauded Dyer's leadership abilities. He described her as the ideal teammate.  "Madalyn is going to be very successful in life due to her attitude," Sullivan said of Dyer, who registered 11 strikeouts and pitched out of several jams. "She's been great all year. We wouldn't have gotten this far without her."

            Ariana Butler earned the victory on the mound, allowing one unearned run while allowing just six hits and walking four.

            At the plate, she posted a game-high three hits and scored the winning run. Butler, who reached on a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth, hustled home on Trainer's game-winning hit to the fence in left-center field.

            Down 1-0, the Hurricanes scored an unearned run in the bottom of the sixth inning. A throwing error by Dyer allowed the 1-1 tie.

            With two outs in the inning, Grace Whisler singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Butler followed with a comebacker to the mound.

            Dyer deflected the ball with her glove and scurried to collect it. However, her throw eluded first baseman Ryan Berg, allowing Whisler to score.

            In the top of the sixth inning, the Tribe (17-7) had a chance to extend its advantage. It loaded the bases against Butler with one out on a bunt hit by Molnar, an infield error and an intentional walk to Dyer.

            However, the team couldn't convert. Ashley Forrest's fly-out and Morgan Robinson's ground ball ended the rally.

            The Indians had another shot to retake the lead in the top of the seventh. Gray laced a one-out single to left, and Maddie Deeble sacrificed pinch runner Emma Davidheiser to second.

            Leadoff hitter Darby Gasda followed with a single to center. However, Hurricanes center fielder Ella McHugh threw out Davidheiser trying to score on the play to end the inning.

            "I had to force the issue," Sullivan said of his decision to send Davidheiser home on the hit. "I wanted to force Villa Maria to make the play."

            Molnar used her legs to put her team ahead 1-0. She singled with one out in the fourth inning, stole second and third and crossed the plate on an errant throw by Villa Maria catcher Anna Stroup.