SHIPPENSBURG, Pa. -- It all began three years ago.

Vincentian Academy hired Pete Scanga as its softball coach, and immediately he identified with a group of four sophomores.

At the time, he knew they were the future of the program -- Trish Melvin, Chelsea Leasure, Caren Seltz and Kaity Keenan.

"When I got here, there years ago, it was the sophomores who I identified with," said the affable, easy-going Scanga. "They have been with me every step of the way and they have made everything special. For them to get to this point, and for us to achieve this with those kids, now seniors leading the way, is something very special."

It all hit a crescendo this past Friday at Robb Field at Shippensburg University, when the Royals capped a 24-2 season with a 2-1 victory against Upper Dauphin to capture the PIAA Class A championship.

And make no mistake, Melvin -- as she has been throughout her high school career -- was the most important player.

A senior pitcher who is headed to Brown University, Melvin shined in the title game, striking out 14 batters and tossing a two-hitter to pace the Royals.

"I knew it was a lot on me, but I also knew that my team was behind me, ready to back me up with whatever we needed," Melvin said. "I knew that I couldn't let people get hits and I knew that I especially couldn't put hitters on with walks. I knew that if I did my job and threw strikes that we would have a good chance to win."

She also pitched out of a momentous jam in the sixth, when Upper Dauphin put runners at each base with just one out.

While she did yield a run with a wild pitch, she never buckled. She refused to let the Upper Dauphin batters get that crucial hit.

"They weren't going to take this away from us when we got that close," Melvin said. "They say adversity makes character. In that last inning, they were not going to take this away from us.

"I put myself into jams and I had to get myself out. ... I mean, I think I started to take it easy a little bit. I was glad that I could show that I could fight back."

What made it a little easier in that title game for Melvin's psyche is that she was spotted a 2-0 lead.

One of the greatest luxuries in sports is a baseball or softball pitcher being advanced a lead -- and Melvin will tell you as much.

"It is definitely more comfortable to pitch with that lead," she said. "But I am used to it. To have those runs on your side make it much easier."

As the medal ceremony wound down and the crowd funneled away from the field, Melvin didn't want her time as a Vincentian softball player to come to an end -- even though the end was inevitable and impending.

She perfectly encapsulated her experience, even as it was tough for her to get through, as she fought back a few tears.

"It is tough, I don't want to take this uniform off, as sweaty and dirty and gross as it is," she said. "This is the last time I am wearing it, it is the last time I am representing ..."

At that point, Melvin's voice trailed off, her eyes began to well and emotions overcame her for a brief moment, before she continued.

"I'm sorry I am getting emotional over all of this, but it is a little sad, it is the last time I am representing my school and I loved playing for Vincentian. I loved all of this."