SLIPPERYROCK — Chelsea Filer is well aware of the pitching tradition at Grove City High School.

The freshman is more than cognizant of the names of Carley Bell and Katie Sonntag, the almost mythical softball pitchers in Eagles lore who came before her.

"I think about them a lot," Filer said following her latest win in the circle, a 9-3 triumph over Slippery Rock Wednesday. "It's important to me to try to be like them."

She's well on her way.

The right-hander, who has a lightning quick fastball and an ever-improving changeup in her arsenal, surrendered just six hits and three runs — only one earned — in seven innings against the Rockets.

She also struck out 10 in the outing.

"Opposing coaches are going to get real tired of the name Filer," said Grove City coach Sue Greaves.

Before SlipperyRock coach TomWamsley could settle in, his team was down 7-0 to Filer after three innings.

That lead grew to 9-0 before the Rockets put up three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning that was kept alive by an error and a passed ball.

"Chelsea's one of the best pitchers we've faced this year," Wamsley said. "She pitches all year round and it shows. She's going to be good for four years. That's the bottom line."

But Slippery Rock, a team stocked with fresh young faces, made solid contact against Filer and gave the pitcher a few anxious moments.

Freshman Sam Volponi drove in two runs with a single in the fifth inning, and Jess Hotz, another freshman, had two hits.

"I don't want to use youth as an excuse," Wamsley said. "We are very excited about what we have here. We have a chance to win more games this year than we won the last two years."

Slippery Rock (3-5 overall, 1-3 in the region) has won only seven games the last two seasons combined.

Filer doesn't want to use her youth as an excuse, either.

Grove City (5-4, 2-2) started out slowly this season, losing three one-run games, including a 1-0 loss to Oil City in 13 innings and a 3-2 loss to Franklin.

"We sort of needed a break-out game like this," Greaves said. "We could be 4-0 in the region if we had two more runs.

"Chelsea has pitched under pressure all season," Greaves added. "She was really sharp tonight. I thought her fastball had a lot of zip on it."

Filer started pitching when she was 9 and made it her goal then to get where she is now.

There were times, though, when she thought she would never make it.

"I didn't think I'd develop at all as a pitcher," she said.

But Filer dedicated herself to her craft. With the help of Grove City pitching coach Marty Ruley, she made huge strides leading up to this season.

Grove City doesn't have a high school fall softball team, so she joined Slippery Rock's team and played with many of the girls she faced Wednesday in the Rockets' lineup.

Filer also plays in the offseason in Hubbard, Ohio, and Youngstown, Ohio, leagues.

One of Filer's strongest assets is her attitude. She always has a smile on her face.

That doesn't go unnoticed by the opponent.

"Sometimes I'll hear, 'Wipe that smile off your face,'" Filer said. "Whenever they say that, it usually makes me want to pitch harder."

Filer also singled and scored in the six-run third inning for the Eagles.

Katie Stewart had the big bat for Grove City, smashing a double and a triple and driving in a run. Maggie Orr and Steph Blakley drove in two runs.

That was plenty of support for Filer, who is trying not to chase the ghosts of Grove City pitchers past too much.

"I'm going to do my best to show Grove City what I'm all about and make a name for myself," she said.

Grove City 016 020 0—9 6 1Slippery Rock 000 030 0—3 6 2WP: Chelsea Filer (7 IP) 10 strikeouts, 3 walks.

LP: Shanea White (7 IP) 1 strikeout, 7 walks

Grove City (5-4, 2-2): Maggie Orr 1B, 2-RBi; Jessica Hodge 1B; Filer 1B; Katie Stewart 2B, 3B, RBI; Kari Barnes RBI; Steph Blakley 1B, 2-RBI

Slippery Rock (3-5, 1-3): Amanda Shearer 2B; Sam Volponi 1B, 2-RBI; ErinFerguson 1B; Jess Hotz 2-1B; Jamie Laughner 1B

Today: SlipperyRock at Meadville

Friday: Titusville at Grove City