The SOL/BAL saw its Carpenter Cup run come to an end on Wednesday as the result of a 12-11 loss to Tri-Cape.
PHILADELPHIA – There were early signs that things might not be going the SOL/BAL’s way in Wednesday’s Carpenter Cup game against Tri-Cape at FDR Park. It began with Tri-Cape scoring three runs in the top of the first, and although the SOL/BAL twice led by three runs, they couldn’t hold off a Tri-Cape squad that rallied for a 12-11 win.
“We’re a really good team, and I know we could have beat that team,” Council Rock South junior Stephanie Andreoli said. “There were some calls that were a little iffy, but we just kept fighting to the end. That’s what we do.”
The SOL/BAL had just two practices and played only four games over a two-day period, but there was no mistaking the special bond that existed. There were tears and a whole lot of hugs as both players and coaches were reluctant to leave.
“I enjoyed the energy of the team – how everyone came out and just tried their hardest,” Abington junior Megan Burdziak said. “It was really hard to see it end because we all worked hard, and it didn’t end the way we wanted it to.”
“Even though we just met, we bonded so quickly,” added Andreoli, the lone player from the SOL National Conference. “I don’t usually get to see them since most of them are in the other conferences. I would love to play them.”
“It was more than just playing a sport,” CB South junior Meghan Bradley said. “It was making the friendships with people you normally don’t get to play with.
“It was pretty cool, and I’d do that again any day.”
As losses go, Wednesday’s was a heartbreaker as the SOL/BAL could not buy a break.
“It’s tough because you see a number of the kids visibly upset,” said Upper Dublin coach Heather Boyer, head coach of the SOL/BAL. “Some of them were the returners from last year, and you don’t want to see anybody upset at the end of the game like that.
“They’re out here because they’re passionate about the sport. They love to play, and you don’t want to see them disappointed. We certainly weren’t disappointed in their effort and their ability.
“Did we feel we had the talent to get to Thursday? Absolutely. Is it unfortunate that we didn’t? Definitely, but I told them they should be very, very proud of their efforts and how hard they worked, how much they listened and how quickly they came together because that was the more important part of the experience.
“Hopefully, they’ll take what they learned from the field to make them better players, better students and hopefully better people in the grander scheme of things.”
Tri-Cape used three hits to score three runs in the first. The SOL/BAL made it a 3-2 game in the bottom of the frame when Taylor Marinelli roped a two-run double to left field. A five-run second put the SOL/BAL on top 7-4.
Bradley was safe on an error to lead off the inning, and Tara Harper followed with a bunt single. CB South’s Maddie Bieber delivered a one-out RBI single to right, and the score was knotted 4-4 after CB East’s Audrey LaBouliere picked up an infield single to deep short.
Delco’s RoseMarie Falasco was hit by a pitch to load the bases, and when Marinelli drew a bases-loaded walk with two outs, the SOL/BAL had its first lead. That lead grew to 7-4 after Bristol sophomore Cara Fabiano hit a two-run single down the third base line.
In the top of the fourth, Tri-Cape rallied to knot the score, but the SOL/BAL appeared to be in a good position after opening up a 10-7 lead with three runs in the bottom of the inning. Bri Battavio’s booming triple into the left center field gap plated one run, and Marinelli – who finished with four RBIs – ripped a double off the fence to plate a run.
A two-out error in the fifth inning set the stage for Tri-Cape to score three unearned runs that knotted the score 10-10. Tri-Cape took a lead it would not lose with two runs in the sixth.
The SOL/BAL put a pair on board with two outs in the bottom of the seventh – both by walks - and pulled to within one when Battavio delivered a two-out single. With Marinelli at the plate and runners on first and second, Tri-Cape brought an abrupt end to the game with a pickoff of the base runner at first.
“It was too much back and forth,” Boyer said of the game. “We’d get ahead, and then we wouldn’t get that extra momentum to put the finishing touches on it.”
After collecting eight hits through the first four innings, the SOL/BAL managed just one hit over the final three.
TRI-CAPE 12, SUBURBAN ONE LEAGUE/BICENTENNIAL ATHLETIC LEAGUE 11
TRI-CAPE: Mackenzie Brennan 5-2-3-1, Rian Eigenmann 5-3-4-2, Elaina Hansen 2-1-0-2, Alyssa Donato 5-1-1-1, Kiera Regan 3-0-0-0, Jaclyn Lesher 2-0-0-0, Samantha Kemmerer 2-0-0-1, Abbie Adirzone 3-2-1-1, MyKayla Bird 1-0-1-1, Korie Hage 3-2-2-0, Anastasia Reale 1-0-0-0, Katryna Arbelo 2-1-1-2, TOTALS 34-12-13-11.
SOL/BAL: Maddie Bieber 2-2-1-1, Audrey LaBouliere 5-2-1-1, RonnieMarie Falasco 2-2-0-0, Bri Battavio 5-2-2-2, Taylor Marinelli 3-1-2-4, Cara Fabiano 4-0-1-3, Meghan Bradley 3-1-0-0, Stephanie Andreoli 1-0-0-0, Tara Harper 4-1-1-0, Michela Coleman 4-0-1-0, TOTALS 33-11-9-11.
TRI-CAPE 310 332 0 12-13-4
SOL/BAL 250 300 1 11-9-1
E-Tri-Cape 4, SOL/BAL 1. LOB-Tri-Cape 7, SOL/BAL 8. 2B-Mackenzie Brennan, Alyssa Donato, Rian Eigenmann, MyKayla Bird, Taylor Marinellini 2. 3B-Rian Eigenmann, Bri Battavio. SB-Mackenzie Brennan 2, Rian Eigenmann, Anastasia Reale, Courtney Neal, Bri Battavio.
TRI-CAPE AB H R ER BB SO
Anastasia Reale 1.33 4 6 1 1 1
Jaclyn Lesher 1.67 4 4 4 2 2
Samantha Kemmerer (W) 4.00 1 1 1 3 3
SOL/BAL AB H R ER BB SO
Bri Battavio 4.00 7 7 7 2 1
Cara Fabiano 1.33 4 5 2 2 1
Stephanie Andreoli 1.67 2 0 0 1 1
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