Former Edison player stands out on Force

Former Edison High softball player Stacy Birk helped the Philadelphia Force secure second place in the 2009 National Pro Fastpitch season. The Philadelphia Force is based in Allentown, Pa.

Birk, the Sunset League Pitcher of the Year at Edison, helped Philadelphia complete a four-game sweep of the Akron Racers on Sunday, which knocked Akron out of the four-team playoffs and kept the Force in second place in the final standings.

During the regular season, Birk, who went from Edison to a playing career at Illinois State University, had an 0-1 record with a 3.65 earned-run average in 23 innings. Offensively, she scored two runs.

The right-hander has been one of the league’s hottest pitchers in August, where she has lowered her ERA from 5.88 to 3.65.

She put the Force in playoff contention by throwing 6 1/2 innings during an Aug. 10 victory over Rockford. She allowed just four hits and an earned run but was unable to register her first win after she left the game with two out in the sixth inning and the teams tied at 1.

The Force, 31-17 overall, begin the National Pro Fastpitch playoffs next week in Kimberly, Wis.

— Mike Sciacca