A rather large section of the Chambers’ household is dedicated to catcher’s mitts, chest protectors and leg guards.
It didn’t happen on purpose, but all three Chambers children play catcher for their respective teams. Morgan Chambers is a senior at Paul VI High School and has been the Eagles’ steady softball star behind the dish for the past four years.
Her younger brother Mason took notice, and he seized a starting role at catcher as a freshman for West Deptford High School’s baseball team this spring. Their 11-year-old brother, Bryce, is an up-and-coming catcher in youth sports.
“I passed it down to one brother, and he passed it down to the next,” Morgan Chambers said with a laugh.
Their father might actually be to blame. John Chambers played catcher at Gloucester Catholic before graduating in 1993. He went on to play college ball for a couple of years at Fairleigh Dickinson University – Florham Campus while producing a Hall of Fame collegiate career on the football field. She swears it’s all just a big coincidence.
“I think we all just kind of picked it up,” she said. “I actually pitched when I was younger, and one of my coaches was like, ‘I’m going to need you to be behind the plate.’ It just kind of stuck.”
The Eagles are glad it did.
Chambers recorded her 100th career hit last year as a junior, and she’s been the rock behind a consistent team that went 60-16 during her first three years. Now, she’s guiding Paul VI through a tricky transition year that features a new head coach and an infusion of youthful talent. Paul VI was 13-6 through May 17 and trying to find that perfect rhythm entering the state playoff tournament, which begins May 27.
“There’s a reason why she’s behind the dish,” said first-year coach Fred Meloni. “She’s a general on the field. Her head is always in the right place.”
As a catcher who needs to shoulder a lot of responsibility, Chambers was practically born for the role.
“That’s what I love about it,” she said. “I just like being in control of the field. I feel like I’m involved in every play, and I like being able to form relationships with my pitchers and be able to help them work through whatever they are struggling with or be there when they are succeeding.”
Chambers is used to the heavy workload. During the fall season, she played defense for Paul VI’s field hockey team while also participating in club softball. “But I feel like it helped me with time management, especially getting ready to start college.”
Chambers will study business next year at the University of Delaware while playing for the Fightin’ Blue Hens’ softball team. She’s built quite the resume at Paul VI.
“She’s a team player,” Meloni said. “I’ve known her since she was probably about 7 or 8 because I coached baseball with her father. On the field, off the field, she’s just a workhorse. She’s all business. In school, she’s a great student.”
At Paul VI, Chambers was part of the ambassador’s club, which helps young students transition into high school life. She performs the same tasks on the softball diamond.
“I think we are starting to find our way,” Chambers said. “We’re a split team in the way we have a good group of younger kids and three great seniors and three great juniors. I think we’re still in the process of meshing together, but we have so much talent. I think we can figure that out pretty easily.”
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