Trish Melvin and her Vincentian Academy teammates have accomplished quite a bit over the years, with the current senior class compiling a 77-11 record with three WPIAL finals appearances, four trips to the PIAA playoffs and this season's WPIAL Class A championship.

But what takes place tomorrow morning has the potential to trump it all.

The Royals (23-2) will play Upper Dauphin (22-2) in the PIAA Class A championship game at 10 a.m. at Shippensburg University's Robb Field.

"It's awesome," said Melvin, the Royals' pitcher. "It's everything I have worked for all coming together now, everything the team has worked for. Everything is working out our way. It's awesome. I'm really glad we're all working together for the same thing."

And should the Royals win the final game of the season and the final game in the high school careers of the team's five seniors?

"It would be probably the best thing in my high school career as a softball player if it would ever happen," she said.

And the excitement isn't limited to the Royals' players alone.

Reached on the phone on the way back from IUP Monday after his team's 7-2 victory against Bishop Guilfoyle in the PIAA semifinals, Vincentian coach Pete Scanga was positively giddy his team would be playing for a PIAA gold medal.

He and assistant Tom Phillips each had experienced the thrill of a PIAA final before -- as parents. Scanga's daughter played in one for Shaler and Phillips' as a player at North Allegheny. But this is their first experience as coaches, as well as Vincentian's initial softball PIAA title game.

"We're really pumped up," Scanga said. "We talked about it. This is the first time in school history we've made it this far, and that's such a legacy for everybody on this team to leave. And it doesn't end with the 15 kids on this squad; it's the whole school. We have so many great fans who are screaming and rooting for us. Everybody's all pumped up."

The team was to leave by bus for the cross-state drive this morning at 10 a.m., with the coaches to follow in the evening. The Royals maintain that the early start tomorrow will not be an issue, noting that many travel team softball games start even earlier than that -- Vincentian played two tournament games in Florida that started at 9 a.m. and a regular season game against fellow WPIAL semifinalist Avonworth at 11 a.m. in April.

That would signify that if the Royals happen to get off to a sluggish start tomorrow, the early starting time won't be the blame. Vincentian fell behind, 2-0, during the first inning of the semifinals Monday.

"I thought the kids were a little tight in the first inning," Scanga said. "After that, we settled in."

Melvin admitted there could be nerves, even if many on this Royals team have championship game experience, having played in three WPIAL title games the past three seasons.

"I know if I come in and throw my game, with my defense behind me, I won't have to worry too much," she said.

The Royals' lineup is littered with stars and is headed by seniors Melvin, Chelsea Leasure, Caren Seltz and Kaity Keenan.

"These four seniors are leaving a legacy that will be hard for anybody to overtake," Scanga said.

"They're 23-2 this year and have won 77 games in their careers with two silvers and a gold in the WPIAL and now making the finals in states. This group has done more than enough."

But Vincentian is also deep throughout the remainder of its roster and gets significant contributions from underclassmen such as sophomores Ale Zozos, Nina Melvin, Emily Beckley and junior Nicki Lindner ...

"Every day, it's something different," Melvin said. "Everyone does well; it's always someone different who gets that one play, that one hit, that one throw home that just makes the difference. It is someone different everyday.

"Hopefully on Friday, everyone has their little day."